Publishing names in newspaper…

[gryndor]

CA

Our local water utility company just published the names of all their delinquent customers in the newspaper. Is this not illegal? Where can I find the line of what’s allowed and what’s too far?

 

[Taxing Matters]

Is this utility a private company or a government agency?

 

[adjusterjack]

Perfectly legal.

In fact, California's Franchise Tax Board publishes a list of delinquent taxpayers on its website.

Top 500 delinquent taxpayer list | FTB.ca.gov

Members of the public can freely access the list just as they can freely read the newspaper and see who's delinquent with the water bill..

Pay your bills on time if you don't want your name on delinquency lists.

 

[gryndor]

Is this utility a private company or a government agency?

It’s a special district. Funded by tax dollars

 

[gryndor]

Perfectly legal.

In fact, California's Franchise Tax Board publishes a list of delinquent taxpayers on its website.

Top 500 delinquent taxpayer list | FTB.ca.gov

Members of the public can freely access the list just as they can freely read the newspaper and see who's delinquent with the water bill..

Pay your bills on time if you don't want your name on delinquency lists.

Oh, we’re not in it. I ask because my husband manages the community Facebook page and it got posted there. He’s wondering if he needs to remove the post.

For the record, we always pay our bills.

 

[adjusterjack]

He’s wondering if he needs to remove the post.

That would be up to the "community" whose page it is.

 

[quincy]

CA

Our local water utility company just published the names of all their delinquent customers in the newspaper. Is this not illegal? Where can I find the line of what’s allowed and what’s too far?

The legality can depend on the delinquent status of the customer’s account.

 

[not2cleverRed]

Oh, we’re not in it. I ask because my husband manages the community Facebook page and it got posted there. He’s wondering if he needs to remove the post.

For the record, we always pay our bills.

"Needs" is ill defined here.

Legally, repeating public information is not defamatory. If someone has paid their bills and is still being listed, their gripe should be with the utility company.

Whether it violates Facebook or Group rules is another issue and not a legal one.

If the post is at odds with the community page rules, he should feel free to remove the post. If the community page is for something other than gossiping about neighbors, then he can choose to delete it and add a pinned post about being a supportive community or something, and that posts may be removed if they are divisive or not relevant to the page's mission.

For example, my hometown's "keeping in touch page" doesn't allow links to obituaries.

 

[quincy]

It is often the comments made by readers that are the most problematic.

 

[zddoodah]

Our local water utility company just published the names of all their delinquent customers in the newspaper. Is this not illegal?

Yes. The good news for anyone on the list is that virtually no one reads newspapers anymore.

Where can I find the line of what’s allowed and what’s too far?

Huh?

 

[adjusterjack]

Huh?

The line between good and evil.

 

[zddoodah]

The line between good and evil.

I believe that line is roughly halfway between Boulder, CO and Las Vegas, NV.

 

[stealth2]

It is often the comments made by readers that are the most problematic.

But often the most fun to read!

 

[Taxing Matters]

I believe that line is roughly halfway between Boulder, CO and Las Vegas, NV.

Then I'm on the right side of that line

 

[adjusterjack]

I'm one toke over the line, Sweet Jesus.