ORLANDO, Fla. — After a plumbing problem left a local woman broke from high water bills, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) made matters worse by charging her a $1,200 deposit. However, a call from WFTV solved the problem.
"When you saw these bills what was your reaction?" WFTV report Steve Barrett asked OUC customer Abby Blum.
"I was like, ‘Oh my God how am I going to pay these bills?'" she replied.
Abby Blum couldn't believe it when her utility bill started to spike, ending up four times what it normally is with no explanation.
Blum's house is only 1900 square-feet, she lives there with her father and she was surprised when her power and water bill topped $500.
"The bills kept getting higher and they're like $700-something, then $800 and then $1,000 and the next thing I know, I have a flood in my house," Blum said.
Turns out the whole time Abby had a bad hot water line that was about to burst, so not only were thousands of gallons of water leaking, her water heater ran constantly for months.
Abby called OUC and was told she had to pay the bills, but she could do it over time. That was a financial nightmare for the disabled woman, but do-able.
Then a letter arrived. OUC now wanted a deposit because of late payments on the huge bills.
"I said, ‘How much is the deposit?' Thinking it's going to be like a $200 deposit like normal, and she says, ‘$1,200.' I'm like, what?" Blum said.
OUC calculated the deposit based on an average on the bills that is until WFTV got involved. WFTV called OUC, but they didn't call back. Instead, they called Abby immediately and rescinded their deposit demand.
"Someone called back and said, ‘We're sorry for any inconvenience but you don't have to pay a deposit it was a mistake.' I was like ‘Oh okay. Thank you,'" Blum said.
"Problem solved?" Barrett asked.
"Problem solved," she replied.
WFTV tried several times to speak with OUC officials about the case, but didn't hear back.
It is common practice for utilities to require a deposit once a customer is late with a payment.
WFTV
