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Billing vendor shutdown leaves utility bills delayed; county arranges interim printing and starts procurement for long‑term fix
Summary
Pender County Utilities reported that its third‑party mail vendor ceased operations without prior notice, delaying mailed utility bills; staff secured alternate printing of May bills, will not pursue scheduled disconnects this month, and will issue an RFP for countywide mailing services while exploring electronic billing.
Pender County officials told commissioners on May 19 that a third‑party vendor that prepared and mailed the county’s utility bills — Professional Mail Services Inc. (PMSI) — abruptly ceased operations, causing a temporary service disruption for the county’s monthly bill mailings. County staff said they secured an interim solution and are pursuing a longer‑term contract to avoid future interruptions.
What happened and immediate fix - The county’s customer services manager, Jackie Eason, exported billing files to PMSI on April 30 for May mailings. On the morning of May 12 staff began receiving customer calls reporting they had not received bills. - Staff learned PMSI had ceased operations the prior Friday and that the vendor’s assets and data had been referenced to a different out‑of‑state firm. Staff were unable to get a timely contract…
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