Water/sewer bill on deceased father's home

by Lori D.
(Alabama)

My father died in February 2008. My sister and I paid all the bills that were due at that time and closed all the accounts except the water/sewer, because they refused to close the account unless we returned to the home (we both live out of the state) so that they could put a lock on the well (the home was not on city water). They have now turned the bill over to Keystone Municiple Collections in PA. and are trying to collect $1,154.92 from me. I refused to pay this because I never contracted for or used these services and for almost a year of the period they are billing me for, I was not the owner. The first 6 months after dad died, the home was in my mothers name due to a divorce oversight and for the last 5 months, it has belonged to a company who bought it at auction when we could not pay the property taxes. What can I do to stop them and is this legal?