Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities

After many months of family medical problems, which prohibited paying attention to this detail, I noticed that the "usage charges" for water and sewer added to the water bill has increased an average water bill of a 1-2 person household (I'm guestimating $25) by about 20%+. Obviously, this is yet another cleverly concealed tax. Presumably, this tax is yet another method to provide for the City Council to have several nice, elegant respite "conference" visits to Pinehurst Golf Resort such as the one we heard about recently on Channel 9 News. Those are probably designed (between holes on the golf course) to allow them to think up other ways to rob us. These changes and the new "caps" charges, in fact, lower the costs for anyone with large grounds with extensive irrigation systems to water their perfect lawns and fill their lovely swimming pools.

The abuse of the public has begun to reach absurd heights from DC down to the local levels. I wonder how long we are going to allow this before the people take a stand? And another note: Lucky, for now, for all those fortunate enough to have their own wells, but watch out! The "pilot" hydrofracking program introduced in Raleigh not too long ago to release trapped natural gas by pressure, injecting millions of gallons of tainted water into the shale deposits in NC and allows the gas companies to harvest more gas to overcharge us for. This process will, unfortunately, contaminate them very soon as anyone knows who has been checking behind this process out West, where people can literally hold a lighter to the water coming out of their spigots and ignite it.

Water will soon outstrip gasoline at cost per gallon if this is allowed to continue for the sake of oil companies and profit margins. So check your portfolios. Are you supporting this travesty of self-destruction for the sake of a few dividends? This ongoing rape of the earth and the common people is mind-boggling, infuriating and so very sad for mankind. And it's right here in Culver City, folks.

Has anyone had any success with these crooks? My situation pretty much mirrors the others. $150/month bills from June '11-December '11. I had the situation reviewed by the city and a plumber. City said it was my fault, plumbers that it wasn't from the city. They could not even find anything to repair (which they obviously would want to bill me for). This went on until 12/14/11-1/18/12, when my bill dropped to $23. Nothing changed in my usage, nothing was repaired. I live by myself and I am home about 18 days a month and do not water my lawn, have a pool, or do anything else to accrue a large water bill.

The wild card in this scenario is the repairs done by Heitkamp. I was notified at the end of November by Heitkamp that they would be doing repairs in my area. I had a temporary water line put in and the sewage smell that had been ongoing since I've lived here went away. This started in early December and is wrapping up now. Not coincidentally, this was when my water usage was reported accurately.

Does anyone have any suggestions regarding litigation? Am I entitled to thrice damages? Am I entitled to be reimbursed for the 4 plumbers who came out?

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities' water is the worst service out here. Can someone fix it? They cut my water because I didn't pay and they never sent me a bill, never! What is that? And it has passed 4 days or more, and no one has come out to connect it. We need another water company in the City of Charlotte. I am getting tired of this **.

Appealing abnormally high water bills. Requested further investigation. She said someone had been out once 3 months ago & looked at meter (which they did for a total of about 10 min). We content that something is gravely amiss with the functionality of equipment or execution of procedures with our water utility situation. Our bills for last 3 months have been 3 to 4 times the normal. We have had inspections & no leaks found. We cannot afford these bills & little recourse other than to perhaps move out of Mecklenburg. We're at wit's end & looking for an attorney that might at least prompt a further investigation of these business practices. As an aside, the CharMeck customer service was extremely rude & unprofessional. I wonder how they would react if they encountered similar frustrations?

This is a complaint regarding overcharges made by the City of Charlotte Water Utilities. I received a water bill dated May 19, 2010 in the amount of $700.62. I called customer service on May 23, 2010. The water bill in question states from April 7, 2010 to May 6, 2010 for a 29-day period alleges I used 90,514 gallons of water. I advised the customer service rep that this has to be incorrect bill. I am single and reside alone. I do not have a pool (not even a pool in my neighborhood), no irrigation system, house is on a slab, do water my yard, do not wash my car at home, no standing water (confirm by City of Charlotte employee), no usage of water in four years at my residence. The City of Charlotte had a person to check my meter on May 27, 2010. The City of Charlotte water personnel, inspector Johnson left a note at my house stating high bill inspection results "Low-flow indicator running (blue dial on meter) may indicate private leak."

I called customer service and I ended up talking to customer service supervisor at 311 phone number. This supervisor who I feel was rude advised that the inspector opinion that I may have a leak on the private property and unwilling to change or compromise the water bill of $700.62. I complained to office of City of Charlotte Mayor Anthony ***'s office. I spoke to Peggy at Mayor *** office and advised their office had received complaints of high water bills and felt could assist me. Peggy referred me to Margaret *** for City of Charlotte Water Utilities. I talked to Ms. *** and there was a re-inspection of meter reading for home on July 8th. I was advised my average monthly water bill in the amount of $54. Ms. *** advised would put a hold on service to prevent from being turned while addressing my issues. Ask I pay $50 until this matter considered.

I made the payments in June and July of $50. I met Kevin *** at my home on July 8th and confirmed no standing water or an explanation of how I to use 90,514 gallon of water in 29 days. I was to hear from manager Sam *** at City of Charlotte and did not hear from him. I emailed Ms. *** at City of Charlotte on August 24, 2010 for a status. I received a call from Sam *** on August 27, 2010. I had a plumber inspect my home and a "small leak" discovered. The plumber stated his opinion that leak was very small and could possibly increase my water bill to double or $80-$90. States the small leak would not cause usage of 90,514 gallons in 29 days. Plumber states he has a swimming pool and which holds 10,000 gallons and took a few days to fill up the pool. Now image trying to use 90,514 gallons of water by residence with person, by a person who works an eight hour day away from home.

I talked to Sam *** a manage at City of Charlotte on August 27th and his inflexible position is that City of Charlotte would not correct or compromise their bill. Mr. *** basically reaffirmed the position taken by City of Charlotte supervisor in May. There are articles the Charlotte Observer newspaper, WCNC New Channel 36, WSOC TV 9, Davidson newspaper. These media articles reports report a large number of complaints in Charlotte by customers of high water bills. The reports indicate a mismatch between the mechanical water meter and the more error prone electronic transmitters that send water usage data for billing. This means the water meters may appear working, but the error prone electronic transmitters will allege you have used water not used. There have Charlotte city council meetings discussing the erroneous water bills.

As a matter of fact the City of Charlotte Water is to be conducting county wide audits of water meters. There are reported to be thousands of City of Charlotte in Mecklenburg where discovered problems in recording correct water usage. There are know issues in recording water usage and Mr. *** refuses to alter or compromise my high water bill. How can the entity I support by tax dollars consider any compromise with all the publicized issues with erroneous water bills in the county?