Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 515-12-1-.28 - Telephone Service Disconnection
Current through Rules and Regulations filed through April 4, 2022
In the event of a proposed disconnection of residential basic local service only, the following procedures shall apply:
(a) No basic residential service shall be
disconnected for local service charge until at least 29 days from the date of
the bill.
(b) No residential
service can be disconnected for local service charges unless the utility has
given the affected customer a written notice of the proposed disconnection at
least five (5) days before the proposed date of disconnection. The notice must
include:
1. The final payment date of the
amount due;
2. The reason for the
disconnection, including the unpaid balance due;
3. A telephone number which the customer may
call for information about the proposed disconnection; and
4. The procedure for medical emergencies, as
hereinafter described.
(c) If contact with the customer was not
previously made and notice of the disconnection was by mail or by leaving it at
the premises, the utility must make a good faith effort to contact the customer
at least two (2) days before the proposed disconnection.
(d) Service shall not be disconnected for
nonpayment of local service charges to a residential customer who has a serious
illness which would be aggravated by said discontinuation, provided that the
customer notifies the utility of this condition in writing, or orally and
within ten (10) days of giving such initial notice furnishes to the utility a
written statement from a physician, county board of health, hospital, or clinic
identifying the illness and its expected duration, and certifying that the
illness would be aggravated by such discontinuance. In such event, the proposed
disconnection shall be held in abeyance for the shorter of either the length of
the illness or one month from the date of such initial notice, and the customer
may renew the postponement period one additional time by repeating the
aforementioned procedure. If there is a dispute regarding the existence of a
serious illness, the case may be referred to the Commission for final
determination.
(e) In the case of a
disputed bill for basic local exchange residential service, the customer shall
have the right, after all remedial measures with the utility have failed, to
request in writing, or orally to be followed by a request in writing, that the
Commission investigate the dispute before residential service may be
disconnected. Such request must be made within ten (10) days after the date of
the disputed bill.
(f) No consumer
may be disconnected for unpaid residential local service if the consumer
notifies the telephone company between the date of receiving a notification of
the proposed disconnection of service and the date set for disconnection and
agrees to pay the unpaid balance for service previously provided in equal
installments over the three consecutive billing months immediately following
said notice. Further, the consumer agrees to pay future bills and the
installments by the date due. However, if a consumer has received a notice of
intent to disconnect, at any time prior to the time when the consumer is once
again current in his billings for service previously provided, if the consumer
makes toll calls exceeding $10.00 in any thirty (30) day period, the telephone
company shall have the right to immediately and without further notice,
disconnect telephone service to that consumer. Similarly, if the consumer fails
to make any agreed upon payment as set forth immediately above, the company may
disconnect service without further notice.
Notes
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