Paying your water bill on time is important to avoid late fees and potential service interruption. However, life happens and you may find yourself needing to pay your bill late. Here’s what you need to know about how late you can pay your water bill.
When is My Water Bill Due?
Most water utilities have a set due date each month for payment. This is usually within the first few weeks of the billing period. For example, if you are billed for March water usage in early April, the due date may be around April 20th. Check your latest bill or contact your water provider to find out the exact due date each month.
What Happens If I Pay Late?
If you miss the due date, you will likely have to pay a late fee. Late fees are typically a set amount, such as $5 or $10 per month. The late fee is in addition to what you owe for water usage.
Late fees start small but can add up over time. If you continue to pay late, the fees get more expensive. For example, the late fee may increase to $20 or more after a few months of nonpayment.
How Long Do I Have Before My Water is Shut Off?
Most water utilities will not immediately shut off your service if you pay a few days late However, if bills continue going unpaid, the utility can shut off service. Timeframes vary, but water service could be terminated anywhere from 30 days to 90 days after the initial due date
Here are some typical shut off policies
- 30 days late – Receives shut off notice
- 45 days late – Shut off scheduled if balance not paid
- 60+ days late – Water service terminated
Check with your utility for specifics on when shut offs occur for nonpayment.
Can I Pay After My Water is Shut Off?
Yes, you can still pay your past due balance and have your water turned back on after it is shut off. However, there will likely be fees for reconnecting your service. Reconnection fees often start around $50 or more.
Some utilities may not let you get service back until you pay the full amount that’s past due, plus any late fees. Others may let you set up a payment plan. Talk to your utility about options to get reconnected after shut off.
Are There Protections Against Shut Offs?
Most states have laws regulating when utilities can shut off residential service. There are also special protections for certain groups:
- Seniors or people with disabilities may get additional notice periods.
- Tenants may avoid shut off if they pay the utility directly.
- Low-income households can qualify for bill assistance.
Get in touch with your utility company to find out what shut-off protections may apply to your situation. Even if you can’t pay the full bill, there are usually ways to keep the service.
Can I Get an Extension?
Some water utilities allow customers to request a due date extension or payment plan for bills they cannot pay on time. This may prevent late fees or shut offs while you get caught up.
Payment plans let you divide the past due amount into smaller installments over several months. Extensions push the due date back by 7-14 days without a late penalty.
Check your utility’s policies to see if extensions or payment plans are an option. You may need to provide information on your financial hardship to qualify.
The Bottom Line
Try your best to pay water bills by the due date to avoid penalties. If you fall behind, know your rights and responsibilities. Talk to your water provider about payment options before service interruption occurs. Consistent late payments could lead to shut offs, so get on a sustainable payment schedule as soon as possible.
Paying your bill with Auto Pay or Online
Auto pay is available through your checking account, Visa or MasterCard at our website; Please allow 2 billing cycles for auto pay to take effect. If at any time you need to update your credit card or checking account information please contact our office, you will also need to allow 2 billing cycle for this update to take effect.
If you have enrolled in auto pay and your payment is rejected for any reason your auto pay will be deactivated and you will have to re-enroll. Should your payment be rejected you will receive an email from Click2Gov on the due date notifying you that the payment has been rejected. You can either go online and make a manual payment or you can call our office and make a payment over the phone with a Visa or MasterCard. 850-682-6131
If your payment is rejected because of insufficient funds you will be accessed a $25.00 service fee.
DO NOT PAY YOUR BILL ON LINE if your services have been disconnected for non-payment. A service charge is required to have your services restored which cannot be paid on line. Our system will not notify us that you have made a payment.
A bill shall not be considered paid until remittance for same has been received at the office of the Utility Billing Department, and the department shall not be responsible for delays or losses in transportation in the mails or otherwise. Bills are due upon receipt, late fees will apply after the due date. FAILURE TO RECEIVE YOUR BILL DOES NOT EXCUSE PAYMENT.
A 10% penalty is added to all balances not paid in full before close of business on the “Late after 5:00 pm” date on your bill. Payments can be made after hours at the silver utility drop-box located in the City Hall Parking lot at 198 North Wilson Street. However, payments placed in this box after 3:00 pm will not be processed until the next business day. Late fees will apply on Payments in drop box after 3:00 pm on the Due Date. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
| City of Crestview 198 Wilson Street N P.O. Box 1209 Crestview, FL 32536 |
Billing Cycle “A” (bills due on the 1st Tuesday of each month) – Routes #13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.
Billing Cycle “B” (bills due on the 3rd Tuesday of each month) – Routes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, and 99.
Cut-off day for each Cycle will be the Wednesday following your bill due date (if your utility bill remains unpaid as of the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of the following month, depending on your Billing Cycle). Any account with a past due balance is subject to disconnection without additional notice.
If the past due balance is not received in the city utility office prior to 5:00 PM on the bill due date or 4:30 PM if paying on line (1st or 3rd Tuesday of each month, depending on your billing cycle), services will be disconnected and a $25.00 service charge will be assessed. A 10% late fee will also be assessed on payments received after the bill due date (1st or 3rd Tuesday of each month, depending on your billing cycle). If your account is “cut-off” for non-payment, service will not be re-established until the full balance on your account is paid, plus any accrued late fees, plus the $25.00 service charge. At this point, payment of the $25.00 service charge cannot be made on line.
Any accounts which are shut off for nonpayment twice in a 12-month time frame shall be required to pay an additional deposit in an amount equal to the initial deposit. This supplemental deposit shall be in addition to any previous deposit, late fees or service fees. Failure to pay deposits emanating from this section shall have their services discontinued until paid.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make or cause to be made any unauthorized connection to the city water or utility system, to restore service without first complying with the provisions set forth in the city ordinance, or to mutilate, tamper with, or alter, in any intentional manner, any part of the city water or sewer system. Such violation of this Code or Ordinance may be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.00, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 days, or by both. Each day any violation of any provision of this Code or of any ordinance shall continue shall constitute a separate offense. Any City property broken or damaged by a customer must be reimbursed to the City before service is restored.
A customer may terminate the contract for service at any time by giving notice and a forwarding address to the City. Upon termination of your services with the City the deposit will be applied to the customers final bill; but in case notice is not given to the City, then the customer shall continue to be liable for service thereafter and for the minimum monthly rate or charge in case no water is consumed, even though the premises are vacated or occupied by other parties who fail to make application for service and sign a contract.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay Your Water Bill? (Don’t Panic!)
Should I pay all my bills on time?
The reality is it’s always better to pay all of your bills on time to avoid having to pay late fees, hurting your credit score, and damaging your overall financial standing. * Want a Free FICO Score?
What happens if a utility bill is overdue?
Obviously, the customer can, and should, be “reminded” of the overdue payment and perhaps the reminder will result in a payment. A late fee can be imposed and interest charged on the unpaid and overdue account, and this might have the desired effect of securing payment. The utility may contract with a collection agency to obtain payment.
Where can I pay my Aqua Bill?
You can pay your bill in person at any Western Union location for a fee. Western Union agents can help you at your chosen location. You can mail your Aqua bill payment to this address: Aqua, P.O. Box 70279, Philadelphia, PA 19176-0279. Checks only please, made payable to Aqua, plus your state name.
How do I pay my ePortal bill if I receive a shutoff notice?
If you have received a shutoff notice and you pay your bill using the Aqua ePortal platform for a one-time payment the same day as the shutoff notice, you must also call Customer Service with your confirmation number to avoid disconnection. You can pay your bill in person at any Western Union location for a fee.