San Diego City Treasurer

No one likes to pay taxes, but I have found that when you need something, you can usually get it handled efficiently. Needed a copy of my business tax license payment and couldn’t get a live human at first, so I emailed my request. Then I spent a few minutes working my way through the phone tree to find someone to talk to and she was able to email me a copy of it while we were on the phone. Then a minute or two later, I got an email back from the original email letting me know that they were working on it. So good job!

0 zero zero stars for this company. Worst company in San Diego with no accountability for their mistakes!!! They never return phone calls. You are on hold for an hour or more. They turn water off without notice! Even when they are faxed or emailed correct owner/​landlord information they still send bills to somewhere else. They need more employees who actually work for a living. This company is the absolute worst!!!

Seriously, if i could rate it a zero i would! Ok, so here’s my story:
Everything started when i got a citation on my car that apparently someone took off my car so Ive never even seen it. So i get this letter in the mail saying that I owe a bunch of money to the city of San Diego, nothing in the letter tells me what its for, btw. So I call them and they tell me i have a parking citation, I decided to go to the DMV and pay it off. So I did… A week later I get another letter in the mail saying that my account is past due. So I call them again, and they tell me that first of all, the amount that I have paid to the DMV (2 weeks ago) did not transfer to the city yet, and that I have already been charged with interest… OK, so I pay the interest off while I’m on the phone with them and receive a receipt on my email that I have paid everything off… So far, everything is alright… NOT! Two months later I get a credit change alarm, and when I go online to look at it, it tells me that I owe $ 27 to the city of San Diego… So I call them and they tell me that there is still balance on my account… WHAT???
Why the hell not tell me while I’m on the phone with them? OR… OR, send me a letter??? Nope, I guess city of San Diego is so broke that they cannot afford sending letters to the people stating that they have some kind of balance with them, instead they just turn them to collections… Are they serious?
I am extremely disappointed in this service, just because they now have my information on file does not mean they can charge me money every three months, their financial difficulties should not affect me in any way, I do my diligence and pay enough taxes as it is, there is no reason to charge me for something that was paid for three months ago… Thanks, City of San Diego, go F urself.

This fancy storefront for the City of San Diego is where to go when you owe the city money for services, business taxes, and permits. Located on the first floor of a big downtown highrise, the City Treasurer’s office is full of frosted glass, colorful artwork, and official mission statements.
There are two lines here. One for the VIP clients applying for permits and paying for business related expenses. That short line tends to move fairly quickly and is properly staffed.
The other line is where I always seem to find myself. This «second class line» is slow as molasses and is usually full of disheveled people that are not very happy.
If you find yourself in this line, then you come from one of two groups. You are either a chronic procrastinator or you did not have enough money to pay your water bill on time. I know from experience that it is not always possible to mail in your payment on time…
If you find yourself with an overdue water/​sewer bill, I highly recommend walking in your payment before the city cuts your water. Once they do turn your water off, the process is quite painful to get it back on again.
They accept cash, credit/​debit cards and human plasma for payment.
Remember to use the courtesy phones by the front door to confirm with the operator that you just made a payment! You need to do this since the «payment system» is not connected to the «disconnect your water system». You were warned.
In closing, while this is not a pleasant place to visit, it is always satisfying to know that you kept the family water on for another month!