AD calls on ARMS to suspend interest charge

Alternattiva Demokratika has called on ARMS to suspend the six per cent interest charge payable on overdue water and electricity bills until it got its act together.

AD chairman Michael Briguglio said it was unacceptable that customers of Malta's utility providers wereexpected to pay for inefficiencies, not only of the service providers themselves, but also of ARMS Ltd, which has been subcontracted to administer utility bills.

He said: "All sorts of complaints are being made by customers, ranging from incorrect energy bills to never-ending queues. It is obvious that with all the rhetoric in favour of the efficiency of privatisation, ARMS is in an administrative shambles. Unless the company gets its act together, the six per cent interest charge applicable to overdue'water and electricity bills should be suspended."

Richard Schranz, AD spokesman for consumer rights added that in the absence of functional smart meters for all energy consumers, the six per cent interest charge on overdue bills was untenable because customers were being forced to pay this on excessive bills derived from chronic administrative errors and overestimated readings.

This fiasco reflected the crude abuse of consumers by Enemalta and the Water Services Corporation due to their monopolistic market dominance, he said.