Complaint Review: Bessemer Utilities

Bessemer Utilities have been ripping us off and lying about it every since December of 2012. We battle them about our Utility bill for 2 years before it was resolved. They hadn't changed out our meters (electrical or water) in I know at least 10 to 15 years. Our bill started at approx. $360 in November of 2011 and went up each following month til it got as high as $1000 by August of 2012.

They turned our power off and on for 2 years to the point I had to retain a lawyer. Now here we go again. It's 2017 and the same thing happening. Our bill began rising in February. I went down to the office and complained. The only thing they said was we'll send out a tech to check your electric meter. Of course nothing was wrong on their part, we were using a lot of electricity and that's a lie. We're rarely at home. Then the bill was steadily going higher and higher each month again.

I kept calling down to the office every month and I kept getting the run around, I left numerous messages and never got a return phone call so I went back down there again. This time they said we were using enough water to fill a swimming pool. So apparently they knew there was a water leak somewhere. They sent another tech out to check the water meter.

He told me that we had a major water leak and it was our main water line. The water was running out all over the ground. You could actually here it running. Then we went to the water meter and it was broken(Crushed). The man said to me that we would  be held accountable for the repairs of the meter the next time it gets broken.Then they sent technicians out and repaired the meter but never took responsibility for our broken line. I had to pay a repairman out of pocket to repair that line.

It was their big trucks that park across our front lawn and probably crushed the meter. How are we liable when the meter is on the city side? Now the bill is at $1,200.00 and they put a disconnect notice on our door telling us to pay that bill. The sewer part of the bill is almost triple the water bill and the water ran on the ground and not even through the sewage line.

Also, we had a private company that covered our sewage line. They even said that the water leak didn't have anything to do with the sewage. Now B.U. don't want to credit us for those high bills or help us with that water leak what so ever. They need to take responsibility for their part and I will take responsibility for my part.

I tried to prevent the bill from getting so high by reporting it to B.U. as soon as possible and they did nothing about it. I feel they do this to a lot of people in Bessemer because they know you have to have electricity and water so you have to pay these large bills. That's why I say they are crooks and they lie alot. I wish there was a way to get rid of B.U. and get Alabama Power.!!

I almost forgot. Each time B.U. came out and changed or repaired our meters, when it came time to resolve the bill situation, they lied and said that they didn't repair or changed any meters. I know that was a lie because I stood right there and watched them every time. I even have a picture of the meter where they dug up our yard and placed a red and white cone on top of it so nobody would park on it until it sunk in the ground.

I need help immediately!!!!