By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE decision of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to refer debtors to a credit collection agency at this time is both reckless and cruel.
This is according to Member of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray.
“To employ a credit collection agency at this time is harsh and spiteful,” he said.
In a press release on Thursday, Paray said it was appalling that the Government was permitting WASA to engage in the debt collection exercise even after a ministerial committee recently found that the agency’s books were in a complete mess.
He said, “In that broken and chaotic system, WASA is undertaking this haphazard measure, instead moving expeditiously to fix its books, improve its distribution system and repair damaged water mains and roads.”
Paray said Public Utilities Minister Marvin Gonzales should put a freeze on the debt collection exercise until WASA has sorted out its affairs and compiled a credible list of customers with aged arrears.
“The railroading of the debt collection drive would also affect the credit rating of customers who fall victim to WASA’s dysfunction and mismanagement. While WASA has a serious cash flow problem, the collection of debt must be guided by a watertight list of debt receivables and by management competence and professionalism” he said.
In a public notice two days ago, WASA announced that it has engaged debt collector Credit Chex Ltd to assist with debt collection from customers with arrears outstanding for over two years.
To avoid the referral of accounts to Credit Chex Ltd, customers can settle the outstanding arrears on their account or enter into a payment plan arrangement to settle the outstanding amounts in installments.
