City wants to send cash to people who overpaid

The city of Thousand Oaks has completed its annual audit of outstanding credit balances on closed utility bill accounts.

Wake up. That sentence may not be the most exciting ever written, but it could mean cash coming in the mail for more of those who overpaid the city in the first place.

For the past three years the city has been tracking down customers who overpaid their utility bills- some got back almost $2,000.

"Most of the larger amounts have already been claimed, but there are still some people we are trying to find and pay," Terri Scott, revenue operations manager for the city.

The reasons for overpayment are simple. Sometimes customers move several times in a row. The city doesn't always get notified of their second or third forwarding address. They are due a refund, but the city doesn't know where to send it. Or, the city sends out reminders to people to pay a bill they might have already paid and, without meaning to, the customer pays again, she said.

"We've been actively trying to find these people for three years," Scott said.

A list of unclaimed utility payments has been maintained in the city's general water fund for over three years and if not claimed, will become the property of the city on Fri., June 6.

That means almost $15,000 will go back into the water fund, and city water customers will benefit from the money, Scott explained.

If someone recognizes a name- their own or a friend or family member's- the person listed must contact the city, fill out a claim form and send it to the city's finance department along with documentation supporting their claim for ownership.

A claim form can be obtained on the city's website at www.toaks.org or by mail from the city by calling (805) 4492201. The form can also be picked up at city hall.

Documentation will be required to support a claim.