KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Water Commission (NWC) is advising the public, especially during this Yuletide season, to be on the lookout for unscrupulous people who may pose either as NWC employees or bill collectors acting on behalf of the NWC, in a guise to gain their confidence or access to their properties.

The NWC said that while its representatives — meter readers, meter inspectors, leak detectors, census mapping — are all legally empowered to enter customer’s premises on behalf of the NWC on any day between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, all NWC representatives (employees as well as contractors) are issued with current photographic identification cards and are required to produce valid NWC identification at the customer’s request.

Any failure to present such an ID by anyone claiming to represent the utility should not be entertained, the NWC cautioned.

NWC said that furthermore its representatives do not usually need to go inside a customer’s home, but generally into the yards where pipes and meters are located.

The public is therefore urged to report any suspicious approach by anyone claiming to represent the NWC to the nearest police station, 119, or the NWC’s Security Department at 929-5430-5 or 920-1503.