Company never billed you...

[Katrina]

What would you do if you found out that a company never billed you for a service from a year ago (or more)?

We have a septic system, and ever 3 years our township requires that it gets pumped and receives a passing inspection. We had that done in Aug 2022 and they didn't bill us right away, but called in November of that year telling us that they needed to bill us, so I gave them the updated credit card information. The township wrote to me saying they don't have the invoice on file, so now we're looking through our credit card statements and can't find the company's payment at all for that year or the beginning of 2023.

What are your thoughts?

 

[MrDawn]

but called in November of that year telling us that they needed to bill us, so I gave them the updated credit card information. The township wrote to me saying they don't have the invoice on file, so now we're looking through our credit card statements and can't find the company's payment at all for that year or the beginning of 2023.

It's their screw up. They might as well write it off. It makes no sense to make you pay now after waiting as long as they did.

 

[zappaDPJ]

I'd say ultimately retail law should dictate culpability/responsibility but as described it sounds like the service provider needs to provide you with an invoice. If they can't do that how do you know who to pay and how much, plus more to the point, how do you know you are not being scammed?

 

[Felly]

Sounds like it's their fault, more than likely an error on their end, especially since it took until November for them to realize you hadn't paid yet. It sounds like you've done your part by giving them the updated card information, but they lost their end of the paperwork. I would personally find proof of the work being done, like some sort of receipt that you have, and send that in so they can't get you for not having the work done, and then just leave the ball in their court on whether or not they want to charge at this point. I personally wouldn't charge because it's been so long, and I would hope the township would feel the same.

One of the girls in my work's salon didn't notice one of her clients was supposed to pay for a previous grooming service before receiving the next, and when she brought it to my attention, I just shrugged it off and said not to stress it because it had already been at least 6 weeks since the previous service. Mistakes happen, but sometimes, you just gotta let it go.

 

[Katrina]

No update yet from the company and I have no real paper trail to prove the work was done. There are only 2 of us living here, so we shouldn't have to get the septic pumped until Aug 2025. I am going to wait a few months and see if the company ever returns my email or phone call and then let the township know what's going on.