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City seeking to refund customers' money
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More from Conejo ValleyThousands of dollars belonging to utility customers in Thousand Oaks are sitting unclaimed in the city's coffers, and officials want to give it back.
A recently completed audit of terminated utility billing accounts revealed almost $15,000 in overpayments in the city's general water fund.
"This money is a result of people overpaying or making an extra payment on their water bill, and then they move," said Terri Scott, revenue operations manager for the city. "Sometimes it's a deceased person, and we can give the money back to the estate."
Scott said the city is trying everything it can to track down people and businesses who are owed money.
"We send letters, and we try to find them," she said. "Then we publish the names of those we haven't reached on the city's Web site and in the local newspapers."
The names of 136 water customers appear on this year's list. As well as residential customers, there are several home construction companies and a major grocery chain named as creditors.
The largest amounts unclaimed are $1,915.85 owed to Larwin Co., $1,146.85 owed to Shea Homes and $844.89 belonging to J.T.L Development Corp.
Most residential customers are owed less than $100, but some have outstanding balances of several hundred dollars.
To claim the money, those on the list need to complete a claim form, identifying the address where the bills with the outstanding balances were sent and including a copy of their driver's license for identification.
Scott said the city is happy to help customers who may have had several addresses to identify which one has the overpaid water bill.
People can see if they are owed money or download a claim form by going to the city's Web site at http://www.toaks.org and click on the link "Unclaimed Property."
Those on the list have until June 6 to claim the money. After that date, the funds will be transferred to the city's general fund in line with city ordinances.
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