City of Falls Church Council Votes Not to Pay Claims of Alleged Overcharged Water Bills

City of Falls Church City Council voted 6-0 Monday night not to pay claims from water utility customers for alleged overcharged bills.

City Councilman Lawrence Webb said council was advised by their lawyer not to pay the claims but to take the claims through the legal process.

“We’re going to take the legal process and let it play out,” Webb said.

Since December, several customers, mostly in Fairfax County, have complained that their water bills from the City of Falls Church were overcharged. Customers allege that they were overcharged between fiscal years 2007 through 2009. Alexandria-based lawyer John Charles Bennison filed a lawsuit on behalf of 21 water utility customers who alleged they were overcharged for services. According to the water utility’s website, the company supplies water to 35,000 commercial and residential customers within the City of Falls Church and Fairfax County.

Barbara Gordon, spokeswoman for the city said there is no court dates as of yet. She said the city will communicate their decision to the customers who allege they were overcharged.

“This week letters will go out to the 700 customers who asked for refunds,” Gordon said.