Letter: Artesian shouldn’t require HUD settlement document
I recently sold my home near Millsboro which was served by Artesian Water Co. When trying to arrange payment of my final bill I was told, repeatedly, that I must submit a copy of the HUD settlement report to them to transfer the account to the new owner.
The title transfer is public record and readily available – usually published in a newspaper. I asked to have a supervisor call me and explain why they require the HUD document, since neither Poores Propane nor DEC require it, nor any utility in the 13 states I have lived in prior.
Her reply was “we have always done it that way.” When I pressed her she added that they need it because anyone could call and claim they moved. She then repeated that they have always done it that way. When I asked why the other utilities don’t need it, the reply was she didn’t know and they don’t tell the others what to do.
I have a problem with them requiring that the HUD document, with all the details of the sale, be given to them just to transfer the account. What do they do for apartments and other rentals that don’t have a HUD?
The Delaware authority over utilities should examine this practice and forbid it – it is not necessary. And while they are at it, look at why they charge a flat fee for wastewater, even though they have a meter reading of water usage.
I could use 1,000 gallons or 10,000 gallons and the wastewater charge would be the same. How is that fair?
Stanley Schultheis
Millsboro
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