Cleveland Water Department Is Looking For Suckers

              Over 2,000 Water Bill Complaints                                                                       

After living in my present house for over 12 years, and paying my water and sewer bills perfectly, I get to experience the thrill of joining over 2,000 other Cleveland Water Dept. customers who have been sent bills that out of nowhere, have gone up over 700% in one quarter.

There is a problem. It's getting bigger. Are you one of the folks who have received these outrageous bills? If so, it is time to band together and demand real answers, and get some real solutions....NOW! 

Here is what I think may be going on:

The Water Company is in trouble. The recession affects every business, and every consumer. This is a public utility, I believe, but it is being run by the City Of Cleveland. I really think that they are hoping for a 20% payday. What I mean by that is that if 20% of the customers that they overbilled just pay their bills without a fight,  they can recoup their losses. Call me paranoid. Call me skeptical. Call me.

Every time I call the water Department, I get a different story. The most recent one is that my bills are estimates. For 12 years? Cmon! It gets better. Here is what one customer service rep suggested:

"It is your responsibility to tell us that the bill is an estimate. It's like this; What if you worked 40 hours a week for someone, and one week, you noticed that you were paid for 36 hours, when in fact you worked 40 hours. It is your responsibility to tell them there has been a mistake. This is the same thing. It is your responsibility to tell us that you are getting estimated bills."

What?

{At that point in the conversation, I said, "get me a supervisor."}

Now, I am waiting for a call from the "Special Investigative Unit." Nice name. Maybe a TV series is on the way. They are going to inspect my pipes, or something. I am sure that it must be my pipes. I have to agree to this, so that I can go before the "Review Board" and not get an answer while I am there. {Gee, I would love to spend more of my valuable time doing this-instead of keeping my franchise consulting business afloat.}

Is it any wonder why people are leaving Cleveland, in droves? The Plain Dealer has covered this story at least 4 times, and even went to a "Review Board" meeting with a customer..

The most recent comments over at Cleveland.com, are using some new, and powerful words;

"Class Action Lawsuits"

This is crazy. Anyone else fuming? Is  the City of Cleveland really encouraging small business development with things like this going on? 

Over 2,000 complaints here, folks. Mayor Jackson, it may be time for you to get involved.

I wonder if any news directors at our local TV stations read this blog. MMMM?

UPDATE! New Website Now Live;

www.AdjustMyWaterBill.com

Get involved. Let's Rock N Roll, Cleveland!

Comments

[Chris]

I am a landlord here in Cleveland Ohio with 6 rental properties. A couple weeks ago when I noticed that I had not received my latest bill for one of my rentals, I decided to go to clevelandwater.com and log in to view my bill. It said I owed $1700! When I tried to view the actual bill, it said that there was a problem with the site! I have owned this property which is a double house for 7 years and have not had a bill over $450. The following day, I called the customer service department 1st thing in the morning at 7am when they opened. I attempted the call 10 times each time giving me a message that said "please call back during regular business hours from 7am to 4pm." Finally, at 7:22am someone actually answered and said that I needed to be at the property to give a proper reading. I was not at the property and said that I would have to call back. Several days later when I was able to find the time, I called back and was told the current wait time to talk to someone was 10 minutes and I waited 18 minutes for someone to tell me that I would have to call back and schedule someone to come out for which I had to be there for a 8 hour time window!!!!

[Dino Roberts]

The service at the cleveland water depart sucks! I needed water turned on and after 4.5 hours on the phone the lazy city workers just collecting a check refuse to answer a phone or return emails and voice messages. I bet that if their paycheck was on the other line they would answer. I want a job that pays me to be lazy and irresponsible. The city is broke and i am beginning to see the why. The cleveland water departments bbb rating sucks. Its amazing you can treat people like @#$% and get away with it when you need them more than they need you. Who is in charge of this department? They should be fired immediately. Its amazing that the city thats broke doesnt want to make money by turning on peoples utilities. I will spell it out for you cleveland water department. The GOAL IS TO GET THE MOST WATER TO THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. THAT CREATES REVENUE FOR THE CITY TO PAY YOU. A CITY THATS BROKE IS PAYING MONEY FOR YOU TO DO A JOB. ////DO YOUR JOB////

[Wendel Battin]

Did you ever try calling Cleveland water? You are on hold for a least an hour! Yeah, now get this...every time I sell a house I have to call Cle water 4-5 times to get my final bill (The escrow companies (by LAW) hold back $250.00 from my closing to pay my water/sewer bills). HEY JACKSON THIS IS NUTS ____FIX IT!!!!!!!!!

[Linda]

Twitter the WATERBILLWOMAN

[jeff buster]

You have an inside meter and an outside meter? are either of these RF transducer reading?
Again, when was your last ACTUAL (not estimated) reading?

I am speaking from experience. I had a $13,000.00 water bill (it was wrong) so I learned about meter reading and water bills.

On the other hand, 2,000 people actually could be wrong out of the thousands who are on Cleveland H2O system.

best,
jeff

[The Franchise King]

Hi Jeff,
It's inside and outside. Over 2,000 complaining customers can't all be wrong... Water Dept. changes their story every time. 3 PD articles already.

JL

[jeff buster]

Hello Joel,

When was the last actual read of your meter? Is it in your basement? When did a meter reader last come in to your house? This could easily be the issue, and it is a legit one.

[The Franchise King]

Hi Jim,
This is so ridiculous.

Thank you so much for the offer!

I will let you know...

JL

[Jim Kukral]

Outrageous Joel. Let me know how I can help spread the word.