Columbus City Utilities is warning that an individual is fraudulently identifying himself as a city employee and contacting customers saying he will turn off the customer’s water if they do not pay him the amount due immediately.
City utilities workers do not contact customers in person when attempting to collect payment for their bill, according to the department. Also, field crews from the utilities are not authorized to accept payments from customers. All payments must be made through the business office or online.
The department does provide an automated notification system that allows for over-the-phone payment, but this system announces the customer’s account number and the exact amount that is past due. Customers should verify each piece of information before using the system.
If there are any doubts or concerns, customers should call the utilities office at 812-372-8861 and follow the prompts to verify the amount owed and make any required payments.
