GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF BWSC TERMS AND CONDITIONS
What these Terms and Conditions Cover
These Terms and Conditions are between you and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (referred to as “BWSC” or "we" or "our" or “us”) and govern your use of the BWSC website. These services enable BWSC customers (residential and business account owners) to perform several functions through a personal computer or mobile device (e.g. tablet or smartphone). When used in this Agreement, the term “business” includes sole proprietors, non-residential business entities, and individual owners of the business, unless the context indicates otherwise. All information accessed for your use from our website is subject to these Terms and Conditions, and in accordance with BWSC’s Privacy Policy.
Accepting these Terms and Conditions
Use of the BWSC website is subject to and signifies your consent to these Terms and Conditions and the BWSC Privacy Policy. When you use any of our online services, or authorize others to use them, you and others are subject to these Terms and Conditions.
Changes to Terms and Conditions
BWSC may update the Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice. Visiting our website binds you to all revisions. You can bookmark this page to see the current version of the Terms and Conditions.
Fees and Charges
Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement or your applicable account agreement, there is no service charge for accessing your accounts with our Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal. You should note that depending on how you access our site or what service you choose, you might incur charges for:
- Any internet service provider fees
- Any wireless carrier fees
- Convenience fees for credit card payments
Service Hours
Online services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except during system maintenance and upgrades. When this occurs, a message will be displayed online. You may contact BWSC customer service at (617) 989-7800 if you require additional assistance.
SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
See also the BWSC Privacy Policy for additional information.
Your privacy is important to us. We take measures to protect your privacy, but you too must safeguard your accounts from unauthorized access and unauthorized use of your information.
To protect against misuse of personal information and unauthorized transactions, you must keep your unique Login E-Mail Address and Password confidential; do not disclose them to anyone else. You should not authorize anyone to access your account using your Login E-Mail Address and/or Password. You assume the risk for all activities on your account and information accessed by you or anyone to whom you have provided your Login E-Mail Address and Password. When you have finished working, always log out of your login session and close your browser window to ensure that no one else can access your information. This is especially important if you share a computer with someone else or are using a computer in a library or other public place. We are not responsible for the actions or omissions of third parties that have accessed your information using your Login E-Mail Address and Password.
BWSC will never ask you for your Password in an unsolicited phone call or unsolicited e-mail.
At any time and for any lawful purpose, BWSC may monitor, intercept, record, and search any communications or data transiting or stored on BWSC’s information system. At BWSC’s sole discretion, we may disclose pertinent information to the U.S. Government and its authorized representatives to protect the security of critical infrastructure and key resources, ensure information security, or to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.
If you believe there has been any breach of security such as the disclosure, theft or unauthorized use of your Login E-mail Address or Password or unauthorized activity on your account, please contact Customer Service immediately at (617) 989-7800.
Online Registration and Access
Online Registration:
No registration is required to use our QuickPay service.
To use our Customer Self-Service (CSS) Portal, you must register a Login E-Mail Address and Password. You are responsible for keeping that information secure. Your Login E-Mail Address and Password are unique to you and your online account. This information should not be shared or transferred to anyone else. You are entitled to access our online account services for lawful and authorized purposes using your Login E-Mail Address and Password.
What Information Do I Need to Establish Online Access?
To use our QuickPay service, your account number is required.
When establishing a Customer Self-Service (CSS) Portal account, you will be asked to provide:
- Your Name
- Login E-Mail Address
- Verification Code (for Login E-Mail Address)
- Account Number (on your bill)
- Activation Code (on your bill)
Registering on our CSS Portal alone does not enable you to set up water and sewer service. To set up service, contact Customer Service at (617) 989-7800.
What Transactions Can I Complete Online?
QuickPay: You and other persons may use our online services as guests. The account number you wish to pay is required.
- Make a one-time, guest payment
CSS Portal: You and the persons you authorize to have access to your CSS Portal account will have the ability to complete the following transactions:
- Register for E-Billing
- Register for AutoPay (automatic payments)
- Make a One-Time Payment
- View billing and payment history
- View/download/print bills
- View usage history
- Perform account maintenance activities such as updating your phone number and e-mail address.
