$ 4,000+ Water Bill from (GWA) Guam Waterworks Authority!! WTF??!!

A brief history:

I've been living in my current home for about 10 years now. My power bill has averaged anywhere from $175 to $250 per month depending of course on our usage, while my water bill has averaged anywhere from $30 to $70 per month depending again on usage over the course of 10 years. Simple right? Apparently not.

Welcome to my Nightmare:

A couple of days ago, I routinely checked my mail,.. and I routinely received my utility bills in the mail that day too. So I opened up the power bill first because that is usually higher and is the one that I am "usually" concerned about. Ok, whew! No surprises there. For some reason, I elect to open up my water bill as well, which I am not normally worried about. Here is a partial image of what I found:

What the??!! Apparently I all of a sudden consumed almost a MILLION GALLONS OF WATER IN FEBRUARY??!! But, wait, that's not all, I was OFF-ISLAND FOR 2 WEEKS IN FEBRUARY TOO! Sooo,,.. that means I consumed almost 1 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER IN 2 WEEKS!!

As you can also see above on the right hand side, my previous bill was $44.14 which is within my average. Now they are billing me $4,099.56!!!!!!! W... T.... F!!!!!!!???

That is not the worst of this experience, now for the call to GWA the next day.

So I had to wait until the next day to call because it was after working hours already for them, let's say about 4:02 in the afternoon? Just kidding. ;) Anyway, since I wasn't able to get any sleep knowing that I had just received the biggest bill of my personal life, I had to calm myself down to make the call to customer service.

Here are the details of the call to the best of my recollection:

GWA: Guam Waterworks

Me: Hi, yeah I have a problem with my billing, I have been averaging around $40 to $70 per month for 10 years and all of a sudden I am being billed for over $4,000 with almost 1 Million Gallons of water consumed... {expecting some sort of reaction}

GWA: Account Number Please

Me: W9XXXXXX

GWA: Ok just to let you know that your previous billings were based only on estimates,...

Me: What? What are you talking about? What do you mean?? Are you telling me that this is really how much I owe??

GWA: I'm just telling you that your previous billings were only based on estimates and that we will need to investigate it further.

Me: Well PLEASE DO!!

GWA: Excuse me?

Me: I said Please DO! {hmm,.. I wonder what she thought I said?;)}

GWA: You will need to fax a map and call us back within 2 Weeks.

Me: Ok, wait, just so we are clear, are you folks NOT having any other issues like this?? Is it only me??

GWA: Yes sir we are having many issuess like this..

Me: Ok then I'll fax it

I hang-up, draw a map, and try to fax it to the number she gave, it just kept ringing with no answer. So I called GWA again:

GWA: Guam Waterworks

Me: I've been trying to fax but the machine is not answering..

GWA: What does the machine say?

Me: N-o M-a-c-h-i-n-e A-n-s-w-e-r. =P'

GWA: Hold on, I will have to walk over to where the machine is..

Me: Was it off?

GWA: {delay} It's working fine it's receiving faxes.

Me: OOOO,,...KKKK,....

GWA: Just keep trying,..

Me: I'll try now can't you just watch it?

GWA: I need to return to my post now just keep trying.

Me: {frustrated} Ok

After hanging up, all of a sudden the fax machine was busy. Yup, just as I thought, it was off, they just didn't want to admit it. They just assume that all of their customers are idiots.

Look, I run a business too, and I have some simple tips s for everyone in Customer Service:

• a little empathy goes a long way,
• try to put yourself in the customers shoes, in their situation, then you'll understand, and only then can you truly help them,
• if you or the company makes a mistake, admit it, they'll respect you more for it,
• your salary is getting paid by your business' customers so please, show some respect yourself, the Government is no exception.

Having some IT and Management background, I have a tip for GWA Management to consider as well:

• It should be easy enough to tag Residential Accounts that either have a usage that is TOO HIGH for a Residence, or if this month's bill is unusually LARGE as compared to the previous months, with some simple code in their billing output programs,
• Add more controls and Audit your Billing Please.

For now, I wait, but you never know, who knows what is going on here..

Drenched in Dededo (in almost 1 Million Gallons of Invisible Water) =P'

Pinoy Arnel Pineda the new Lead Singer for Journey Debuts in Chile

Well apparently another pride of the pinoys worldwide Mr. Arnel Pineda, who was discovered through videos of him with his band in the Philippines The Zoo on You Tube had already made his debut with Journey just recently.

Want proof? I got it.

Pinoy yan! Mabuhay ang pinoy!! Arnel keep rockin and make us proud man! You are proof that anything is possible, ... provided that you were born with a talent like yours! he he.. Man I wish I had a voice like that, ... I'd like to win the lotto too but I've accepted my fate already. =P'

Have a Great Journey kabayang Arnel. Pun intended. =) Keep checking gustokoh.com maybe for a new album from them!! ;)

Here are the videos:

Lights



Faithfully



Don't Stop Believing



Open Arms



Separate Ways

Filipina Ramiele Malubay's American Idol Performance Last Night

Well kabayans, we have another Filipina to cheer on and be proud of! If you were unable to watch it I am posting a link to the video here for you.

She truly is a cute little filipina with a huge voice!

Make us proud Ramiele, and to all the pinoys out there, unite! Don't forget to vote for her and continue to support her.

Let's hope she gets far in the competition if not Win it All!

Maybe someday you'll be buying Ramiel's albums from gustokoh.com! ;)

Anyway here is the video, Enjoy!

Filipina American Idol Contestant Ramiele Malubay Audition

We pinoys have another pinoy talent to cheer on and her name is Ramiele Malubay. She proves that great things come in small packages. She is a cute little pinay that has a big woman's voice! Nice.

If only I can get her to sing to me?

Mabuhay ang Pinoy and stay tuned she may get far with our help and support!

Nightmare at BDO (Banco De Oro) Greenhills Virra Mall

Just a warning to you all, be wary of the BDO ATM in Greenhills. My bro tried to use the ATM yesterday and in one shot, the machine confiscated his Credit Card. We went into the bank to tell the personnel and after presenting his Driver's License she proceeded to say that he needed a 2nd Id. So let's get this straight, here are the facts:

• We reported the card taken,
• The guard even saw us,
• He presented his Driver's License with a Picture and all of the required information,
• And their policy was to ask for a 2nd ID?
• Stupid.

This is much like their policy in the Philippines that you need to sign the back of your credit card. So basically it doesn't matter who you are, as long you have something scribbled on the back of the card you're good. It doesn't matter if you have the ID that matches the information on the card, it is their policies.

I'm beginning to think that Philippines Policies like these are simply retarded, but if you want to argue go ahead I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, but mind you, I will go at it with you. ;)

Noypi