Legal Question in Consumer Law in Illinois

What do you mean "mark the check"? You can attempt a restrictive ENDORSEMENT but what does "current bill" mean? You have to be much more specific, and the utility may reject it too. If you put it on the "MEMO" line on the front of your check, it is meaningless but if you do the proper ENDORSEMENT, then a duplicate memo would at least suggest you are attempting to put them on notice. The other problem is the bill: utilities tell you (usually) NOT to put any "correspondence" (or the like) on the bill but to call or write separately and discuss whatever it is that concerns you. Most utilities also have a claims process if you feel you were damaged by an interruption of service. Point is that doing the "check" thing only usually won't get very far, is risky, and they'll just keep adding late fees and other charges, and at some point it will be too far in the future and you or they will have to dig through all your records and reconcile things in the past, which becomes more difficult. So ultimately my suggestion is to get on the phone with them, and write them if need be, and straighten this out. Consider settling for a compromise bill......

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