Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

During the last couple of weeks several businesses in Hartselle received phone calls from a person claiming to be with Hartselle Utilities. During the conversation the caller told the business owner they had not paid their utility bill and if action was not taken immediately their utilities would be turned off.

Vicki Hamilton, owner of Gracie Renee’s received a call saying, she needed to rectify the situation immediately because HU was on their way to turn off her utilities because of non-payment. At the time Hamilton did not realize this was a scam and told the caller she was going to Hartselle Utilities to check on this. Hamilton knew she had paid her bill because the check written to HU had cleared.

When she relayed to the caller that she was going to HU to check on this, the caller hung up. The caller also told Hamilton they could not take check numbers as proof.

Liz Quint with Hartselle Glass also received a similar call. The caller told her they were calling on behalf of Hartselle Utilities and they were going to cut off her “glass and mirrors.” Quint started laughing and hung up and called HU to confirm that her bill had been paid.

Terri Harris, Customer Service Manager with HU called Quint back and told her several businesses had been called and this was a scam with the callers trying to defraud money from innocent victims. At least five businesses in Hartselle were targeted in the past few weeks. However, none of the businesses fell prey to the scam.

As the scam usually runs, if the person wants to take action they are asked to go to a store immediately and buy a pre-paid credit card, the person would then call the number back where it would be answered Hartselle Utilities, and give the card number to pay the so called past due bill. Once the victim pays for the credit card and the number given to the scammer the victim’s money is lost.

Bob Sittason, General Manager of Hartselle Utilities says this scam pops up every few months. He would like to remind HU customers that HU does not call customers after hours and on weekends; they also do not call from an 800 number. Sittason urged anyone with questions about their bill to call HU at 256-773-3340 during regular business hours.

He also mentioned that HU does not cut off utilities after hours nor do they demand credit card payment for past due bills.

If a customer does have a past due bill and time has passed that the utilities are to be disconnected, the customer will receive an automated call with a 24-hour notice, giving the customer time to make arrangements to take care of the delinquent bill.

“We would never call and demand payment telling a customer we are on the pay to turn off their power” Sittason stated.

He also mentioned that when the call is returned to the so called representative they will answer Hartselle Utilities for a short period of time, then in a few days the phone may be answered Alabama Power before the phone number is killed.

While this scam has been going around for a couple of years targeting unsuspecting homeowners, they have just recently started targeting businesses.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent HU trying to collect a past due utility bill, please do not give out any personal information. Hang up on the caller and call HU, or Joe Wheeler EMC if they are your provider. Once the scam takes place there will be no recourse available to get your funds returned.