When did you move from that place?
Did you call to turn OFF the utilities? Not transfer them to someone else's name, but actually turn them off? Did you receive your final bill AFTER you moved out?
** saying you are moving is not always enough to close out your account, especially if no one comes along behind you to put the utilities in their name.
** turning them OFF helps prevent the final bill from being too high. Here, if you turn OFF the utilities cuz you are moving, you are still responsible for the monthly costs for the privledge of having that service (costs $10-20 account fees per month) monthly until someone comes alongs and puts the bill in their name.
** the final bill can be generated up to a month after you close the account.
When we moved, I called and cancelled the service, and asked them to turn OFF the utilities. They said sure, but you know you have to pay until someone else comes along and says they will pay. The new tenant couldn't be bothered with putting the bills in her name. That created an issue. 
The bright side is most companies will now go after the owner of the property, if you are renting and tell them you are renting when you open the account in your name, and the bill will revert back to the owner. And if you sold the property, make sure you tell them you sold and who will be calling to set up a new account.
@IOBA wrote:When did you move from that place?
Did you call to turn OFF the utilities? Not transfer them to someone else's name, but actually turn them off? Did you receive your final bill AFTER you moved out?
** saying you are moving is not always enough to close out your account, especially if no one comes along behind you to put the utilities in their name.
** turning them OFF helps prevent the final bill from being too high. Here, if you turn OFF the utilities cuz you are moving, you are still responsible for the monthly costs for the privledge of having that service (costs $10-20 account fees per month) monthly until someone comes alongs and puts the bill in their name.
** the final bill can be generated up to a month after you close the account.
When we moved, I called and cancelled the service, and asked them to turn OFF the utilities. They said sure, but you know you have to pay until someone else comes along and says they will pay. The new tenant couldn't be bothered with putting the bills in her name. That created an issue.
The bright side is most companies will now go after the owner of the property, if you are renting and tell them you are renting when you open the account in your name, and the bill will revert back to the owner. And if you sold the property, make sure you tell them you sold and who will be calling to set up a new account.
Thanks, I moved from this location on 5/31/06 and I did shut off the utilities. The statement they gave me is dated 6/5/2006 and reflects it as a final bill and the amount is in-line with what I'd expect ($35). The previous balance amount of $689 is what I'm questioning. Also of note, I have an old copy of my experian report from last January and it reflects the same account with the same collection agency and a much lower balance. I also have the original collection letter on the account which is a much lower number, it almost looks like the CA is going in and manipulating the bill statement they are sending me.