Page 292 - GFOA Draft 2
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CITY OF SAGINAW, TEXAS
                                       FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES

                        E.         Customers are encouraged to contact customer service to make payment
                       arrangements to avoid disconnection of service

                              1.     Customers may request an extended due date or payment plan options
                              2.     Customer accounts may not be more that 90 days in arrears
                              3.     Customers who do not comply with their agreed upon arrangements will
                              not be eligible for future payment arrangements until the beginning of the
                              following calendar year
                        F.     If payment is not received by the due date, a late charge will be added to
                       the account

                              1.      Residential account late charge is$ 5
                              2.      Commercial account late charge is 10%  of the account balance
                        G.         Returned check fees and credit card chargeback fees
                              1.     There will be a fee of$ 25 for each check returned unpaid by the bank
                              2.      There will be a fee of$ 25 for each credit card transaction charged back by
                              the credit card processor
                              3.      After an account has had three returned checks,  the City will no longer
                              accept payment by check
                              4.      After an account has had three credit card chargebacks,  the City will no
                              longer accept credit card payments
                        H.         Water  Use  Adjustment  —  Water  usage  varies  by  person,    family,    and
                        industry.  Usage can be affected by climate conditions,  personal habits, and faulty
                        plumbing.    The City may not be able to explain consumption at an individual
                        service account but will offer advice on how to conserve water and detect leaks.

                        The following policies will be used for fair and consistent consideration of a water
                        bill adjustment request.
                               High usage due to a water leak —  A customer may apply for an adjustment
                        because of a significant increase in water consumption that can be proven to be
                        the result of a leak in the service line past the water meter.  The request must be
                        made on the " Customer Request for Leak Adjustment"  form provided by Utility
                        Billing Customer Service and must be signed.
                              1.      The following conditions must be met to qualify for a leak adjustment:

                                      a)     The account is a residential single-family or multifamily account with a
                                      separate meter
                                      b)     The account must have had an increase in consumption or usage for the
                                      billing period or periods for which the adjustment is sought that exceeds the
                                      average usage of the three previous billing periods by at least 33%


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