Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

1. I was out of the country for three weeks. A week after I returned, I came home to a huge notice taped to my door indicating that the borough sewer authority would be shutting off my water if I didn't pay a $108 bill within 10 days. The notice was dated June 18th

2. Two days later, I received a letter in the mail, also dated June 18, warning me that I had a $58 bill that must be paid, else they'd charge me $50 for the notice (which they apparently had already made!) and another $50 if the water was actually shut off.

3. The bill was one month in arrears, in large part because I was traveling for nearly half of May and June.

4. I feel humiliated and violated by this public shaming since the notice was so prominent on my door.

5. Further, the notice included my full name and address for everyone to see! Is what the borough did legal? Don't I have a right to privacy in such matters?


Asked on 6/22/14, 5:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Rachel Hunter

No, you don't have a right to privacy. Privacy is virtually a dead concept anyway. Big brother is keeping tabs on you and when they are not your credit company is. Surveillance is everywhere..

The notice on your door was not done to humiliate you - it was to alert you to the fact that the water was going to get shut off if you did not pay your bill. You obviously did not get your mail because you were away. So how else could the municipality get your attention? They are probably required to attempt to contact you personally and if that fails post a notice in a conspicuous place so you will see it. If you have questions - check with the PA PUC (public utilities commission).

I can see being out of the country and I am sympathetic to hardships, but you take no responsibility here for your actions. Its YOUR responsibility to pay your bill on time. With online banking these days, there really is no excuse for you failing to make arrangements. Even if you were going to some remote location where there was no electric let alone the internet, if you were going to be out of the country and cut off from civilization, then you should have appointed someone to handle your affairs while you were gone. Or I am sure that you could have paid ahead.

Bottom line - if you had taken appropriate steps there would have been no need for this.

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Answered on 6/23/14, 12:36 am


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