Policy R-3: Returned Check/Draft Policy
Hartselle Utilities will charge a thirty dollar ($30.00) fee for each check or bank draft that has been presented as payment for any service provided by Hartselle Utilities and has been returned by the issuing bank unpaid. An attempt to notify the customer of a returned check will be made by telephone, when available, or by hand delivered door knocker. No representation is made by Hartselle Utilities that the utilities’ is obligated to substantiate that the notification attempt was received by the customer. The customer will have forty eight (48) hours from the time that Hartselle Utilities receives the returned check or draft to redeem the item by cash or certified funds.
If payment is not received by Hartselle Utilities within forty-eight (48) hours from receipt of a returned instrument, Hartselle Utilities will disconnect service(s) provided to the account for which the returned item was received. Any account that has been disconnected due to a returned item will be subject to the standard reconnection fees and all other terms set forth in Policy R-4 “Suspension of Service” in addition to the fees set forth in this policy (See Policy R-4 below).
Any customer presenting three (3) checks which are returned unpaid within a six-month period shall be unable to issue a check for payment on their account for the subsequent twelve (12) month period. During this period their account must be paid by cash or certified funds. A certified letter will be sent to any customer upon receipt of a third unpaid check informing the customer of the period for which checks will not be accepted as payment on their account.
Any customer presenting three (3) bank drafts which are returned unpaid within a six-month period shall be unable to continue bank draft as their method of bill payment for the subsequent twelve (12) month period.During this period their account must be paid by cash or certified funds. A certified letter will be sent to any customer upon receipt of a third unpaid draft informing the customer of the period for which drafts will not be accepted as payment on their account.
Customers who have issued six returned checks or bank drafts to Hartselle Utilities will be required to pay their account by cash or certified funds for the subsequent twenty-four month period. At the end of this period, the General Manager has the discretion to re-instate check writing or bank draft privileges.
Policy R-4: Suspension of Service
Bills are due on or before the due date reflected on the monthly statement mailed to each account holder. To delay payment after the due date is unsatisfactory. Partial payments are accepted prior to the due date with the understanding that the balance is required before the suspension date. A notice that service is subject to suspension for a past due balance will be printed on all monthly bills. If a bill is unpaid two (2) days after the due date, a late notice will be mailed to the customer. Procedures for notification to account holders who have issued a returned check or returned bank draft will be made in accordance with Policy R-3 ”Returned Check/Draft Policy” (See Policy R-3 above). If the account is unpaid ten (10) days beyond the due date, service will be suspended.
If utility service is suspended for non-payment, Hartselle Utilities will collect the arrears amount for the account and any applicable reconnection fees before service is restored. If suspension of service has not physically taken place, but HU has dispatched personnel to suspend service for a delinquent account and the employee has arrived at the service location, a reconnect fee will be charged in addition to the amount in arrears for the account, even if the account holder is prepared to resolve any delinquent balance. Reconnect fees are as follows:
- 1. $40.00 during office hours at the meter;
- 2. $65.00 after business hours at the meter;
- 3. $100.00 during office hours at the weatherhead or pole
- 4. $250.00 after business hours at the weatherhead or pole
Requests for restoration of service due to a delinquent account received by the dispatcher after 9:00 p.m. nightly will be completed the next day. Service will be restored the next morning as soon as possible in accordance with previously established work schedules, but in most cases by 8:00 a.m.
If an account is disconnected for non-payment and remains unpaid after ten (10) additional days, it will be closed and deposits applied. To re-establish service, the account will be evaluated based on recent payment history. Deposits and service charges will be set in accordance with existing Board Policy.
For more information, call HU at (256) 773-3340 or send an email to Customer Service at inquiries@hartselleutilities.org.