Telephone fees in Chesco may prompt lawsuit

CHESTER COUNTY

Telephone fees may prompt lawsuit

WEST CHESTER Chester County is joining other counties in Pennsylvania and throughout the country in seeking telephone fees officials say telecommunication providers failed to collect for county 911 services.

The county filed papers in County Court on July 31 to put the county in a better position to sue the companies, Timothy Carson, a partner at the law firm Dilworth Paxson, said Tuesday.

After the county commissioners sign an agreement next week, a forensic audit will begin to determine whether telecommunications companies owe the county money for telephone fees the county uses for 911 services.

A Verizon spokesman said in June the company is skeptical that the firm, Phone Recovery Services L.L.C., performed forensic audits for Chester County, Delaware County, and others across the country.

Delaware County filed a lawsuit in June against 19 Pennsylvania telecommunication providers. Officials there say the companies owe the county $41.4 million in 911 fees for the last six years.

Chester County spent more than $14 million on 911 systems in 2014. The county received about $7.2 million in fees from 911 surcharges, Carson said. Chester County had to use its general fund to pay the almost $7 million difference. - Michaelle Bond