Dear Claudienne

I am having a problem with the Jamaica Public Service Company and need your assistance in resolving same.

I have received my current month’s electricity bill (June) from JPS which showed an amount of $23,162.85, and I am shocked that it represents more than100 per cent increase over the consumption for the previous month.

Stated thereon is a recorded usage of 603 KWH for the month of June whilst my normal usage is approximately 300 KWH per month.

For reference, I have listed under my actual usage/ consumption for the past five months as follows: January 2011, 324 KWH; February,279 KWH; March, 315 KWH; April, 307 KWH; May, 316 KWH.

I must emphasise that I am an 80-year-old senior citizen and I am alone in the home every day. I have no washing/ dryer machine, no air condition unit/s and no computer.

On the June bill the usage showed two readings, the old meter registering 388 KWH and the new meter registering 215 KWH respectively, totalling the exhorbitant 603 KWH as recorded.

I am at a loss to understand the meter readings which no doubt have malfunctioned.

I also wish to note that during May 2011 there were at least five occasions when the power kept tripping intermittently and in my estimation could be the result of the surge in the meter recording.

On several occasions I have tried to contact the customer service at JPS but to no avail. Nevertheless in the interim I have paid in full the amount on the June bill as stated, but under protest!!!

I hope this matter can be resolved to my satisfaction.

GC

Dear GC

We contacted the JPS and they have conducted an investigation into your account. They have also sent a meter reader to your house to do a special reading of your meter. The company has advised Tell Claudienne that as a result of the investigation an adjustment will be made to your account within 30 days. This means that the adjusted amount should be reflected on the next bill you receive in September.

“We apologise to GC for this unfortunate experience and look forward to improving our relationship with him going forward,” the JPS said.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

I am a cashier at a company since October 2000. How long do I have to work to get three weeks’ leave?

RR

Dear RR

According to the Ministry of Labour you are due three weeks’ vacation if you have worked at a company for 10 years and over.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company? Telephone 936-9436 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.