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Trash firm to review charges [San Angelo Standard-Times, Texas :: ](San Angelo Standard-Times (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) June 28--SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Republic Services, San Angelo's trash services contractor, announced it will conduct a comprehensive review of commercial billing statements to identify any incorrect fees charged in the past. "Commercial customers will receive a full refund for any fees incorrectly charged to their accounts," said Kenny Ramzinski, general manager, in a news release sent out Friday afternoon. "We will work in close coordination with the city of San Angelo and a third party accounting firm throughout this review to determine the exact amount to be refunded to affected commercial customers." San Angelo is in negotiations with Republic, which has been the city's solid waste disposal contractor for more than a decade, and the City Council will likely decide whether to execute a new contract before the July 31 deadline on the existing contract with Republic. The contract to collect residential and commercial solid waste and operate the city landfill was put out to bid in February for the first time in several years. Two proposals were received. Since the city announced last month its preference for Republic over competitor Texas Disposal Systems, the only other bidder, controversy has emerged surrounding the issue of whether the fuel surcharges and environmental fees included in bills to Republic's commercial customers for several years are allowable under the contract and under city ordinance. Texas Disposal has alleged that a "fuel/environmental recovery fee" charged by Republic in their commercial bills exceeds the rates allowed by city ordinance. The company also has circulated a petition among local businesses calling for Republic to arrange an independent audit to calculate the amount of total overcharges it collected. A class-action lawsuit against Republic was being drawn up by lawyers for Acme Iron and Metal, a San Angelo company with ties to Texas Disposal, but as of Friday afternoon had not been filed. Republic expects to finish its review in about 90 days, according to the news release, to determine whether refunds are due. The company will then notify any commercial customers who are owed money how much they will receive and when they will get it. "We truly value our relationship with this community, and we apologize for any inconvenience that this situation may have caused for our commercial customers," Ramzinski said. "We appreciate the opportunity to correct this matter in a responsible and timely fashion, and we remain deeply committed to providing this community with a customer experience that exceeds all expectations." Customers with questions about their invoices are invited to call Republic at 855-823-6901 or email [email protected], the firm said. ___ (c)2014 the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Visit the San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) at www.gosanangelo.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |