Mobile Area Water and Sewage System Rip-off! Billing Practices, Mobile, Alabama MAWSS failed to send a bill, then shut us off without notice. Mobile Alabama

We've lived in our apartment for less than 3 mos when I discovered today that our water was off. I went outside to see if there were a truck, etc., to inquire as to WHY our water was off (we hadn't gotten our first bill yet), but there wasn't a truck.

The so-called shutoff notice that they're supposed to hang on the door WASN'T on the door, but inside the mailbox with the lid closed. No one knocked. No one inquired. No one even sent us a bill, much less a shutoff notice.

I've gone to the State Attorney General's office web site and called them, but they say they can't help us. In fact, apparently no one can. I believe the water guy was careful NOT to let us know he was here and shutting us off because part of the fees the water company collects go to the people who turn the water on and off. Our $119 bill, because of the fees and 'penalties,' is now nearly $300.

The $300 is required to turn our service back on if we want our service on before 72hrs is up. The breakdown is: $119 bill (never received), $5 penalty, $100 deposit (not required prior to shutoff), PLUS $40 if we want our water back on same day, or $30 for next day.

If we have to have our water back on after 5pm, then we have to pay an additional $60. If the water guy would've KNOCKED on the door before shutting us off and NOT left the notice in the mailbox instead of the front door, we wouldn't be paying these fees, and we wouldn't be without water.

Our gov't needs to SERIOUSLY get involved in this practice, which we've seen happen to other people with water and other utility companies.

Ella
Mobile, Alabama
U.S.A.