HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-05-01; City Council; 5834; Refund Reconnect Service Charge Richard L ShlemmerCITY OF CARLSBAD
AGENDA BILL NO.--'~-'?~-s:~· ~~3;:;.._✓----------'--
DATE: MAY 1, 1979
DEPARTMENT: FINANCE ----.:..------------
Subject:
Initial:~
Dept. Hd • ...:..!.Z::::_....._,_
C. Atty. .
C. Mgr. y
REFUND ✓RECONNECT SERVICE CHARGE -RICHARD L. SHLEMMER
Statement of the Matter
MR. SHLEMMER IS REQUESTING REFUND OF THE $8.25 SERVICE FEE
CHARGED FOR TURNING ON WATER THAT HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED
FOR NON-PAYMENT.
EXHIBITS
LETTER FROM RICHARD L. SHLEMM'::R DATED APRIL 16, 1979
MEMORANDUM TO CITY MANAGER FROM FINANCE DIRECTOR
RECOMMENDATION
IF COUNCIL CONCURS, BY MINUTE MOT~ON, REFUSE REQU~ST FOR:
REFUND.
Council Action:
5-1-79 Council denied the request for refund.
MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 23, 1979
TO: CITY MANAGER
FROM: FINANCE DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: REFUND OF WATER RE-CONNECT SERVICE FEE
(MR. RICHARD G, SHLEMMER)
MR. SHLEMMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND OF THE SERVICE CHARGE WE
REQUIRED FROM HIM WHEN HIS WATER WAS SHUT OFF FOR NON.;.PAYMENT.
ATTACHED IS A COPY OF HIS ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 15,
1978 TO APRIL 11, 1979.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE ACCOUNT INDICATES THAT HE HAS BEEN 60 DAYS
IN ARREARS SINCE DECEMBER 15, 1978. HIS PAYMENT OF $18.66 ON
MARCH 14, 1979 WAS A PARTIAL PAYMENT OF THE JANUARY 15, 1979
BILLING. WHEN THE MARCH BILLING WAS SENT TO HI~ IT REPRESENTED:
JANUARY 1979
FEBRUARY 1979
MARCH 1979
$10.75
16.94
28.12
$55.81
NO PAYMENT WAS MADE ON THIS BILL AND THE WATER WAS TURNED OFF
ON THE REGULAR TURN-OFF SCHEDULE.
RECOMMEND THAT NO REFUND BE MADE. THE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN IM
ARREARS FOR FOUR MONTHS WITH NO COMMUNICATION TO THE CITY AS
TO INTENDED PAYMENT.
THELMA L. OSBURN
FINANCE DIRECTOR
TLO: LW
ATTACH.
MR. R. L. SHLEMMER
ACCOUNT 3414.02
11-15-78 BILL
12-15-78 BILL
1-3-79 PAYMENT
1-15-79 BILL
2-'14-79 PAYMENT
2-15-79 BILL
3-14-79 PAYMENT
3-15-79 BILL
4-11-69 SHUT-OFF PAYMENT
DEBT
$26.40
27.69
29.41
16.94
28.12
APRIL 23~ 1979
ATTACHMENT
CREDIT BALANCE
$26.40
54.09
26.40 27.69
57.10
27.69 29.41
46.35
18.66 27.69
55 .81
55,81 -o-
Mr. Paul Bussey
4264 Highland Drive
Carlsbad, California
April 16, 1979
City Manager, City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Dear Mr. Bussey:
While I was on vacation in Mexico recently from March 30
· through April 15., the water was shut off to my home. A card
was left at my ~oor saying my bill was in arrears and the next
day, without a telephone call or further information, the water
was t~rned off. The person staying at my home during this period
paid the bill plus a service charge of $8.25 ori April 11, 1979.
I have lived for more than 10 years·in Carlsbad and have
never missed a payment on anything much less the city water.
My check was written and dated March 10, 1979 to the City of
-Carlsbad and mailed sometime thereafter. Whether· I was la~o
or not is im.~aterial to me.
The anger I feel toward a system which does not allow for
personal feedback before utilities are disconnected is intolerable.
The ·fact tt;at a customer who, for 10 years never missed a payment,
has the water shut off just like that without research into his
past payment experience or contact made with him is unbelievable.
No system of billing is so large that it can be ~xcused for treat-
ing long term reliable customers the way I was treated.
The service charge is insignificant but I am returning it for
refund due to the poor service relationship with a long term city
resident. I am aware that all this is under city ordinances but
that also is no excuse for such poor treatment. I expect the re-
fund and your sincere effort to make another one of the services
we pay for a little more sensitive to people instead of your account-
ing practices.
Richard L. Shlemmer
cc: Ms. Thelma Osborn, 1200 Elm Avenue, qarlsbad, CA 92008
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