Subtitle 4 – Collection of Charges

Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection:

Recipients of the Water-for-All Discount Program are not liable for any penalties imposed under this subsection while enrolled in the Program.

Prior to any cut-off for delinquency of payment, the Director of Public Works shall, at least 45 days prior to the earliest date on which service will be cut-off, provide notice as required by subsection (d) of this section.

Cut-offs may be performed:

The Department may not cut off water more than 90 calendar days after the cut-off notice, unless it has issued a new cut-off notice in the manner required by subsection (d) of this section.

shall be served both by certified mail and by posting on the front entrance to the customer’s premises; and

shall clearly state:

with respect to any charges giving rise to the cut-off, the customer requests, in good faith, Office assistance under <cite data-path="|24|§2-19">§ 2-19 {“Office ... – Request for assistance”} of this article</cite>;

the customer produces a written record of payment in full of all delinquent charges that gave rise to the cut-off notice;

the customer pays the full amount demanded in the cut-off notice;

the customer offers to enter into an installment payment agreement, in accordance with <cite data-path="|24|§4-5">§ 4-5 {“Installment payment agreement”} of this subtitle</cite> and, within 3 days, executes the agreement and pays the down payment or initial installment;

the customer has submitted an application for the Water-for-All Discount Program and a determination of eligibility is pending;

the customer indicates that the customer has a significant medical condition, as certified in writing by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or the Baltimore City Department of Health, indicating that the absence of water service at the subject residential premises will aggravate the existing significant medical condition;

the customer provides verifiable documentation that the customer is 62 years old or older, under 18 years old, or has an infant human being not more than 6 months old in residence at the premises;

the customer provides verifiable documentation that the customer has central vision acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens, has at least one eye with a limitation in the fields of vision such that widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees, as certified in writing by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or the Baltimore City Department of Health;

the customer provides verifiable documentation that the customer has a physical, mental, or medical impairment resulting from anatomical, physiological, or neurological conditions that prevents the exercise of a normal bodily function or that renders the customer unable to manage his or her own resources or to protect himself or herself from neglect or hazardous situations without the assistance of others, as certified in writing by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or the Baltimore City Department of Health;

the property where service is to be cut off is in bankruptcy proceedings; or

the property where service is to be cut off is in tax lien certificate sale.

The Finance Director shall offer an installment payment agreement to each customer who has been issued a cut-off notice.

Execution of an installment payment agreement acceptable to the Finance Director will enable the customer to:

inform the customer of the availability of an agreement;

state the minimum terms of the agreement that would be acceptable to the Director;

explain any alternate terms that may be available;

state the date by which the customer must contact the Department and execute an agreement in order to avoid service cut-off;

indicate the name and telephone number of a Department representative that the customer may call to discuss an agreement; and

state what action the Department will take if an installment payment agreement is not executed and returned by its due date.

the total amount and dates of the delinquent charges covered by the agreement;

the time period over which the total amount shall be paid;

the number, due date, and amount of each periodic payment due under the agreement;

the amount of the required down payment or initial installment due on the customer’s execution of the agreement, which may not exceed 25% of the total amount covered by the agreement;

the interest rate to be charged on the unpaid balance under the agreement, which shall be equal to the interest rate then being charged by the City for unpaid real estate taxes on a property where the annual real estate taxes are $2,750 or less; and

the customer’s right under § 2-17 et seq. of <cite data-path="|24">this article</cite> to the services of a Customer Advocate in seeking resolution of any billing or other dispute.