Mount Pleasant Waterworks Changes Late Payment Charge Date and Introduces Newly Designed Bill, and Automated Telephone Payment System
May 15, 2013
NEWS
For more information contact:
Dionna Ebeling, 843-870-4364
Nicole Bates, 843-814-2076
IMPROVING CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS
and SERVICES
Mount Pleasant Waterworks Changes Late Payment Charge Date and Introduces Newly Designed Bill,
and Automated Telephone Payment System
Mount Pleasant, S.C. - - May 15, 2013 - - Beginning in May, Mount Pleasant Waterworks customers will notice changes to their monthly bill. The newly designed bill allows for better communication about customer accounts. In June 2012, Commissioners approved changes to the dates that delinquent charges are applied to past due accounts. In order to clearly communicate the due date and penalty, late, and non-payment charges, the bill was redesigned.
“We felt it was time to update our most important communication piece with our customers, our bill. In order to help customers avoid collection actions and to fairly recover the cost of all services provided by Mount Pleasant Waterworks, we have revised our delinquent charges and the dates these changes are applied,” explained Clay Duffie, General Manager.
The new bill being received by customers this month provides a clear description of the due date and all charges accrued if a bill is not paid on time. By adding these details to every bill, the possibility of customers receiving charges that they were not previously aware of is eliminated.
The late payment charges are added to past due accounts on the following days:
Bill Due day 20
Penalty $5.00 charged on day 21
Late $20.00 charged on day 27
Non-Payment $55.00 charged on day 43
Disconnection on or after day 43
The newly designed bill also provides the following information: account numbers needed to make a payment using the Automated Telephone Payment System; meter readings; details of current and past due charges; and billing and public education messages. The lower right portion of the bill clearly explains due dates and charges. “Over the past two years, we have increased communications with our customers about their accounts by utilizing our Outbound Notification Phone System and emails. The newly designed bill was developed to help customers better understand their due dates and charges. In addition, we are excited to offer customers the option to pay by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week with our automated payment system,” Nicole Bates, Customer Communications Department Manager.
“The new automated telephone payment system was a low cost way to offer more account options and payment services over the phone. Customers are still able to pay by mail, in person, online, and through the automatic draft payment option (Easy Pay),” she explained.
Customers are encouraged to review their bill carefully to ensure that timely payments are made and any additional late charges are avoided.
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