Phillips: Reading bill lets you find costly errors

Q: I don't know what the problem is but I've noticed several billing mistakes in the past few months. I do get the bills corrected but it's frustrating. Am I wrong in thinking some companies are "on the take?" -- Samuel Scrutinize

A: Dear Mr. Scrutinize: Overall, I think you are wrong. While researching these overcharges, I've found, unfortunately, overbilling is far more commonplace than most of us realize. (Actually I'm glad you've written about this issue, as my poor husband believes I'm the only consumer alive whom companies red-flag.)

As I've always urged, the more we dissect each and every bill that comes along, the more likely we are to catch mistakes -- fraudulent or otherwise -- that saves us tons of money over the long run.

According to Consumer World and a few other consumer advocacy groups, overcharges seem to center around six particular business types.

-- Utility companies. Speaking of red flags, those folks and I are on a first-name basis. First off, estimated usage is based on last year's usage patterns (unfair, in my opinion). What if last year's bills were in error? POW! Double whammy to the wallet! Even if a meter reading isn't accessible (and sometimes a meter is even read incorrectly to boot), you can take some protective steps, assuming you don't want to go on Budget Billing.

1. Grab your camera and take a photo of the meter; schedule an appointment with the applicable technician.

2. When "Teddy Tech" arrives, ya'll both check the reading, write down the number and be sure he/she does the same. If this number doesn't match up with what's on your bill, then get back in touch with a company supervisor.

3. If no resolution occurs, contact your state public utilities commissioner whose address you can find in the phone book or online. For more oompah, personalize the complaint to the following: Alabama -- Lucy Baxley; Georgia -- Doug Everett; Tennessee -- Dr. Kenneth Hill (Tennessee Regulatory Authority).

-- Phone companies. Any charges for services not on your plan? Just because a subscriber pays for caller ID doesn't mean he or she automatically uses call waiting and so forth. Don't remember dialing information to check on a number? How about a charge you paid last month but pops back up again?

All these scenarios mean courteous complaining on your part. Just as quickly as you receive your bill, check for errors and call immediately; phone companies allow 60 days to dispute unauthorized charges.

Call Free Yellow Pages for persons, business, and government listings at 1-800-935-5697.

-- Banks. Some banks misapply charges, so better keep an eye out. For example, if you've a no-fee checking account and check writing fees show up on your monthly statement, your hard-earned money is flying into Bitter Bank Business' pocket. The same holds true for other problems, such as "Bitter" charging for a bounced check when you have overdraft protection or charging an out-of-network ATM fee if you used the bank's ATM colleagues. If even one nickel mistakenly escapes your account, call your bank within 60 days from the date it mailed the statement.

Of course, everyone knows when talking with customer service and/or disputing any charge, make a note as to when you called, to whom you spoke and the disposition of the problem. Request a written confirmation, preferably by e-mail. If the predicament occurs again, don't hesitate to speak with a supervisor and as high up as you can get within the corporate office.

Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. Her Consumer Watch column appears on Saturdays in the Business section of the paper. An expanded version is at www.timesfreepress.com under Local Business. E-mail her at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com