Fed up with what they say are erroneous water bills, some Cambridge residents are in the first stages of legal action against their city.
“A lot of people are now taking this to the courts, just because they’re not getting the satisfaction … from the city,” resident Kayla Andrade tells CTV News.
Concerns about erratic amounts appearing on water bills is nothing new in the city.
Viktor Fernandes, a landlord, pointed to one recent bill which rang in around $76, and a subsequent one which charged him much more.
“My next billing … is for $995 for two months,” he says.
“It makes no sense to me whatsoever. The uses cannot change that much.”
Compounding matters for Fernandes is that if his rental tenants choose not to pay the bill and then move elsewhere, the outstanding balance is deducted from his property taxes.
Also questioning the accuracy of the bills is Coun. Frank Monteiro.
He says he’s seen single bills as high as $2,700, and wonders if the city’s water meters aren’t as accurate as believed.
“We can’t go on the way it is. It’s embarrassing. It’s become a joke,” he says.
The city is in the midst of reviewing its water services.
A report on the billing issues is expected to come to council in November.
