News

January 9, 2009

Pittston trash notices sent in error

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

PITTSTON – Thousands of Pittston residents received bills from a credit collection agency in error earlier this week for unpaid trash-collection fees.

More than 2,400 households received the bills from TekCollect, the collection agency, due to a computer glitch, said City Clerk Ron Mortimer, who added people should disregard the bill and throw it away.

“This part is very upsetting to us. This is the worst thing that could have happened,” Mortimer said.

TekCollect officials did not return calls seeking comment.

Most homeowners received the bill dated Dec. 22 on Wednesday. The bill lists the homeowner’s name and address but does not specify what the resident is being billed for. People who are current on their trash fees received bills stating they owed nothing but were required to pay a $30 collection fee to the agency.

“It’s not fair to all the good people who do pay their bills,” Mortimer said.

TekCollect is responsible for collecting $216,416 from 527 households for overdue fees from 2007, Mortimer said.

The city might hire another collection firm, but Mortimer said that decision would be up to the City Council.

TekCollect was hired in late 2006 to collect past-due trash collection fees. The firm received $20,000 in the last two years, but the city recently revised its payment fee with the firm. Now the city receives 66 cents for every dollar collected while TekCollect gets 33 cents.

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