Discarded a tax or water bill collection notice thinking it was a scam? It’s totally understandable to be on alert. But if you’re behind on your tax or water bills and aren’t on a payment plan or in an assistance program, you might get a call or letter from a collection agency.
In addition to our internal debt collectors and lawyers, the City hires outside agencies and law firms to collect delinquent taxes, fees, and water bills on its behalf. They may even use court actions to collect money owed to the City. Make sure the letters you received are legit by visiting our website to verify the agency contacting you. These are the agencies, their phone numbers, and what they do for the City:
| Agency name | Phone number | Responsible for collecting |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance One | (866)-215-3309 | Business taxes and water charges. |
| Goehring, Rutter & Boehm (GRB) | (215)-735-1910 | Overdue Real Estate taxes. GRB also conducts Sheriff Sales for property taxes, fees, and water charges. GRB also does business tax discovery work, post-judgment execution, and rent sequestration for property taxes and fees. |
| Harris & Harris | (800)-362-0097 | Business taxes and water charges. |
| Pioneer | (866)-439-1359 | Business taxes, overdue Real Estate Tax, and delinquent property taxes and fees. |
| Revenue Collection Bureau, Inc. (RCB) | (215)-288-6800 | Business taxes and business tax discovery work, delinquent property taxes, delinquent water charges and water HELP loan balances. |
| Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP (Linebarger) | (215)-790-1117 | Conducts Sheriff Sales for property taxes, fees, and water charges, and assists with post-judgment execution. |
| Salaman Law | (215)-568-7575 | Aids in post-judgment execution. |
| Wong Fleming | (215)-546-2776 | Aids in post-judgment execution. |
Here’s what to expect
If they call you, they may ask for the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN), property address, or phone number to verify they’re talking to the right person. Please note that you can always visit our website to verify that the agency you’re speaking with is authorized by the City.
Keep this in mind
These collection agencies will only contact you if the Department of Revenue’s efforts to collect your debt have failed.
Be aware of these three things when you’re referred to collections:
- Your debt may grow,
- You might be charged additional fees, and
- Some payment agreement options will not be available to you.
Ignoring our collection efforts can complicate things. When you pay your bills on time, you avoid:
- Extra charges,
- Being sent to collections,
- Business license revocation,
- Liens on your property, or even a tax sale.
The easiest way to pay City bills is online. The process is safe and secure.
Our programs can help
If you can’t afford to pay your entire bill at once, we have options. We understand life happens and want to help you stay current. The City offers several assistance programs available to taxpayers and water customers who can’t pay their bills in full.
If you don’t qualify for assistance, you can enroll in a payment plan to stay current. We have multiple options with flexible terms. If a payment plan is not an option, you may qualify for an Offer in Compromise for business taxes.
Taking any of these steps will keep your account in good standing. But you must act fast—paying late increases your debt.
