Charlotte Rae Nicely

The Florida Governmental Utility Authority closed its Lehigh Acres office this week in an effort to manage costs and increase efficiencies while focusing on providing good customer service.

Donna Lizotte, a community service representative, said FGUA customers in Lehigh can still use the number 239-368-1615 – North Fort Myers customers can still use the number 239-543-1005 – for account questions or for payment assistance.

Customers can also pay their bills online by visiting the website at: www.fgua.com.

Lizotte said there have been fewer customers using the Lehigh site over the past few months as more people pay online.

In the past, it was difficult to access FGUA if you lived in Lehigh, but that problem has been resolved, she said.

Still not everyone is happy.

Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, said the closing of the local office is not a good thing.

“FGUA is moving out of Lehigh to Six Mile Cypress is not good news for our clients and many of their customers,”?she said in an email. “As a matter of fact, I think it’s down(right) inconsiderate.”

Nicely, whose agency helps the needy and those who may be struggling financially, said there is sometimes a lot of negotiation and people going back and forth to get their issues resolved.

Nicely said she did not know how many customers FGUA has in Lehigh, but she thinks the number justifies having a local office.

Lizotte, however, pointed out that Nicely should not worry.

“We will still work with her at any time she gives me a call,” she said. “We are eager to always be of service to her and her clients.”

“While we are closing the office in the Bealls shopping center, customers can still pay their bills if they desire by stopping in two doors down from the site where they had been paying to One Stop Multiservice,”?Lizotte said.

She said FGUA has met with the owners and they are happy to assist FGUA customers with paying their bills via Western Union, a service offered at the store.

“New members can also find FGUA welcome packets with copies of new service and service termination forms,”?Lizotte said.

She said One Stop Multiservice stands ready to assist individuals who may not have access to or are not comfortable with faxing and scanning their documents, and the store offers discounted rates for FGUA customers.

The new FGUA office is at 9841 Bernwood Place Drive, Suite 120, Fort Myers. It opened this week as the Lehigh office closed.

Lizotte said a pay-by-phone feature is also available and many customers find this is the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to pay their utility bill because this option provides the convenience of bill pay 365 days a year and 24 hours a day using a check, debit or credit card over the phone.

The call is toll-free at 855-396-1256. There is no charge for using this method to pay your bill.

FGUA moved into the now-closed office on May 17, 2007.

Lizotte said U.S. Water Services Corp is the contract operator and FGUA is not aware of any changes in staffing.

If customers do not want to worry about remembering to pay their water bill, Lizotte said they can sign up for the E-Z Program. After enrolling in the program payments are automatically deducted each month from the designated checking account.

To enroll, customers can complete the E-Z Pay Form, available online at: www.fgua.com, and submit the completed form with a voided check to the FGUA customer service office, fax it to 239-368-7486, or scan and email it to lehigh@fgua.com.