Some Summerville cable tax funds mistakenly go to Dorchester County
SUMMERVILLE — For three years, any resident who paid for Time Warner Cable wireless service in this town paid a local tax to provide for emergency 911 service calls. But some of the money went to service in Dorchester County, not the town.
Oops.
The cable bundle service provider informed Summerville officials of the mistake in a recent letter, and promised to pay more than $124,000 in fees.
Time Warner did not return emails or calls asking for comment, and an attempt to reach a media relations staffer by calling in through customer service ended up on a dead line.
The mispayment covers fees from November 2009 to October 2012. The company’s letter blamed the mishap on incorrect mapping.
The letter informed the town that the company has requested a refund from the county.
“Well, if it’s not our money, I’m sure we’ll give it back to them,” County Council Chairman Larry Hargett said Monday.
So no harm done, right? Not quite.
What about interest, Councilman Walter Bailey asked. “I think if Time Warner held our money, they should pay us interest.”
Town staff said they would look into it.
Reach Bo Petersen at 937-5744.
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