A vendor working for Palm Coast government inadvertently issued 13,000 erroneous utility bills to city customers last week, the result of a software update. The city is asking recipients–residents or businesses–to ignore the bills which carry no payable balance anyway.
The snafu occurs at a time when both the city and its utility department have been facing difficult months over what culminated in the recent approval of sharp utility rate increases over the next 30 months, and from a state consent order requiring the city to upgrade its troubled and overworked Waste Water Treatment Plant 1 in the Woodlands. The city did not need another utility-focused problem, though it appears that the utility is not to blame for the mistake.
During the software update, a release the city issued Friday states, “a batch of old utility bills-—some dated years ago-—was inadvertently reissued and sent to approximately 13,000 residents. These bills may appear unfamiliar or outdated, but they all reflect a zero-dollar balance and do not require any payment or action.”
If you received one of these inaccurate bills, disregard it. “This was a technical error, and we apologize for any confusion it may have caused,” the city states. The City is working closely with the vendor to ensure the issue is corrected and does not happen again in the future.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Customer Service at 386-986-2360 on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit PalmCoast.gov/Connect.
PB says
Only reasonable bill I ever got. Then the real one came $155 for 2 people in a 1200 sq foot house. Robbery!
JimboXYZ says
Meh, a zero-bill & it was corrected with a simple email notification of the recently approved, increased/new rate bill. The zero-billing had a date due that was 5+ years back dated. Check your online account for the real amount & due date.
celia pugliese says
So are we the utility fee paying customers to pay for the costly error of 13,000 wrong doings. Also and realisticly if “aint broke why fix it?” Changing contractors (PH golf course restaurant) for what reason and who benefits from it sure not us the residents. Just like happened when the city council decided to boot a good contractor Waste Pro for the current FCC that I have no complaints against but cost us more! Who is really benefitting in the city administration by changing programs, contractors from a system that is working fine for us! Maybe a very important reason why administrators waste valuable time that we pay them high yearly compensation in these unneeded changes while so much more important priorities work to be done, that is ignored!
Marty says
This bill sent me searching for where on Earth I put my flux capacitor…
t.o. Doug says
Marty- if you can’t find it, you can buy a new one at
Oreillyauto.com/flux-capacitor
Tony says
So glad i got lucky and sold my house last week! Lost 30k but Cant wait to move back to the big apple!
TR says
People need to realize that there are other charges on the “Utility Bill” and it’s not just for water, Storm water and garbage are also included.