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Tuscaloosa Adds Online Fee For Water, Sewer Bills

An Alabama appeals court has ruled for the first time that a person can be convicted of electronic solicitation of a child even if the person communicated with an adult.
An Alabama appeals court has ruled for the first time that a person can be convicted of electronic solicitation of a child even if the person communicated with an adult.

  Some Tuscaloosa residents are upset after finding out last month they're being charged an extra fee for paying water, sewer and trash collection bills online.

The Tuscaloosa News reports new fees charge customers $2.95 for paying online with a credit card and $1 for using debit cards. The fees kicked in Oct. 1 at the same time water and sewer rates increased 3 percent.

The Tuscaloosa City Council approved the fees to offset revenue lost to convenience charges by credit card processors. Officials say cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery charge similar fees.

Tuscaloosa resident Shay Lawson says the online fee is still unfair because other utilities, such as Alabama Power, give her the option of avoiding credit card fees by making online payments directly through her bank account.

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