In my last blog post, I referenced a listserv that I subscribe to. A reader inquired about the listserv, so I thought a post dedicated to resources might be a good idea. For those who are unfamiliar, a listserv is […]
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Utility Billing
In a recent posting on a listserv I subscribe to, someone inquired if any other jurisdictions have a policy that requires employees who handle cash to make up shortages from personal funds. A similar question was asked back in 2012, […]
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With two business reviews I recently completed, both utilities required new applicants for service to show photo ID, but neither required a copy of the rental agreement or closing documents. Let’s take a look at why that is a poor […]
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I recently assisted a customer with the conversion process to new billing software. On the first day of on-site training, the trainer from the software vendor said, “I’m glad Gary’s here, but I hope things go smoothly enough that we […]
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Last year, I wrote about fraud prevention, specifically as it dealt with a small office with insufficient staff to ensure proper separation of duties. In that office, the same person who received payments was also able to make adjustments, which […]
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When it comes to trying to change someone’s behavior, the phrase “carrot or stick” is often evoked. The carrot represents a reward for achieving the desired behavior, and the stick represents a punishment for refusing to do so. In the last […]
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I’ve been asked about utilities charging a paper bill fee at more than one recent speaking engagement, so I thought this was a topic worth investigating. I did some Google sleuthing and found several utilities that charge a fee for […]
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Not only are postage rates increasing again, but USPS delivery standards are also changing. As I understand it from this article, that could be good news or bad news, depending on how far you are located from your regional processing […]
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Have you heard the news? Postage rates are set to increase again on July 13! The cost of a first-class letter will increase by five cents, from $0.73 to $0.78. The cost of a postcard will increase by six cents, […]
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My last three blog posts have reported the results of the 2025 Utility Fee Survey. I conduct the Utility Fee Survey every other year in odd-numbered years, and have done so since 2015. One of the things I enjoy about […]
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