Missed Utility Payment

Mai-Kero

So was organizing my gmail account, and somehow managed to make one of my labels automatically archive and mark as read my utility here-is-what-you-pay-this-month email for my electricity. I was getting kind of worried because I hadn't received one (and I don't get paper statements) so I searched my archive, and what do you know, there it is. So I made the payment last night, but it was five days late. They hadn't called or sent me another email or anything, so I don't know if I'm in trouble or not.

I use AEP of Ohio. Do companies usually fine for things like that? Will I take a hit to my credit? It's my first late payment ever, for anything.

VisionOfClarity

Call them and ask them tomorrow. I know my electric company pretty much doesn't care as long as it doesn't happen frequently and you catch up quickly. Hell I missed one month completely when my grandmother died and when I called they told me not to worry about it without asking for an explanation.

RUNN1NGMAN

They might report it as a late payment, but in my experience that doesn't happen if your behavior puts you in the "forgot to pay" category. I've had this happen numerous times for one reason or another, and have never seen it reported. You can always call and plead your case if you are worried—generally businesses aren't interested in screwing over people who misplace the occasional bill or forget to mail a check.

Moe Fwacky

5 days late ain't shit. You might get a 1.5% late fee (I think it's still that much), which amounts to a spit in the bucket. Other than that, you're fine. Typically they don't go after people until they owe over a grand for a few months.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

My old utility company didn't even care if you missed a month outright, as long as you were caught up by the next month's bill.

You paid it, you aren't in danger of having your power turned off, I would just wait and see if you hear from them.

Algertman

You're fine, don't worry. Worst case scenario you pay a late fee and that's it.

TL DR

Yeah, utility companies don't have the legal authority to absolutely fuck you for making a common mistake like a bank does. You might see a $5 fee or so, which you could easily get reversed with a phone call. They also have to notify you well in advance before turning off your power. Like if you forgot two bills in a row, your power might go off on the day the third was due.

Xaquin

generally, you get a 7-15 day grace period the first couple times you're late on a bill

least the few times I've messed up, that's what the people I call to apologize to tell me

Limp moose

this same thing just happened to me. They added 20 bucks to this months bill that was it.

Lukin

You worry when THEY call YOU about it. If you're just a few days off, as everybody said, you're fine.

Now if they do call you, don't flip. Just be calm and say "Dude, I spaced. Look at my history, I've never missed a payment. I'll jump online and pay the bill right now." This is how I react when I've forgotten in the past and I've never taken a hit.

Al_wat

Lukin wrote: »

You worry when THEY call YOU about it.

In general this isn't really a good practice when dealing with any kind of bill you have; if you owe money its your responsibility to make sure it gets paid. Sometimes they (although probably not the power company) will just hand shit over to collectors without calling you depending on what its for.

But yeah, 5 days late is not a big deal. You already made the payment, they may or may not even do anything about it.

shadydentist

It doesn't get serious until they send you a letter threatening to shut off your utilities.

Which has happened to me once. I blame my roommate.

Sam

Mai-Kero wrote: »

So was organizing my gmail account, and somehow managed to make one of my labels automatically archive and mark as read my utility here-is-what-you-pay-this-month email for my electricity. I was getting kind of worried because I hadn't received one (and I don't get paper statements) so I searched my archive, and what do you know, there it is. So I made the payment last night, but it was five days late. They hadn't called or sent me another email or anything, so I don't know if I'm in trouble or not.

I use AEP of Ohio. Do companies usually fine for things like that? Will I take a hit to my credit? It's my first late payment ever, for anything.

Electric providers are prohibited from cutting you off until it's close to summer, unless you live somewhere warm. There's a borderline socialist regulation that forces them to let delinquent accounts get on a pay agreement if they've accumulated missed payments, all without getting shut off.

So basically they can't turn you off and it's unlikely you'll even get a late fee for being late with one payment.

The Crowing One

As others have said, there is usually a grace period for late payments. Give the company a call and they can tell you if you're being hit with a late charge.

On the other side, you have nothing to really worry about with your credit score. Utilities, generally, don't report delinquent accounts until they've given up working it out otherwise. I suppose the rationale is that they don't want to screw up your credit, but they sure as hell will if you don't make payments for four months. When you call them, ask if they report 5-day lates.

rfalias

A couple of days is no big deal. I've just plain forgotten a few times. Just pay it and move on.

Now, it's when they start turning things off that it matters. Which they won't do until its months late.