A billing company can only bill what it receives. If a bill arrives late, goes to the wrong address, or a utility shifts its read dates, a cycle can drop out of resident billing entirely. Some months then look billed twice while others are missing.
The check
- List every utility bill by service period, per account.
- List every resident billing period by service and dates.
- Match them. Any utility period with no resident billing covering it is a missed cycle; its cost is the amount at stake.
What to ask
- Why the cycle is missing from the billing reports.
- Whether the billing company can still back-bill it (most leases and state rules allow a limited look-back; ask what applies to you).
- How bills reach the billing company, so the next one isn't missed.