Billing error causes concern in Arlington

ARLINGTON — A number of incorrect utility notices have been mailed out by the city of Arlington finance department. Finance director Jim Chase said Tuesday, Aug. 17, that approximately 1,000 final notice statements were sent out to customers, most of which were erroneous, whose accounts were not delinquent. The false notices came from an error in the city's utility billing system, which apparently detected charges for the past two months regardless of whether the bill had been paid, Chase said. The city recently changed its billing cycle from bi-monthly to monthly.

By Adam Rudnick • August 18, 2010 4:17 pm

ARLINGTON — A number of incorrect utility notices have been mailed out by the city of Arlington finance department.

Finance director Jim Chase said Tuesday, Aug. 17, that approximately 1,000 final notice statements were sent out to customers, most of which were erroneous, whose accounts were not delinquent.

The false notices came from an error in the city’s utility billing system, which apparently detected charges for the past two months regardless of whether the bill had been paid, Chase said.

The city recently changed its billing cycle from bi-monthly to monthly.

“The finance department has been inundated with calls due to this error,” Chase said. “We have appreciated our very understanding customers who have called.”

The city’s utility billing program is scheduled to be replaced this fall.

The city serves approximately 5,200 utility accounts.

For more information, call the city of Arlington at 360-403-3421.