Turn-off notice

Some methods of payment that are commonly accepted[citation needed] include check or credit card over the phone or online, or payment at the main office or a satellite location of the service provider, which may charge a fee for accepting the bill.

It is not uncommon for a customer who receives a turnoff notice to panic or to attempt to avoid the provider while silently dealing with the matter.

But the general recommendation is to contact the service provider, which may be willing to grant an extension or otherwise work with the customer to keep payments up to date.

[4] Some local governments have placed temporary moratoriums on utility turnoffs under certain conditions, such as cold weather, the presence of a child, elderly, or sick person, or political controversies.

In the U.S. state of Idaho, the law prohibits utilities from turning off service in a residence where a child or dependent elderly person lives, though proof of this is required.