GUYANA WATER INC. (GWI) on Thursday said that they would be embarking on a countrywide campaign to remove the water service of customers who are in arrears.Customer Services Manager, Jeanette Thomas told this publication that GWI is focusing on collections of water services and urged customers to make such payments or face disconnection which she noted is the last resort.
Thomas suggested that those in arrears should visit GWI offices across the country to enter a ‘wallet-friendly’ payment plan which lasts for three months if the customer cannot afford to make the entire payment in the allotted time. He/she can speak to a supervisor or a manager to have a waiver.

She explained that one of the shortcomings is, that bills are not getting to customers on time as a result of some hiccups with the postal company but they are making strides to have bills delivered otherwise to their customers.

Thomas stated, that they are in receipt of many complaints by customers, who claimed that their services were disconnected because they did not receive bills, as such they could not make any payment.

She however, pointed out, that customers whose services have been repeatedly disconnected will have their service removed by GWI once they are in arrears and urged such persons to make contact with the water company at the earliest on 227-8701 from 08:00hrs to 16:30 hrs on week days or leave a message on weekends and a call will be returned.

Thomas told this newspaper that water subletting is illegal and those culpable will be dealt with, and encouraged customers to desist from such practices.

She noted that once the service line is removed by GWI the customer must re-apply for service and will have to pay in excess of $30,000 to so do, and asked customers to make payments to avoid the removal of their service.

Thomas disclosed that more than 50% of customers are in arrears, at the same time, though, they do not want to remove water service from them but they need to pay since billing for 2013 is due and the payment options have been expanded to commercial banks, Bill Express, GPOC, GT&T Mobile Money, online banking etc. to facilitate payment by customers.

GWI has also upped their efforts to reach out to customers by promoting a weekly outreach programme where revenue managers and customer service staffers have been visiting schools, NDC offices, supermarkets etc. to interact with customers countrywide.

This weekend they will be in Wakenaam and they plan to visit all areas including Ithaca, Corentyne, among other areas.

The water company is also updating their data. An exercise is under way to verify such, in which, customer’s accounts will be updated, and they are asking for the cooperation of consumers, said Billing, Revenue and Control Manager, Julie Ragnauth.
Written By Michel Outridge