- Manage notification preferences.
- Submit online requests.
Surveys: BWSC may conduct periodic online surveys to ask you to provide information relating to your service and use of the BWSC website. We appreciate your survey responses, which help us to improve our service for all customers.
Ensuring E-Mail and Other Information Accuracy: Please note that you are responsible for providing and maintaining accurate and up-to-date information. If your information is incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated, please update your information on our CSS Portal or contact Customer Service (617) 989-7800 to make changes.
Payment Processor Services
BWSC does not store your credit/debit card or banking information in its systems. BWSC utilizes a third-party vendor, Paymentus, to process payments. If you choose AutoPay and consent to the terms and conditions, you are authorizing Paymentus to initiate an electronic debit to your bank account or credit/debit card monthly.
The Paymentus service is used for online payments:
- QuickPay
- CSS Portal – Make a One-Time Payment
- CSS Portal – AutoPay
- IVR (Pay-by-Phone)
Paperless Billing (E-Billing)
- Bill images are available on the CSS portal for all customers.
- E-Billing is a paperless billing option where the paper bill is not mailed.
- Enrollment – Once you enroll for E-Billing, within 2 billing cycles you will begin receiving electronic bills. BWSC reserves the right to accept or deny your request for E-Billing.
- Notification – BWSC will send an e-mail notification to the e-mail address listed for your account. This e-mail is a notification that a new E-Bill is ready to be viewed in your CSS Portal. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that your e-mail address is accurate. In the event you do not receive notification, it is your sole responsibility to periodically log on to the company website to receive your new electronic bills. If you fail to receive notification, please contact us. You agree to hold BWSC, any of its Commissioners, officers, directors, employees, agents or affiliates harmless should BWSC fail to deliver notification of your electronic bill(s). You remain responsible for the timely payment of your bills regardless of whether BWSC provides an electronic bill.
Online Alerts – E-mail Notifications and Text Messaging
We offer notifications via phone, e-mail, and/or text message (mobile number required) to keep you informed of important updates and activities. You may set these preferences in the CSS Portal. Updates include:
- E-Billing Notifications: These are sent to you when enrolled in e-billing. They notify you when your e-bill is ready to be viewed.
- Payment Confirmation: Paymentus sends e-mail confirmations when your online payment has been processed. It is your sole responsibility to provide Paymentus with the correct e-mail address.
E-mail Notifications
We may send messages to your e-mail address to help you reset your password or confirm a payment or customer service inquiry. If you subscribe to our E-Bill service, we will also send an e-mail to notify you that you have a new bill. Because we may also use e-mail to send important notices about services and security changes, we require that every online customer provide us with a valid and current e-mail address. You are responsible for keeping that e-mail address up-to-date.
Mobile Phone Consent and Text Messaging
You have the option of adding your mobile phone number to your online profile. By providing your mobile number, you consent to our use of this number to contact you regarding your utility account, whether or not your utility service has been terminated. Such contacts may include automated messages using automated technologies such as pre-recorded, robo-dialed phone calls and text messages; wireless and text message fees may apply from your carrier.
BWSC may contact you at that mobile phone number to provide you with information about utility service matters such as service disruptions and utility account payment obligations, whether or not your utility service has been terminated.
You are responsible for promptly notifying us regarding any changes to that mobile phone number and notifying us if you can no longer be reached or do not want to be contacted at that mobile phone number by contacting Customer Service at (617) 989-7800.
Cancellation of Online Access
Your online access remains in effect until it is cancelled by the BWSC or at your request.
We may cancel or suspend your online access to your account and without further obligation to you, for any reason, including without limitation, if you do not use the online access, or do not comply with these Terms and Conditions or the BWSC Privacy Policy.
