THE EDITOR, Sir:MY COMPLAINT is about the indiscriminate and robotic manner in which the JPS disconnects electricity service for late payment. My electricity was disconnected on January 24, for the non-payment of my bill after the due date, arising from a genuine misunderstanding on my part. The amount due was $1,601.35. I have been a metered customer for approximately 15 years and within that time frame, I have never been disconnected for late payment.
As a responsible customer, I asked the JPS to investigate my meter because the usage fell below what I was accustomed to using. The meter was found defective and replaced. The usual payments were made in October and November 2005, resulting in credits of approximately 50 per cent of those bills.
CUSTOMER'S PAYMENT HISTORY
I find it extremely repulsive that a customer's payment history is not taken into consideration when disconnections are ordered by management. I was told by JPS's customer service that the policy is, once there is a balance on your account and the due date has passed, then the customer is automatically disconnected.
Policy is not made in a vacuum, it must be made in relation to something or someone. In this case, I think that the policy of all utility companies, including the JPS should separate the customers with a good/excellent payment history from those who perpetually pay their bills late or none at all and render an appropriate treatment to the respective group. I consider the treatment meted out to me and many others who might have had a similar experience 'rotten' customer service. We, definitely need competition. JPS's monopoly must go!
I am, etc.,
BARBARA HEW
b.hew@cwjamaica.com
