Abilene Woman Hit with Nearly $1 Million Water Bill

ABILENE, TX - The City of Abilene charged an Abilene woman with an almost $1 million water bill.

Debbie Vicary was stunned to find a charge of $911,116.46 on a bill she received last week. 

“Hey if you live in Abilene TX, check your water bill," Vicary stated on Facebook. "Not only did they bill me for almost A MILLION DOLLARS …… After I called them - before the due date, they said there was nothing they could do. So now I have $836,079 OVERDRAFT!”

Upon noticing the error, Vicary contacted the water department's customer service, seeking clarification and a correction. However, she struggled to get a clear answer about her actual dues and was told the staff was unable to provide the necessary information.

Using an auto-payment setup, the charge was drafted from Vicary's bank account, leading to an overdraft of hundreds of thousands of dollars. She was able to work with her bank to reverse the overdraft. 

Vicary expressed frustration over the lack of resolution and communication from the city officials. 

However, the City of Abilene posted an update on its utility billing website. 

“If you believe there's an error in the amount past due on your bill, head to our online customer portal for the most accurate info,” information from the city stated. “No need to worry about late fees! We're not charging late fees at this time. If you've been charged erroneously, get in touch with our Customer Service Center via email or phone, and we'll sort it out.”