Collins Park put out a memo on August 16th stating that (rent) "payments will be applied first to non-rent items such as late fees, charges for damages,etc. leaving a balance due on rent and late charges will continue to accrue until the balance is paid in full." In other words, if you have a late water bill, it will be paid with your rent check leaving a balance due on your rent, which in return charges a $25 dollar fee and $10 dollars a day until the past due "rent" is paid. This is illegal according to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality who governs the federal laws around utility billing and collection. According to the water addendum that was signed when I moved in, it states that late water utility payments will be assessed a 5% late charge of the water bill. Example: My 26 dollar water bill was late being paid so I was charged $140.00 in late "rent" fees instead of $1.30 as stated in my addendum. This is not only outrageous, but a federal offense. If you are a resident who has paid the late "rent" charges contact the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality @ 512-239-6100. According to Sub chapter H of the Environmental Quality Texas Administration Code: Section 291.125 (Billing) paragraph (j)
"Unless Utility bills are paid to a third party billing company on behalf of the owner, or unless clearly designated by the tenant, payments shall be applied first to rent and then to utilities."

User Responses
From: Nonayabiz	Date: 07/15/2006
If you paid your bills on time that really wouldn't be an issue now would it? Think about it....the end result may very well be ridiculous. However, as with anything else comes late fees and intrest. Nothing is free. PAY YOUR BILLS and this problem here wouldn't occur. If it was so illegal don't you think they would've been out of business a long time ago? You're not the only one on the planet that so called know's everything. Besides why trust somebody who can't pay their bills on time anyway? RIIIIGGGGHHHHHT
From: specialforces	Date: 08/13/2008
OK Nonaybiz. What if you actually pay your freaking rent on TIME and the office morons wait till the 5th or the 7th to have it clear your bank. What kind of managment team do they have there? My friggin rent was paid on time and the office staff (I would assume you) didn't get it into your bank for at least 5 days. You have NOT heard the last if this one. AND YES I PAID MY FRIGGIN RENT ON TIME!!!!!!!

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