Dear Claudienne,

I am requesting your help with a National Water Commission (NWC) problem. I own an apartment and even though it has been unoccupied since May 2022, the NWC is demanding a payment of $30,000 plus for water that was not used.

I am not in the island but my agent who pays the utility bills has been in contact with the NWC. She informed me that they had disconnected the meter even though she had made it clear that the apartment had been vacant. The NWC told my agent that they would give a discount of $13,000 from the $30,000 owed and that a re-connection fee would also have to be paid for the water meter to be reactivated.

The young lady that was occupying the apartment always had an outstanding balance on her NWC bill but when she vacated it I paid the outstanding amount owed for water.

It is unfair for the NWC to be asking me to pay $17,000 of which there was zero usage and to add insult to injury to also pay for the re-connection.

Your help in this matter is appreciated.

SE

Dear SE

Tell Claudienne has been in communication with the NWC and they informed the column that they wanted to visit the premise to verify if the apartment was indeed unoccupied. As proof that it had been unoccupied, the NWC also requested to see Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) bills for the apartment.

Tell Claudienne notes that your agent telephoned the NWC and arranged a date and time for them to do an inspection. The inspection was done and the NWC has assured your agent that the meter will be reconnected and the $30,000 charges reversed.

We wish you all the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 876-936-9436 or Cell # 876-484-1349 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-421/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail:edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.