Dear Claudienne

I live in St Thomas and I have got six estimated electricity bills in succession. The genesis was late November early December when they changed my old meter for a new digital- type meter. The JPS changed it without any notification. Ever since it was changed I have been getting estimated bills. I have called the company numerous times but to no avail.

On March 22 just before Easter I went to the Ruthven Road office of the JPS to enquire why I was getting so many estimated bills and also to make a claim. The agent filled out a claim form and I signed it and she said that an investigation would be done.

However, since that time I have received two more estimated bills. I have also been told by a customer service agent that the system was showing where the meter reader had said that he saw no meter at my premises.

How could this be when they installed a digital meter.

I wonder if there is a mix-up? Please look into this matter for me.

CH

Dear CH

The JPS said that their investigations reveal that although the meter at your premises was changed on December 1, 2009, the information was unfortunately not updated on the company’s Banner system. Because the Banner system was not updated you were sent several estimated bills, it was explained to Tell Claudienne.

The JPS said that they wished to apologise to you for the inconvenience they have caused you.

Your meter has now been read and your account has been adjusted to show a credit balance.

In regard to the claim that was submitted, the JPS said that they have asked you to resubmit the claim at the Ruthven Road office where it will be processed.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

It might have been the latter part of February or early March that I took my camcorder to an electronic repair technician.

I told him that the fault was that the tapes were being pulled out of the shells of the cassettes while the camcorder was in operation. He said that the service charge was $4,500 and I paid him.

After the technician told me that the camcorder was fixed I went for it. At the workshop the technician operated the camcorder in my presence to try to show me that it was in good working order. He recorded and played back visual images of his workshop which I saw on the monitor. Along with the images I also heard recorded sounds.

However, when I took it home and tried to use it, the camcorder did not work.

It could not be that I do not know how to use the camcorder. In fact, an employee of the company who are the agents for Sony in Jamaica, congratulated me for videos I have made with this camcorder. He was amazed at the quality of the videos I made using such a small bit of equipment.

It has been more than two months since the technician told me that I could get only a partial refund of $2,000. However, so far he has not put even 10 red cents in my hand. Every time I visit him to ask for the partial refund he keeps telling me to come back at a given time.

He did not give me a receipt when I paid him but he did put a tag on my camcorder with my name and cell number.

Could you kindly speak with him about the refund that he has promised me.

RF

Dear RF

Tell Claudienne spoke with the technician and notes that you have now received the partial refund of $2,000.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 511-2436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.