Delinquent Accounts
A delinquent account is any account with a balance carried over from a previous billing cycle.
Rules, Regulations and Allowances
- Accounts are due and payable on the due date as listed on the water service bill.
- Accounts are considered delinquent after 5:00 PM on the due date that as listed on the water
- service bill.
- A 10% late fee penalty will be added if the account is not paid within ten (10) days after the due
- date.
- A thirty (30) day delinquency may result in termination of service.
- A reconnection fee will be assessed if the service is disconnected.
- Services will not be disconnected for delinquency immediately preceding a weekend or a holiday.
- Delinquent accounts may be scheduled for immediate disconnection of service.
- A delinquent account that has had no activity or correspondence from the customer for thirty (30) days after being locked will be made a final account and processed for further collection action.
Reasons for Locking a Delinquent Account
Accounts can be disconnected for any of the following reasons:
- Failure of the customer to pay any past due bill.
- Discovery of tap or meter tampering including bypassing the meter or altering its function.
- Failure of the customer to permit Richland County employees to access their meter(s) at all reasonable hours.
- Discovery of a condition which is determined to be hazardous or unsafe to the public health.
- Failure of the customer to provide Richland County Utilities with the correct and/or complete billing information.
- Service will not be disconnected for delinquency immediately preceding a weekend or holiday, except for instances determined to be hazardous or unsafe to the public health.
PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING A DELINQUENT ACCOUNT
A monthly audit of all accounts will be conducted to determine a list of delinquent accounts.
Unlocking a Delinquent Account
You must pay the entire past due balance plus any applicable reconnection and/or penalty fees before service can be reestablished. Payment can be in the form of:
- Cash
- Personal checks--we will not accept a personal check if a check on your account has been returned to Richland County Utilities for any reason within one year preceding the locking of the delinquent account
- Certified checks
- Money order
- Credit/debit card payments
No third party paychecks will be accepted for delinquent accounts.
Pay in person
Between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Richland County Finance Department
4th Floor
2020 Hampton Street
Pay by phone
Between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
(803) 576-2094
(803) 576-2099
Pay online
Login to your account to pay online.