Before coming to work at United Systems, I had never once heard of fraudulent utility accounts. I quickly learned that this was a very serious and costly issue that many utilities face. Let me explain… we’re going to call our customer Judy. Judy doesn’t pay her bill, and her service gets shut off. Instead of paying the bill and the fee for reconnection, Judy comes in and opens an account in her boyfriend, John’s name. A couple of months go by, and John’s account gets shut off. Well, here come Judy and John, and they open an account in their son, Joe’s, name and the cycle continues. Accounts opened in roommates, spouses, and even kids names happen regularly. The delinquent amounts and disconnect/reconnect fees are never recovered, and the utility takes a loss.
Working closely with utilities over the last several years has led me to some best practices to avoid these types of fraudulent accounts.
The key to overcoming fraudulent accounts is information. Ensuring that your CIS/billing software stores the necessary information and tracks relevant data on the customer, location, and billing account is essential. This software functionality used in conjunction with the record keeping steps above can save your utility money in the long run!
United Systems & Software, Inc. is a technical services firm that specializes in software development, business continuity, and wireless solutions.
This Privacy Statement applies to United-Systems.com and United Systems websites, services and products that collect information via signup, registration, or use of contact forms.
United Systems maintains and provides a wide array of websites and web servers operated by United Systems. In the course of using our websites, you may choose to provide information via web forms, email or other electronic means. Personally identifiable information submitted will only be used for United Systems related purposes. United Systems will not sell this data to outside parties.
Requests for information and information submitted via forms will be directed to the appropriate staff to respond to those requests and may be recorded to help us improve our site to better respond to similar requests.
United Systems makes every reasonable effort to ensure that your personal information remains as secure as possible. Accordingly, we prevent unauthorized access by a secure firewall and use of security technologies to protect the integrity and privacy of any personal information you provide.
As an additional security measure, your personal information is also encrypted during transmission by Secure Socket Layer 128-bit encryption software. (Encryption is a common method used to transmit sensitive data across the Internet. Encryption temporarily makes the text unreadable during the time it is being transmitted over the Internet.) This is an industry standard.
Although we endeavor to protect your personal information, United Systems cannot warrant the security of any information you transmit to us through online applications, and you do so at your own risk. Depending on the nature of the inquiry, your communication could be discarded or archived. If you wish, you can contact us instead by telephone at the numbers provided throughout our site.
Some portions of our websites may require login identifiers and/or passwords. You are responsible for taking reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorized person has access to your password or account login information. It is your sole responsibility to control the use of login information and passwords, to authorize, monitor and control access to and use of your account and password and to inform United Systems promptly of any need to deactivate an account.
In order to provide website users with other helpful information, our websites contains links to other websites. However, United Systems provides no authority over external organizations’ websites and this policy does not apply to external sites that are provided as links. We encourage you to read the Privacy Policies on any external websites before providing them with personal information.
In order to protect the information and identity of children, we ask that minors not submit any personal information to us. Parents or caregivers should become knowledgeable about websites that collect information so they can assure that their children’s use of the Internet reflects parental preferences and requirements.
United Systems & Software, Inc. Reserves the right to alter all affiliated websites and general use of privacy policies described here without prior notice. If you have questions about this privacy policy or concerns about how we collect, use or protect your personal information, please contact us at sales@united-systems.com.
United Systems provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the United Systems will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
United Systems does not subscribe to or engage in any personnel policy, standard, or practice that permits or allows for the promotion, demotion, employment, dismissal or laying off of any individual due to the individual’s race, creed, color, national origin, age or sex, disability, veterans or individuals with disabilities.
The mission of United Systems and Software, Incorporated (USS) is to deliver the highest quality products and services that benefit our valued customers.
In all matters, the people of USS are to be professional, honest and ethical in working with clients, fellow workers, investors, and vendors. These fundamental values are rooted in our work environment that cultivates respect in all of our actions while contributing to the quality of life and economic growth of our community.
Respect for clients – USS strives to address the dynamic needs of clients with services and products of the highest quality. Our goal is to have completely satisfied customers.
Respect for fellow workers – USS’ team members are encouraged to work and listen to one another. We encourage teamwork, trust, and loyalty. Our basic principle is to treat others better than they expect.
Respect for the individual – USS strives to promote an environment that provides challenging work, opportunities for personal growth, reward for innovation and recognition for excellence. We support a balanced lifestyle that allows each person to reach their potential in career, family, physical and spiritual needs.
Respect for investors – USS’ goals are to generate a fair return on investment and use funds prudently. We are committed to increasing the value of our company.
Respect for vendors – USS will work with each of our vendors in a professional, courteous and honest manner. Our goals are to develop and maintain mutually rewarding business partnerships. USS expects to receive products and services of the highest quality from our vendors.
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*Not Supported: Windows ‘Home’ variant operating system, SQL Server ‘Express’ license format, impact matrix printers. |
We at United Systems (USS) are concerned about protecting sensitive customer data, as well as our own data, software products, trade secrets and intellectual property. With this in mind, the following summary delineates United Systems’ stance on security and related security measures.
USS only accesses customer data under the following circumstances:
USS keeps the data secure using the following methods:
The services and software that United Systems provides are subject to the following Terms of Use Agreement. United Systems reserves the right to update the Terms of Use Agreement at any time without notice. The most current version of the Terms of Use Agreement can be reviewed in the footer section at United-Systems.com.
Unless otherwise specified, United Systems’ services and software may not be modified, copied, distributed, transmitted, displayed, performed, reproduced, published, licensed, create derivative works from, transferred, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from United Systems.
See the Privacy Statement disclosures relating to the collection and use of your information.
If any portion of our websites require you to create an account, you must complete the registration process by providing us with current, complete and accurate information as prompted by the applicable registration form. You also will choose a password and a user name. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account. Furthermore, you are entirely responsible for any and all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify United Systems immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security. United Systems will not be liable for any loss that you may incur as a result of someone else using your password or account, either with or without your knowledge. However, you could be held liable for losses incurred by United Systems or another party due to someone else using your account or password. You may not use anyone else’s account at any time, without the permission of the account holder.