April 4th, 2012
City warns against utility collections scam

STAFF REPORT

San Marcos utility officials are warning electric and water customers to watch out for phone calls demanding utility bill payments and threatening to cut off service.

Utility Customer Service Manager Ernest Cavazos said a customer notified a staff member that a person claiming to represent the City’s electric utility called and warned him to pay his bill or his service would be cut off.

“We are not making such calls and do not process disconnections or delinquencies in this manner,” Cavazos said. “Nor do our representatives request payments or take payments in the field.”

In-person payments are collected at the utility customer service offices at 1040 Highway 123 and the Municipal Building, 630 E. Hopkins, or at HEB Business Centers and Money Box locations.

He suggested people who receive suspicious calls should report them to the Police Department non-emergency number at 753.2108.

For information about paying City of San Marcos Utility bills, call the utility office at 512-393-8383 or visit online at http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/departments/utilities/options.html .