South Paris Water CO-OP

I paid the water bill I owed at the Commercial Bank location that accepts payments for South Paris Water Co-op. It was a few DAYS late. Then over a week later, my water was turned off for NON PAYMENT. I was out of town and my husband told them it had been paid over a week before then but they still charged us a 50.00 reconnect fee. Now I do not see how a company can disconnect service for NON PAYMENT when it had been paid and paid over a week prior in full. They said it was paid late so they turned it off. but at the time they disconnected it, no payment was due because it had already been paidDesired SettlementI want the 50.00 reconnect fee credited to my account. Business Response Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)My bill was paid BEFORE they disconnected for non payment. They didn't check the bank they use as a billing source. How can they disconnect for non payment when it was paid?Final Business Response 1-18-15 This letter is mailed annually. It speaks for itself. RSH This is our annual information letter- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY and use for your benefit. 1. At present our water rates are lower than any other rural water district in Henry County. Please continue to report water leaks and other problems which may arise in order that water rates may be kept as low as possible. 2. Please remember to insulate your water meter before winter- Please do not use dirt! (A very simple way to do this is to sit a bale of straw on the meter.) 3. Your responsibility begins at the at the meter- all lines from the meter to your house or business must be installed and maintained by you- you are responsible to pay for all water that passes through your meter. 4. SPWC policy is that only one residence or business is allowed on one meter. SPWC customers have been notified of this policy annually since 1989. Any customer who has connected more than one business or residence to the same meter since 1989 without permission from SPQC may have their service discontinued without notice. 5. The initial fee for water hook up is $40.00. There is no deposit involved. The installation fee for a new meter is $600.00. 6. It is against the law to have a cross-connection with another water supply. 7. Your water bill is due on receipt and late on the 23rd of each month- approximately 97% of our water customers pay on time and up to date. With the tremendous increase in the cost of water we are not going to be able to go along with those customers who continually allow their water bills to get out of hand. South Paris Water Co-Op has to pay water costs- material and labor costs, insurance- taxes- environmental fees and other costs- all on time, therefore, it is necessary that your water bill be paid on time. If your service is discontinued it will cost the entire bill plus a $50 service charge to have it reinstated. 8. When you pay your bill at the bank or mail it- Please use the upper part of the bill. The lower part is your receipt. You should receive your bill on or about the first of the month. The meter is read on or about the 15th of the month and is computed from one meter reading to the next. On rare occasions (due to an emergency of severe weather) the meter readings will be estimated. 9. It is important that your 911 address be visible for your safety and for the convenience of all utilities. 10. Your August 1, 2015 bill will reflect our new sales tax increase. It goes from 0.0925% to 0.0975%. Thank you. [redacted] 1-30-2015As you can see over the last 15 months there have been six months when nothing was paid during the payment period. We cannot and will not operate that way. I have always been easy to deal with and will continue to be so. However the customer must hold up their end of the bargain, which is to pay on time. We do not add a late charge fee, therefore, we require the bill to be paid on time.