Along with, I am sure, a great many other consumers, I have been awaiting my electricity and water bill with some trepidation, considering that the last bill I received and paid was in respect of the period 12 December 2010 to 28 January 2011.
On Wednesday, I received two envelopes from Automated Revenue Management Services Ltd. One contained a hefty bill purporting to be for the period 27 May to 29 July 2011 but which was, on inspection, actually for the entire period from 12 December to 29 July although it did credit the amount I had paid for the period from 12 December to 28 January. The other envelope contained two more bills, one for the period 12 December 2010 to 26 May 2011 showing a different, admittedly lower, amount due and the other for the period 29 January to 30 March 2011 showing yet a third, again lower, amount due. Three separate bills, all showing an amount due for payment.
I know that ARMS Ltd has been busy moving its offices in the six months during which it has not bothered to send me – or presumably thousands of its other customers – a bill. However, I really must protest at such a time-consuming and costly (three bills, three “Your consumption in more detail” statements and one letter, in two envelopes) and misleading and confusing billing system by which, instead of one bill/statement for the period during which no bills have been issued – in my case since 29 January – broken down into three separate periods (as my meter was actually read on 26 May) if it wishes, I receive three bills, all with a different “amount due” at the bottom, making a really frightening and totally erroneous total of more than €1,500!
My initial scepticism on learning, more than two years ago now, that “Automated Revenue Management Services Ltd” (aka Water Services Corporation) had been established to handle the issue and settlement of electricity and water bills has been more than justified. “Automated” – well, if this is automation, I think I would prefer a clerk sitting on a high stool with a feather quill; “Management” – that is as much of a joke as is “Services” – what is the company supposed to be managing and to whom is it providing a service? In fact, when you think about it, the only parts of its name that have any logic are “Revenue” (no amplification necessary) and “Limited” – yes, very limited.
One final point: Enclosed in the envelope containing the two bills was a letter from ARMS Ltd apologising for the delay since the “issuance” (ghastly word – what’s wrong with “issue”?) of the last bill and graciously informing me that I can actually take 120 days to settle my very considerable account instead of the usual 75 days. If ARMS Ltd manages to pull its collective finger out during the next 120 days, and considering that we are already over five weeks into the next billing period, in four months’ time I will have presumably received the next bill to pay. Thanks a lot for a meaningless gesture!
■ J. Vella
Mellieħa