Landlord and utility bills :() (Union City: apartments, lease, house)

[MaxiMai53]

I know this is not a huge news flash to alot of people here. But let me begin with a bit of background. As I was signing my lease each section was explained. I was told I would receive a bill direct from Cobb EMC for Electricity and my water would run about $12.00 each month. I was told that I would be charged for garbage and pest control around $7.00 each month.....I agreed and signed. A few days before I moved in I told the office I would call and have the Electric put in my name.....The office told me don't worry about it they would take care of switching the name....Okay.....The first rent bill comes in and it is only for Rent...Hmmm...I called the office and asked when I would get an electric bill - since they took care of changing the name...and the $12.00 water charge was missing, as well. Next rent bills comes in - have fees I did not expect, such as $10.00 monthly service fee and $30.00 activation fee.....Hmmm... I called the office about it, since I was never told about such fees. I was told that the company that now handles the billing charges these fees.....I also asked why I was charged for electricity on the rent bill and not from Cobb EMC as I was told when I signed the lease. She said things have changed - Changed, I said, well I didn't agree to such changes. Appears I don't have a choice, of course. Next rent bill comes in, this time with a much higher electric bill than I expected and the water bill finally is noted....I was told it water bills would average about $12.00 a month. So obviously I was expecting give or take around $12.00. Well, too my surprise the bill was for $31.00 +. I know my complex is submetered and the meter readings on the bill read my use was 140 gal of water. I was charged for 400 gal of water in and 1400 gal going out (sewer). I asked the office why I was being charged for more than was clearly noted on the bill? I was told that this the way it is done now......I went to the website of the billing company and read their selling point....to paraphrase...we guarantee you will never lose money on empty apartments and/or on utilities again. Yeah, I understand how now......This is not what I signed up for and I feel I should have been told if there were going to be changes to what I expected not to mention agreed to. Is this legal? Is there something we can do about this? OR do I have to keep my mouth shut for my own good

[ATL_II_DMV]

Man my tenant had it worse. Union City Water charged her upwards of $400 one month and I know for a fact that she was gone for at least two weeks out of that billing period b/c I was in the house doing some painting during a part of that period.

Usually the water bill is around $60 for her (which is still high)

Georgia water and power utility companies are ripping people off

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by ATL_II_DMV

Man my tenant had it worse. Union City Water charged her upwards of $400 one month and I know for a fact that she was gone for at least two weeks out of that billing period b/c I was in the house doing some painting during a part of that period.

Usually the water bill is around $60 for her (which is still high)

Georgia water and power utility companies are ripping people off

It would be nice to have better consumer protections in place in this state, but someone in the forum will yell about "socialism" again.

[lookup138]

I don't think there is much that you can do, legally, at this point since the lease has been signed. Be sure and read over your lease and all notices they may have left for you in your mailbox or door to see if they put it in "fine print". They will say that you were properly notified if you should decide to go to court and if they have your signature, well... I would never knowingly agree to pay for someone else's utility consumption even if it is $2.