Figueres will launch a campaign against water fraud and cut off the supply to those who do not pay outstanding debts.
The City Council calculates that there are a hundred accountants with unpaid debts -both individuals and businesses- and that the debt exceeds 600,000 euros. Also, remember that not paying bills also means not paying taxes (both water and garbage).
Regarding fraud, the Councilor for Computing and Electronic Administration, Albert Alemany, says that it is more difficult to quantify but that they have located the points where there are more and that devices similar to those of light will be made. As of September 15, those who are not up to date with their payment will receive a notification and if they do not regularize it, their service will be cut off.
In the midst of the drought, the Figueres City Council has set itself the goal of regularizing the drinking water supply service provided by the multi-municipal company, Fisersa. The consistory calculates that there are accumulated unpaid bills worth 600,000 euros and that there are at least a hundred accountants who are not up to date with their payments. In addition, the government team is aware that there is a real problem of fraud in the connections -as is already the case with light-, which makes it even more difficult to quantify the real losses for the public coffers.
To put a stop to it, in the coming weeks devices are planned to deactivate irregular connections in the neighborhoods where they are suspected to exist. On the other hand, as of September 15, a campaign will be launched to regularize pending payments.
Homes and businesses with delinquencies will receive notification. In it they will be reminded that they are no longer charged for changing the ownership of the contract -two years ago it cost about 200 euros- and that the debts can be paid in installments.
From the government they make a special point that there will be no charge for making a name change, aware that in many cases the non-payments are derived from a previous tenant or owner, but remember that in these cases the current tenants or owners are fully aware of who are not up to date with payment.
Therefore, they will be left a deadline and if they do not regularize it, their water will be cut off. Only those people who have proven their vulnerable situation and who the City Council has already identified will be exempt.
"We will give facilities to people who are not up to date, who will be able to divide it, and on the other hand, we will act against those who are committing fraud and who do not want to catch up," says Alemany.
From the Figueres City Council, in addition, they remember that not paying the receipts also implies not paying the corresponding taxes. Not only those that refer to the water service, but also -and above all- to garbage.
On the other hand, the City Council approved in the last plenary session a change in the 'social good' system for vulnerable families because they have detected excessive consumption in some homes that have assistance. In this sense, it has been agreed that once 20 cubic meters are exceeded, it will be paid at the normal rate price.
In addition, and also starting in September, a pilot test will be launched with digital meters to have readings in real time. Different points will be selected as a step prior to the digitization of the service and access to digital invoices. It should be remembered that Fisersa currently does not allow electronic procedures and that invoices are sent on paper.
