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By Hilbert Haar
One may well wonder how anyone is able to, according to utilities company NV GEBE, run up payment arrears of 15,000 guilders on the consumption of electricity.
One may also wonder how it is possible that GEBE is invoicing some clients two to three times for the same period.
Another question is why GEBE is not handling this situation in a more mature way. Clients who are waiting for a letter that says something like ”sorry, we made a mistake” can wait a very long time. Such letters will never arrive.
I think it is fair to say that some citizens are better prepared to handle the assault on their finances than others. Those others will be scared shitless and they will scramble to find a solution to avoid disconnection. Some will be forced to go without electricity, others will go into debt to pay.
Anyone who gets notice that he or she is 15,000 guilders behind and that payment is required within seven days – or else – will experience a lot of stress. And what if you are convinced – no, you know for sure – that you have faithfully paid all your bills? How are you going to react to such a threatening letter from a company whose billing system seems to be total chaos?
It is about time that GEBE gets its act together and furthermore that it communicates with its clients in a way that makes sense. Anybody who knows anything about St. Maarten ought to know that paying thousands of guilders on short notice is simply impossible for most people.
I would think that the first step GEBE ought to take is put its billing system on hold. Then it should investigate what the hell is wrong with it. And thirdly, the company had to make sure that it repairs the obvious shortcomings of its current system.
A letter offering its clients an apology would also be nice. But maybe that is too much to ask.
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Facebook post Alvin Prescod
2nd Facebook post Alvin Prescod
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