Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Pennsylvania

Utility company at fault?

We have moved out our old apartment July 24 or 25 '05. The gas utility bill period ended on July 26 '06. When we called in and cancelled the service they told us that we would get a final bill if we owed anything. When we have not received a bill, assumed that we did not owe anything since moved out before end date.Than in February 2006 we pulled my husband�s credit report and noticed that this utility company had reported the account as charge off. Apparently we owed a little over 3 dollars! They are saying that they have sent 4 late and collection notices out. We have not received anything from them since we moved. They do have our current address. They are saying that it is not their problem if the post office has not delivered the mail. Well it is just hard to believe that we would have not received at least one of the notices. They are claming that all they need is those dates in their system to prove that they were mailed out

If that is correct why someone couldn�t just say that the check was mailed and sorry that you have not received it yet, check with your postal service.

We did pay the amount, not denying that we owned it but would have liked to pay it on time.

Are they at fault here at all?


Asked on 4/18/06, 1:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Roger Traversa Arjont Group (Law Office of Roger Traversa)

Re: Utility company at fault?

This is one of the problems of a big company.

Look at the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You could try this first. Write a letter to each of the creit reporting agencies disputing the items. Send the letters by certified mail, return reciept requested. Do not use the online dispute tools, they are useless.

If that doesn't work, File claims under those laws and then file a small claims action in your local court. It will cost you some money but I can assure you that the business will sit up and take notice. You will probably get a call from the legal department offering to settle the matter by removing the item from your credit reports.

Good luck,

Roger Traversa

email: [email protected]

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Answered on 4/19/06, 7:14 pm


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