Water Shut Off For Unpaid Garbage Bill

Alabama Chickasaw A Chickasaw couple learned the hard way you can't always prioritize your bills.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Tue, November 18, 2008 - 5:15 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, November 18, 2008 - 5:22 pm CST

A Chickasaw family called News Five for help after their water was turned off for not paying their garbage bill.

James Lorme and his wife say they just didn't have enough money to go around, so they paid for the services they needed most. Lorme says he paid the rent, electricity and water, but when the couple racked up $97 in unpaid garbage fees, their water was shut off anyhow.

"I can't understand how you can deprive anybody of water," says Lorme. "Much less over another bill from another company."

The Lorme's water bill was paid to the city of Prichard, and the garbage fees go to Chickasaw. Nonetheless, Chickasaw city officials, who wouldn't talk to News Five on camera, say the garbage bill includes sewage, and the only way to stop the sewage service is to turn off the water.

James Lorme was forced to pay a $60 fee to reconnect the service, which increased his original debt by 75%.

Chickasaw officials insist before you stop paying your bill, you should try to work out a payment plan. The Chickasaw Utility Board meets on the second Tuesday of every month to hear resident's concerns. City officials insist they have never turned down a family who was willing to make payment arrangements.

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southfan1981 Says:

Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm

True true true. Chickasaw is helpful in these situations. Sewer and garbage are the same bill and they do shut off your water if you do not pay. What else can they do, turn off your sewer? Make sure you don’t have any leaks, even a dripping faucet adds up. Take short baths. And a California remedy, “When it’s yellow, let it mellow. When it’s brown, flush it down.”

Somehow, my husband, son and myself never have a water bill higher than the minimum. And yes, we bathe.

Could Chickasaw add a “SHARE” program? The gas company has it and CONVENIENTLY “forgets” to only charge it by the month you check off. I can’t get them to stop charging me $5 share, a month AND MY TOTAL GAS BILL IS ONLY $24. Crazy!