It's been nine months since we received a bill from Enemalta, which we paid. Since then, nothing. I have sent e-mails getting an automatic acknowledgment and nothing else. I have made phone calls to customer care but the phone is never answered. We are not the only ones with this problem. It appears to be widespread across the island. How can Enemalta expect to collect due money of nine months or more just when it suits them. In Europe's legal section there is a clause on Custom and Practice which Enemalta should adhere to in respect of bills that should be sent every two months, as is the custom and practice here. This is not happening as Enemalta is well aware of. It has broken its own practice and custom and should shoulder the responsibility.

Another law phrase in Europe is Practicable and Reasonable and to expect us to pay such a back-dated bill because of Enemalta's inefficiency is neither practicable nor reasonable. My wife and I are pensioners and our lifestyle has been turned upside down. Where before we could plan our week in having a meal out, going to dances and the cinema, we find that now we can only do one of these things a week as we have to put any spare cash aside as we don't know how much the next bill is going to come to, which is also causing us a great deal of worry.

Since the Enemalta offices have moved out of Valletta it is not easy for the likes of us older generation, or indeed for many other people, to go all the way to Luqa to air our grievances... or maybe that is why it was moved from a central location in the first place.