You may also cancel your access by contacting Customer Service at (617) 989-7800. This cancellation will apply only to your online access and NOT your water and sewer service. To terminate or suspend water and sewer service, please contact Customer Service at (617) 989-7800. We recommend that you cancel any E-Bill or AutoPay services prior to notifying us that you are terminating your online access.
LIABILITY AND WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
Although BWSC tries to keep the information available through our web pages current and correct, BWSC does not guarantee its accuracy, usefulness or security. Your use of information on this site is at your own risk. No data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100 percent secure. Although BWSC utilizes industry standard technology to protect our websites and your information (i.e., encryption, firewalls, access control software, etc.), BWSC cannot guarantee the security of any information you transmit to us through our websites. Your access and use of our Website may be interrupted from time to time for any of several reasons, including, without limitation, the malfunction of equipment, periodic updating, maintenance or repair of our Website or other actions that BWSC, in its sole discretion, may elect to take.
You provide information at your own risk. BWSC is not responsible for any damage you may incur through your accessing or use of this site, and we cannot guarantee that information you provide us through forms or e-mail will be kept confidential. BWSC assumes no responsibility of liability for any loss of service, damages, loss of income, interruptions, errors or failures resulting from use of our website or resulting from any malware that may infect computer equipment used to access our website. Viewing materials on our Website is at your own risk. BWSC assumes no liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, Act of God, punitive or consequential damages derived as the result of your visiting our website nor your disclosure of confidential information, including, without limitation, your Login E-Mail Address and Password to third parties.
BWSC makes no warranties concerning the access to the information, data, maps or any other electronic mediums or documents associated with our Website. All materials on our Website are "AS IS," without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a specified purpose, or non-infringement, to the extent permitted by law. BWSC is not responsible for any content of non-BWSC Website, which may be linked from our Website.
COPYRIGHT
BWSC encourages visitors to our website to comment on subject matter pertaining directly to content and to participate in social media opportunities such as social media sites, wikis or any other form of user-generated media. BWSC encourages visitors to respect and observe the copyright, trademark, service mark and other protections afforded certain third-party material(s) or documents posted or available on its website.
Please refer to our Privacy Policy more details about the information we collect and what it is used for.
OTHER WEBSITES AND LINKING
Non-BWSC Websites:
BWSC may link to websites of unaffiliated parties for your convenience and information. Once you leave BWSC's websites and link to the website(s) of an unaffiliated party, BWSC policies no longer apply and you will be subject to the unaffiliated party's policies regarding their website. These sites may have their own privacy statements in place, which we recommend you review.
We are not responsible for the content of linked sites or any use of these unaffiliated websites. Specifically, BWSC:
- does not endorse and is not responsible for the content, operators, or any products or services offered on such sites, or the site's availability, accuracy, quality or privacy practices.
- is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or claimed to be caused by, relating to or arising from use of or reliance on any such information, content, products or services available on or through such sites.
- does not endorse any other site or content to which our sites may have a hyperlink or any third parties who are authorized by you to receive or obtain any account or energy usage information. All such viewing and information disclosure is at your own risk.
BWSC website is limited to BWSC and is not affiliated with any corporation or other website with any similarly spelled URL. Any similarities are coincidental. A website with a URL similar to bwsc.org and the other websites listed may not be a BWSC web site, and may be coincidental, unauthorized or fraudulent.
Please avoid such websites and contact BWSC if you have any concerns.
Linking to bwsc.org is authorized for legitimate business and informational purposes. If you link to this site, you should use: https://www.bwsc.org to link to bwsc.org and test the link to confirm that it operates correctly.
When linking to bwsc.org, you:
- Should not use BWSC logos service marks or the intellectual property of BWSC except for the permitted use set forth herein or in accordance with accepted use policies;
- Should not portray BWSC or any person identified on the website or content from the website in any way that is false or misleading;
- Should not indicate or imply that BWSC promotes or endorses any products or services, ideas, political objectives or any other causes, or Internet sites; and
- Should not use BWSC content for business, commercial, or political purposes.