Water Company Bills Elderly Woman over $2,000; She is Forced to Sell her Home
By Steve Kinsman, 11th Sep 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsOff Beat
When a water company billed 91-year old Eleanor Sochanski $2,167.02, she lost her home.
A typical result of privatizing our water
The absurdity of water privatization becomes crystal clear when example after example of egregious overcharging surfaces in the media. The case of 91-year old Eleanor Sochanski of Camden, New Jersey is typical. Earlier this year she received a quarterly bill from United Water Company for $2,167.02, although her usual bill never amounted to more than sixty dollars. The water she was billed for could have filled an Olympic sized swimming pool and then some, but Ms. Sochanski has no pool. She hasn't even got a garden. United Water came out and checked for leaks, but found none. Incredibly, they insisted the charges were accurate, although the next quarter her bill was back to normal. When Sochanski was unable to pay the bill, a lien was placed on her home and it was sold in June.
As for their part, United Water has continuously denied requests for comment or explanation, and it turns out they do not have to disclose any information about their billing practices.
Not an isolated case
Several other instances of gross overcharging by for-profit water companies have also surfaced recently. In Carmel Valley, California, the California-American Water Company charged Toni Ray $9,800 dollars on a monthly bill in September, 2011. Toni's typical bill amounted to around forty dollars, but Cal-Am insisted their billing was correct. After a protracted battle, Cal-Am agreed to reduce Ms. Ray's bill to $2,300 out of "goodwill".
In Middletown, New Jersey, earlier this year, Joe Pezzano had his water completely shut off by the New Jersey American Water Company over an apparent overdue balance of eighty-four cents.. The water company eventually blamed the shut-off on a computer error, but they would not waive the re-connection fee they charged Mr. Pezzano.
These are just three cases of thousands where private, for-profit water companies grossly overcharge customers on a daily basis in this country.
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Comments
11th Sep 2012 (#)
Aren't there any consumer courts like we have in India where they can launch their complaint again such excessive billing dear Steve?
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
They can take these companies to court, but it costs megabucks to do it, and the corporations have hoards of high priced lawyers defending them. And the courts usually side with big business. The cards are stacked against the little guy.
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
Shocking malpractice. And I bet they target old ladies, hoping they'd fail to notice the large numbers due to senility.
Yikes~ what karma they're accruing!
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
They know nothing of karma, which is perhaps why they do the things they do. Thanks rama devi - always so nice to hear from you.
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
It is clearly beyond logic and reason. That there is an error is clear to a student of maths and logic - going by average of past use and even the future! The elderly lady has been hit below the belt! Thanks for highlight of such injustices Steve, and that too in the land of freedom - siva
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
Thank you Siva. I always appreciate your comments, which always hit the mark.
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12th Sep 2012 (#)
this is absolutely shocking! beyond belief....and as Siva says beyond logic and reason..
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13th Sep 2012 (#)
Indeed it is. Thanks for commenting cnwriter.
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13th Sep 2012 (#)
Very useful. Thank you.
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13th Sep 2012 (#)
Thank you vpalouse, my brother.
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