Paying your bills amid the pandemic

Paying your bills amid the pandemic

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New at ten -- the morgan county water and sewer authority wants you to know you have options if you can't pay your bill.

The utility's website says if you're 10 days late paying a bill, there's a 50 dollar late fee - and you could be disconnected if it's not paid.

One customer said she thinks that's unfair during a pandemic.

Waay 31's casey albritton learned how the company is responding.

The manager of the morgan county water and sewer authority, wayne reed, tells me the policy is flexible...he says if you are struggling to make ends meet, you should call before your next bill is due and they will work out a payment plan...but some customers say the policy is still too harsh christi day/ customer "during a pandemic like this, i think it's probably, we need to have a little grace on some people who are still not all into jobs and working.

We are just now getting into the swing at school, so i think there needs to be a little bit of grace."

Customer christi day says she thinks the 50 dollar late fee is too much to charge people who may be unemployed right now.

Christi day/ customer "these are tough times.

We are still dealing with lots of issues that even essential workers are having work through and make sure their bills are paid."

She also says getting your water cut off for not being able to make payments during the pandemic is extreme.

Christi day/ customer "you have to make your payments and you have to make sure you do what's right and everything else but there are some people who just can't help it."

Morgan county water and sewer authority manager, wayne reed, says the policy has been in place for a year - but it was suspended in april and may.

In june - it went back into effect.

Wayne reed/ manager "the stimulus checks were being handed out, unemployment had been increased and we felt like the funds were there."

He says the policy is meant to keep people from owing hundreds of dollars in utility bills.

Wayne reed/ manager "we don't want people to get too far behind that they can't catch up."

Reed says he understands people are in a tough position right now.

Wayne reed/ manager "as long as the customer is calling and keeping us informed, 'i'm still unemployed, we are here to help and we will.'" christi day/ customer "i think it's a good idea that they continue to let people reach out to them if they have issues."

Reed says payment plans will be determined based on a customers individual situation.

Reporting in morgan county, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

If your account is closed because of non-payment, the company says you will have to sign up like a new customer to resume service.

That includes paying the set- up fee.