Letter: Questioning the water bill

I live in Bisma, North Jakarta. Our clean water is supplied by a tap water operator.

In August, our monthly bill was less than the normal bill because in July we had gone on vacation, and our house was closed for 10 days because our maid had also left.

After reading our meter in August, the person who came to take the reading said we tampered with the meter and blah blah blah.

The very next day four people from the operator came to our house and questioned my wife about why the bill was less. The scene was if we had committed a terrible crime.

Last month’s reading jumped to 174 cubic meters and our bill was Rp 1.6 million (US$178). One week has already passed but no one came to check why the bill was so high.

After receiving the high bill I called up the contact center and informed them, and they said they would check on the problem.

Five days after my first call, I called again to check why no one had come to check what was wrong, and to my surprise the person said since no one was in the house they estimated the bill. This is a total lie.

The person who came to the house told my wife “there was leakage in your tank”, which was on the roof so the water flowed out.

The point is, if your bill is less you are questioned, and if it is high then everyone is happy since the operator will have more income. And the government has the slogan “save water”, which is precious.
 
Rajesh
Jakarta