Dear Friends,
No one likes paying bills--it's an unpleasant but necessary task to keep the water running and the lights on. For home-owners and businesses, this routine is made worse when errors result in over-billing, forcing New Yorkers to waste their time and money to appeal these wrongful charges.
Yesterday, I released our newest Red Tape Report , exposing a pattern of over-billing and technical errors caused by new Automated Water Meter Readers being installed by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
> Watch Marcia Kramer's CBS News exposé here :
One homeowner in Queens, profiled in the NY Post , saw a water bill shoot from $60 per quarter to nearly $1,900--immediately after the City installed a new automated meter in their home. Sadly, City Hall would rather believe a homeowner has been filling an Olympic swimming pool in the backyard than admit to a mistake.
We cannot leave businesses and homeowners on the hook for these screw-ups and then bully people into paying with late fees and liens. It's just not right. Based on our findings, I've outlined solutions to cut costs and reduce the strain of bureaucracy. You can read the full report and my recommendations at: www.advocate.nyc.gov/redtape
If you or anyone you know has experienced problems with your water bills, you can reach our office hotline at 212.669.7250 or send us an email at gethelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov .
Thank you,
Bill de Blasio
NYC Public Advocate