Billing Period: 11/15/09-12/15/09

Meter reading Previous showing 482
Meter Reading Current showing 567

They are saying I used 85 THOUSAND gallons of water

$$ amount they say I need to pay them......wait for it...... $199.98

(does someone not reality check these things???????>???????) (sorry.....I'm okay now)


I hiked out to read the meter 11/27: It reads 487 (rounded up)

Unbelievable. I think I was so upset that I just sat on the bill for awhile. I just want it to stop you know? I'm tired of having this same freaking issue month after month after month.

I want so badly to know what the heck is going on. Is the meter reader on drugs? Honestly, I don't think they are reading these meters monthly. I think they are doing a numbers or averages game to save the cost of labor required to physically read the meters.

December 7 (Monday)
Called and spoke with Linda who scheduled someone to come and re-read the meter.

December 10 (Thursday)
Mr. Holiday again showed up at my doorstep to read the meter. He, again, gave me the blue receipt with service order #76-160-2. The reading: 487 I asked him why my meter keeps getting read wrong - again, he said he didn't know. He said he'd turn in my info to the company.

December 14 (Monday)
Called to get new $$ amount due (I, wrongly, assumed they would act quickly on the discrepancy). The auto system say..... $199.98, so I asked to speak with a rep (dang, forgot to get her name).

She also said I owed $199.98. I told her that my meter was re-read and I'd like to pay the correct amount. She said I had to pay the $199.98 and it would be corrected next statement. I said NO! (about that loud - rude, but I was totally on the edge at this point). I didn't have $199 extra to give them firstly - second, it's almost 5x my normal bill - it's ridiculous to expect me to pay outright for a mistake this large.

I asked her if she, at least, had record of the reread. She said no. I asked to speak to a supervisor. Jose came on the line - from his demeanor at the beginning I could tell he wasn't going to be motivated to help me (I am a call center rep - I know a monotone voice and robotic responses means)

I explained that someone came out to re-read my meterm, and it's 487 NOT 567 and I want to pay my water bill - but only what I owe. He asked me who read the meter. I said a rep from the water company. He said - what was his name? Hell, I don't know! (I didn't at the time) (he told me to calm down and not be rude..... I suppose I was a little uppity due to the prospect of being required to pay $199 for a water bill that should be $40. -

I told him it's the same guy who read me meter last time it was read WRONG - can he look in my records. He did and the name was Holiday. I then remembered to tell him I had the blue re-read card and offered him the work order # that was on it - he looked it up.

He asked if I would call back to get the new total - I told him I work in a call center and this is hard - could he email it to me. He said he would.

He emailed me the total that evening just like he said he would.

12/15 Tuesday

1:05pm - Called to make automated payment of water bill (last night Joese emailed me the total). The automated system still said $199.98. Opted out to speak with a rep. Stayed on hold for 16 minutes and had to hang up because my work beeak was over.

3:00pm - Called water company back. Requested to speak to a rep. Stayed on hold 26 minutes (I kid you not). I'd forgotten to bring the email giving the new total to the cafeteria. I asked the rep if there were notes regarding my situation. She said no.......(argh!!!!). So, I proceeded to explain the situation and said I'm ready to pay the new amount, but I don't have it with me - could she ask Jose. She put me on hold (4 minutes - not too bad) and came back and told me it was $38.38). I told her I'm ready to pay - and she started to transfer me BACK to the automated system to pay. I said "Stop" - the automated system is asking for $199.98. She said I could opt to pay a different amount. I said okay, and she transferred me (I've paid with a rep before - kind of felt pushed back to the auto system - but, to give her the benefit of the doubt...she might have been wanting to help the next person if they were busy). p.s - forgot, again, to get the reps name

I paid the $38.38.
(If only that would be the end of my nightmare)

12/21/09 Monday
I receive in themail a TERMINATION NOTICE from the water company dated 12/18/09. It shows amount past due of $161.60.....last payment amound $38.80. Basically threatening to shut off my water if I don't pay their balance due by 12/28/09. This on neon yellow paper, and I loathe people who make emphasis with underlined bold.....
Payment of the PAST DUE amount.

I really don't need this harrassment. I did my part - made the phone calls - waited on hold - went over and over and over with reps the situation - finally get it resolved and PAID MY DAMN BILL WITH THE CORRECT $$$ AMOUNT..... why can't they just............

Be professional and do their job?....... I ask you ..........Why can't they???

12/21/09 Tuesday

9:05am Called the water company. Andrea answered (very nice, professional, and a gift from heaven). She said that a credit was issued on December 14th of $161.60 - but to be on the safe side - she'd put an extension on my account until the end of the month (so they don't go ahead and shut my water off anyway) - and she'd followup to be sure the service isn't shut off. To the point, professional, friendly, and she seemed to genuinely care. This is not the customer service I've gotten until today - I appreciated it. I sent a letter to the address on my bill praising her - hope they give it to her.