Minol USA Water Bill Rip-Off - Everett Washington - No way to audit them Addison, Texas
Mty wife and I live in a 1-bedroom, 1 bath apartment in Everett Washington. We are middle-aged and my wife doesn't work. Our Minol water bills are incredibly high. They say we're using 4,000 + gallons a month! We actively conserve water by taking short, short, short showers, limit running the dishwasher only when it's full, not flushing the toilet all night long (with exceptions!),and only using our apartment-sized washing machine twice a week. Still, our bill is 3 tiimes what we paid in a 3 bed, 2 bath house, with a lawn sprinkler system and full-sized appliances. We can't see our water meter and have no way to compare readings with them. What they say is what we have to pay. I have a $700 back-bill to pay off.
We have a neighbor who's in the militray and was gone for months. He still was billed for water used when he was gone!
This is obviously a total rip-off and fraud. But, we have no choice but to struggle to pay this or move - and we can't afford to do that.
I'm told that the meters are read electronically by Minol. Yhey can say you used any amount they want. There is no oversight from anyone. If you don't or can't pay. you're charged a late fee, and if you can't keep up, you're out on the street.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
aacohen
Addison,Texas,
Additional Information - Minol
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, April 15, 2013
We do want to make you aware that Minol is not the water and sewer service provider. Minol is a third-party billing company that is contracted by the apartment owner to provide meter reading (if applicable) and billing services to their residents. The local water provider would be the City of Everett. The statement that residents are billed even if they are away leads me to believe that you may live in a community where there are not actual meters in the apartment home to measure individual water usage. Typically, this is due to age or construction which makes metering not a viable option. If this is the case, then an approved allocation billing method will be utilized. Because water costs are very high throughout the United States and continue to rise (particularly sewer cost), resident awareness and responsibility for consumption is so important. When residents are responsible for their water costs, studies show they are much more likely to conserve.
As mentioned, Minol does not set the rates for the water as they are assessed by the water provider. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your account. Please call 888.766.1253 and ask to speak with Lisa Turner.
aacohen
Addison,Texas,
Minol Response
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, April 11, 2013
Please contact our Associate Director of Resident Relations, Lisa Turner, so that we may review your account. You can reach her at 888.766.1253, ext 121. We look forward to getting your issues resolved.