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County Attorney's Report 9. 2.

BCC Regular Meeting

Information

Meeting Date:	08/15/2019
Issue: Billing Dispute with Frontier Communications
From:	KRISTIN HUAL
Department:	County Attorney's Office
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning a Billing Dispute with Frontier Communications.

That the Board accept the following information:

Frontier Communications has agreed to accept the amount of $9,958.98 as payment in full for all charges accruing on the account from 3/20/15-7/20/19 relating to services provided to Escambia County Fire Rescue at the Walnut Hill Fire Department. The account balance of $15,446.63 was reduced by $5,487.65 to eliminate all charges for broadband service from 3/20/15-10/20/18. The account is current as of the last invoice dated 7/20/19. The Public Safety Department will monitor future invoices and remit timely payment for authorized services on a monthly basis.

BACKGROUND:

In 1996, the Fire Rescue Division established an account with Frontier Communications to provide services for the Walnut Hill Fire Department.

In November of 2018, Frontier contacted the Fire Rescue Division to advise the account was in arrears and had not been paid since the invoice dated March 20, 2015. At that time, it was discovered the account was revised in error, and from 3/20/15 forward, all billing statements were remitted to an unknown address, and monthly charges for two business telephone lines and broadband service for the Walnut Hill FD continued to accrue with no notice to the County. As of the statement dated October 20, 2018, the account was revised to reflect the correct account information and eliminate broadband service.

The amount billed for services from 3/20/15-7/20/19 totaled $15,446.63. Of that amount, the disputed amount billed from 3/20/15-9/20/15 totaled $13,327.44; and the undisputed amount billed for authorized services since 10/20/18 totaled $2,119.19. The County previously offered to remit payment for authorized services billed from 10/20/18 forward, and Frontier, in turn, offered the County a 90-day credit on the account.

After receiving Board direction on June 6, 2019, the County Attorney's Office contacted Frontier Communications and extended an offer in compromise in the amount of $7,839.79 for charges associated with the two business phone lines accruing from 3/20/15-9/20/18 plus the undisputed amount of $2,119.19 for authorized services accruing since 10/20/18. Frontier agreed to revise the total amount billed by $5,487.65 to eliminate all charges for broadband service and accept payment in the amount of $9,958.98 for all charges accruing on the account to date.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

Funding is available in Fund 143, Fire Services, Cost Center 330302, Fire Department Paid, Object Code 54101, Communications.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

N/A

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

The Public Safety Department will monitor monthly invoices and remit timely payment for authorized services.

Attachments
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