Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

I have lived in a city for seven years and now having a problem with city hall. When iIbought my home I was told that water and trash our paid on one beill trough the city. I began service and recieved trash bins and water service. Recently I noticed my bill has been lower then usual. I was told by neighbors that the city recently changed tehere billing and are sending seperate bills. They said several people were not recieveng bills and I should go to city hall to make sure I am being billed properly. I called several times and left messages about the problem through an automated service but was never conatcted by anyone. Today I went in city hall and they told me that they have never billed me for trash service my entire seven years and only fior water. I no longer have my bills because they are shredded after new bills arive. I requested copies of past bills and am worried about the worse case scenario and they didnt bill me for trash. I required to pay back the entire seven years that I was not billed for if it was their mistake ?


Asked on 3/03/11, 6:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

The city probably can go back no more than 4 years for the bills [4 year statute of limitations on written contract] but even though it was their fault in not billing you you got the advantage of the trash being picked up so you can not complain they are not entitled to payment for those 4 or more years. Even had you not liked how much they were charging, you had not choice but had to use their service so I do not see how you can avoid having to pay for at least the last 4 years.

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Answered on 3/04/11, 2:54 pm


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