There's Good & There's Bad
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Well, since I have to write this without anyone's input, you get the good news first.
The big bright note! I finished checking the Spencer Hill editor's suggestions for my "Shadow Harper" story yesterday. It took far less time than I had anticipated because I agreed with nearly everything that ( Read more... )
The big bright note! I finished checking the Spencer Hill editor's suggestions for my "Shadow Harper" story yesterday. It took far less time than I had anticipated because I agreed with nearly everything that ( Read more... )
My water bills with sewer tend to be around $80/month. But I also pay garbage through the city, so that adds another about $20 a month, so my bill is usually just under $100 all together. And though we're in a house, we don't water grass or fill a pool. Though we do have one friend staying with us now, which has upped the water usage I'm sure. But I installed low flow shower heads recently too, which I'm hoping will help.
But I wonder if your building has individual meters or one master meter? If a master meter, they usually use some type of method for breaking down the volume that runs through it to the individual residents. And unless they have individual meters hooked up to each unit, they more than likely use some other measurement, like how much you pay for rent, square footage, or who knows, it could be an arbitrary decision by the manager.
If you do have individual meters, find out what time of month they supposedly read them and do your own meter reading check each month, and see if it is decently close to the one on the bill. If you notice a big difference, chances are they are not reading them, but doing running estimates. If they don't adjust the water bill after you send the evidence that the meter readings are wrong, I think there are some state agencies that you could contact about fraudulent practices.
If there is just one master meter, I would ask the manager how the individual water usages are calculated. That will give you either the info to know how to reduce your bill if it is something you have some control over, or basis for contesting the bills.
You will be in my prayers.
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I appreciate you providing me your water bill amounts. I talked with a past member of WR. He and his wife and one adult child live in a house and he says he waters his lawn a lot. He pays $40 just for water. I am one person in an apartment & I don't think the balcony can or should be watered. ;-P
We each have our own meter, installed in our utility closets when all of this began. The meters are up very high, attached to a pipe and their faces face the ceiling. There are no meter readers. Presumably the monthly usage is sent electronically to Florida. At first, we weren't charged for sewage by Midway but now we are. I believe that started about a year ago.
I've tried two state agencies here: the Public Advocate's Office and Consumer Protection. Neither seems to have any jurisdiction over meters. (This probably explains why there is also an unresolved gas meter & billing controversy going on at an apartment near here)
Oh, just for the fun of it, these have been my payments as per my bank since Midway took over. The payments don't entirely gibe with the charges. Also I messed up payments a couple of times at the beginning. But they should be pretty close:
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6-13-2010$72.61 (both May & June?)
8-26 53.19
10-8 135.00 (both Sept & Oct?)
11-4 139.82
12-12 70.36
1-2-2011 70.00
1-26 74.24
2-28 51.50
3-18 52.66
4-21 38.41
5-16 45.51
6-11 66.92
6-17 129.05
7-15 157.56
8-15 191.49
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Thanks again for the well-wishes.
Before I responded to your comment, I filled out a complaint form with the Better Business Bureau (the one in Florida, where Midway is). I'll update you by email if I hear anything.
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