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T
his week the Costa Blanca People was contacted by a couple from La Marina who believe that their local water company is demanding money from them under false pretences – around 3,000 euros for water consumption they have never used. The pair want to warn people about what they claim is a ‘water scam’ and for those experiencing a similar situation to come forward. We cannot name the pair for legal reasons, so we will call them Mr and Mrs Smith. Early in July the couple headed home after a shopping trip to find two local police and two water company workers outside their house. One of the company
representatives accused the Smiths of tampering with their water meter and explained a new one had been fitted. In his pocket he had the ‘old’ meter which had a piece of wire protruding from it. The Smiths have lived in the same house for more than 12 years, and have paid every water bill in line with the officially billed consumption. With the exception of general seasonal fluctuations the consumption has varied very little over that time. The meter had been recently read by a water company worker and no wire or mention of a wire had been made. Neither had there been any communication from the company regarding increased usage or any concerns they had about unpaid consumption at the Smiths house. Mr Smith said: “No-one witnessed the old meter in place with the wire. There were no witnesses to the man opening the meter cabinet. We only have his word the wire was there. Also if we had been stealing hundreds of litres of water why hadn’t this been shown on our bills and us made to pay for it?” Three weeks later the Smiths received a
Tues 15th - 21st November - 2016
Below: Average bills letter demanding they go to the water company’s offices in San Fulgencio within ten days, they went straight away. They were treated appallingly at the office. The lady on the desk took their names and then refused to speak to them, answer questions or look at their bills and paperwork. She simply handed over a bill for thousands of euros and pointed to one word in a Spanish-English dictionary; the word was ‘fraud’. The couple left and went straight to a solicitor. The bill claimed the Smith had stolen enough water to fill 14 swimming pools! Continued on page 3
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