Difficulty Paying Utility Bills At City Hall

[Hometown]

Did you see the television report last night about how difficult it will be to pay utility bills at the new city hall?  They contrasted 10 cent parking at the old city hall with $2.00 parking at the new.  There was also discussion of difficulty in accommodating citizens that show up to pay their bills.  This was reported along with changes that will allow citizens to pay their utility bills online but apparently there are some extra charges attached to that.

This report reminded me of the discussion here about draw backs to the new city hall.  Some posters talked about how the new building did not encourage citizen access.

The cynic in me thought diminishing citizen access to city hall might not be entirely unwelcome by our city government.

The new city hall is perfectly suited to back offices but it was not designed as a civic building and those limitations are now becoming more apparent.  There is also the question of what will become of Tulsa's civic center now that its primary tenant has departed?  

[sgrizzle]

They are working on a new lobby for items like bill paying and parking is likely to change with 1-2 new garages being discussed for that area. If meters were used only by short-term visitors like they are meant for then parking would be the same price but meter enforcement is not a priority right now.

[Hometown]

Even with the possibility of some improvement I would guess that access will never be what it was.

And the opening of the BOK Arena will probably decrease available parking for city hall.  Restaurants in the city hall vicinity that relied on street parking for their patrons now find that their regular customers are having difficulty finding parking close to the restaurants when the Arena has an event.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Even with the possibility of some improvement I would guess that access will never be what it was.

And the opening of the BOK Arena will probably decrease available parking for city hall.  Restaurants in the city hall vicinity that relied on street parking for their patrons now find that their regular customers are having difficulty finding parking close to the restaurants when the Arena has an event.

That's good.

[Hometown]

Can we say good and bad?

Some of both.

[carltonplace]

The on line bill pay is a joke. They should offer ebilling and work to eliminate mailings to on line customers. Why would anyone pay the extra charges when their bank will draft and mail a check for free?

I normally don't complain about customer service, but the people that man the phones in the city services office need a little motivation. People that call them should be considered "customers" even though we don't have any choices for water, sewer and trash. I called to ask about my sewer cap which is 130% higher than my water bill month over month even during peak watering months. I was basically dismissed. I called again to ask if I could get the recycle tub (I signed up for curb side last year and never got the green tub) and they told me that they don't manage that.

Oh well. rant over.

[Hoss]

quote:Originally posted by carltonplace

The on line bill pay is a joke. They should offer ebilling and work to eliminate mailings to on line customers. Why would anyone pay the extra charges when their bank will draft and mail a check for free?

I normally don't complain about customer service, but the people that man the phones in the city services office need a little motivation. People that call them should be considered "customers" even though we don't have any choices for water, sewer and trash. I called to ask about my sewer cap which is 130% higher than my water bill month over month even during peak watering months. I was basically dismissed. I called again to ask if I could get the recycle tub (I signed up for curb side last year and never got the green tub) and they told me that they don't manage that.

Oh well. rant over.

When I used Bank of America, I always wondered why so many muncipalities had the ebill option, but the City of Tulsa didn't.  Heck, you couldn't even pay your bill online

Then I remembered we live in the City of Tulsa.

[]

[TURobY]

ChoicePay...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Can we say good and bad?

Some of both.

Again, if the city would go to 30&60-minute max meters in front of retail and ticket serial parkers, we would have no issues.

The main mall is always full of cars, not a single one belongs to a person shopping or eating there.

[Hometown]

You can't take IF to the bank.

At my old building in the financial district we knew when the meter maids were scheduled to drive by and every other trick in the book.

I was thinking about those folks wading through the puddles last night on the way to the Arena.  Tulsans just don't make a habit of carrying umbrellas.  Same would apply to rainy days and paying your bills at city hall.

This new arrangement just isn't as citizen friendly in many ways.

[Conan71]

Checking account.

Envelope.

.42 stamp.

Pay bill on time.

Don't have to go to City Hall to pay utilities.

[tulsacyclist]

I guess I never really realized people went there to pay utility bills.

I've only been to pay a ticket, and I deserved the inconvenience then.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by tulsacyclist

I guess I never really realized people went there to pay utility bills.

I've only been to pay a ticket, and I deserved the inconvenience then.

Same here. Most utilities don't have the option of paying in person anymore.

[Hometown]

Guys there are still people out there that do all their business on a cash basis.  We had a friend that carried his cash rolled up inside his shoes.  Point is we live in an era when choices are supposed to be multiplying not diminishing.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Guys there are still people out there that do all their business on a cash basis.  We had a friend that carried his cash rolled up inside his shoes.  Point is we live in an era when choices are supposed to be multiplying not diminishing.

How do they pay their electric and gas bills?