Man wrongly accused of not paying decade-old bills

[July 15, 2011]  MAULDIN, S.C. (AP) -- The head of a public utility in South Carolina says he's amazed someone saved 10-year-old records. Now the chief of the Greenville Water System is set to apologize personally to a customer wrongly accused of not paying two water bills dating to 2001.

WYFF-TV reports the utility sent past-due notices to Randy Massengale of Mauldin. Massengale says he called to say there must be a mistake, but employees refused to believe him and told him to pay up.

Massengale says he put the notices aside until a utility representative came knocking, threatening to shut off his water. But Massengale retrieved his old bank statement and check register, proving he paid a decade ago.

WYFF contacted utility chief executive David Bereskin, who called the case a fluke and promised an apology.

[Associated Press]

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