Moving is one of the most stressful things you will ever have to do. If you are overwhelmed with the whole process of moving and do not yet see an end in sight, moving can easily consume your every waking moment. But while you are still in the process of moving, you will want to ensure that you do not miss any bill payment deadlines.
Call Utility Companies
Once you have a firm moving date in mind, you should call gas, water, electricity and other utility companies to let them know when you are moving out and when you would like the utilities to be shut off. Then let them know of your forwarding address, so that they can contact you and send you a final bill. If your post is being forwarded, this can delay when you hear from creditors.
Obtain a De-activation Number
Shutting off some services, such as Internet, should not cause any problems. However, to make sure that you are not still being billed after you have specified a date to shut off services, obtain a de-activation number or code from a customer service representative. That way, if you are still billed after your desired shut off date, you can call back and quote the de-activation number and only be billed for actual usage. I was recently billed for Internet usage, long after I had requested for the service to be shut off. But I had obtained a de-activation number when I had called to shut off the service, which was of help.
Mistakes are common, especially during a move, so keep good records of your bills, when you called and how much you are likely to owe as the final bill. This will make it easier to track down what you really owe, rather than the amount creditors say you owe.
Use Online Bill Pay
Online bill pay not only saves a stamp; it also saves time and energy spent making out each bill every month. Continue to use online bill pay as you would normally and then about a week or so before you move out, call creditors to let them know when to turn off services and to request that the final bill be forwarded to your new address.
One way to reduce the stress of a move is to make sure you do not miss a single bill payment during the upheaval you will soon be experiencing. Keep on top of each bill, call utility companies ahead of time and let them know your wishes. Then obtain a de-activation number, if available, and continue to use online bill pay for as long as you can. Communicating directly with creditors during a move can help to ensure that you do not miss a bill.
