ComplaintsforGreater Johnstown Water Authority

• Initial Complaint

  05/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Greater Johnstown Water Authority sends me a delinquent notice about my Water bill being delinquent and my water will be shut off on 5/23/2023, then 4 days later puts a bright Orange sticker in my door saying the same thing the delinquent letter says and trying to charge me an extra $15 for putting the sticker in my door 9 days before the bill is due and I wanted to know if this is legal.

  Business response

  05/26/2023

  This letter is in response to the complaint submitted and assigned to ID number ********. Upon receipt of the complaint, The Greater Johnstown Water Authority reviewed the information. The timeline provided by the customer in his complaint is incorrect. His current bill was due on 4/28, we sent a delinquent letter on 5/2, the property was tagged on 5/12 and water was scheduled for termination on 5/23. As of today, 5/23, he paid his bill in full including the past due charges, current charges, and the $15 posting fee. All fees are including in the adopted rates and rules of the Greater Johnstown Water Authority. 

  
  Thank you, 
  
  Melissa *. R******** Assistant Manager 
  Commercial, Distribution, & Collections RDM/Greater Johnstown Water Authority 

• Initial Complaint

  10/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Hello, I contacted this business to start new service on some properties. I was told it would be $100 deposit initially when I called to start service. They told me they needed to see copy of my deed to see if I was responsible for any past due amounts from a previous owner. Once they reviewed my deed they told me I had to pay over $2000 to have the service turned on. The $2000 was for and vacant property fee that had accumulated I recently purchased five units, which mean in total it would cost me $10,000 to turn the water on at these properties. I asked do they take credit card and I was told if the money was being applied to an account they could take a card but it’s not being applied to an account because I haven’t establish an account. So if the monies not being applied to an account where is this money being applied to. I don’t have an established account yet and the previous owner didn’t owe a balance. So basically the water company is charging people who are purchasing properties a fee monthly from the time the property was vacant to the time the new owner purchased the property. I currently have a tenant waiting to move into this property , but they are unable to because I can’t afford this fee that this company is charging. I think it is absurd that they are allowed maybe, to charge new customers hundreds and thousands of dollars for a vacant property fee. This definitely needs addressed. I think it’s a scam.

  Business response

  10/14/2022

  This letter is in response to the complaint submitted and assigned to ID number ********. Upon receipt of the complaint, The Greater Johnstown Water Authority reviewed the information. The policy was explained to the customer correctly per the rates and rules of the Greater Johnstown Water Authority. 

  
  Thank you, 

  
  Melissa C. R******** Assistant Manager Commercial, Distribution, & Collections RDM/Greater Johnstown Water Authority 
  

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  around 2/21/2022 I received a notice on my door that I owe $25.00 charge for a bill of $22.39 that was documented as NSF. I at this time called the GJWA at ###-###-#### and asked why I am charged this when I have a $1000 buffer to this account and I have been paying from this account since 2005 without a problem. They stated that It went through to the bank and that is what the bank charges. I contacted my bank and they stated they had nothing come through my account and that it wouldn't have been rejected anyway because of the amount of money available in the account. I called GJWA once again and stated my bank didn't charge that and I'm not paying for it. I once again submitted a payment for this time $23.87. Once again around March 10th I received a notice on my door stating I had one day to pay my bill or get disconnected. I called the GJWA and was on the phone for 15mins with a rep. She stated the charges came from the bank that my bill was discontinued but once again and another $25.00 fee was applied to my account. Making the grand total $50.00. At this time, I paid my water bill with a debit card and it went through. I once again called Somerset Trust bank and once again they stated that they never had anything come through my account. The representative from Somerset Trust suggested to go to the bank office and have manager call GJWA. I did this on 3/25/2022 on my day off. Heather, Somerset Trust Manager in Westmont called GJWA on speaker phone. We spoke with GJWA manager who stated the fees came from the "cloud". That she had to get approval to remove them and she would call me Monday. Tuesday I received another notice with threatening another $25.00 fee (Making $75.00). I got a run around at GJWA when I called. Manager did call me back and stated SHE didn't apply the $25.00 fee as of yet. She has notice out to the "Cloud" and is waiting reply. She also stated she wouldn't hang a DC notice on my door since I am aware of the FEE.

  Business response

  04/12/2022

  This letter is in response to the complaint submitted and assigned to ID number ********. Upon receipt of the complaint, The Greater Johnstown Water Authority reviewed the information. The payment problem was not with the GJWA or the customer's local bank. The problem was with Chase Payment Tech, a payment processing center. 

  
  The problem was rectified with Chase Payment Tech, and all penalties and fees were removed from the customer's account on Friday April 1, 2022 and the customer was made aware. 

  
  Thank you! 

  
  Melissa C. R******** Assistant Manager Commercial, Distribution, & Collections RDM/Greater Johnstown Water Authority 
  

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