How to Dispute Utility Bills When the Company Won't Listen

I have a secret to tell you: Utility companies are not infallible! Perhaps you were already aware of this fact, but if you've never scrutinized a utility bill, you could be paying more than you actually owe. Many of us sign up for online bill pay, in which case bills are paid automatically from credit card or checking accounts. If you don't even see your phone, electric, gas, water or trash bills every month, you could be wasting a lot of dough.

Unfortunately, however, filing a dispute over utility bills can require a lot of energy, especially when the company won't listen. They are trained to put off your concerns and insist that the total amount shown on the bill is correct, when in fact this isn't always the case. It doesn't mean that your utility company is intentionally trying to bilk you out of your hard-earned money; it just means that meter-readers sometimes get it wrong.

Check the Proof Yourself

To stay on top of your utility bills before filing a dispute, you need to make sure you have the facts each time the bill comes in the mail. Check your water, gas and electricity readings from their meters at home, and record them in a log book on or around the time that the meter reader is scheduled to show. Some electricity companies will allow you to read and submit your readings each month, so you might want to look into that as well.

Call Right Away

If something doesn't look right on your meter readings, call your utility company to dispute the utility bill right away. The faster you get your complaint logged in their files, the more likely you are to prevail. If you wait a month, it will be more difficult to convince them that you are correct and they are wrong, especially if it's a narrow margin on the meter.

Write Down Everything

When you call the utility company, have a pen and paper in front of you so that you can take notes. Write down the name of the person who answers, the date and time of the call, and their response to your complaint. You can bet that they'll have a record later, so make sure it matches theirs. To successfully dispute a utility bill, you have to be meticulous in your search for justice.

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