AN 84-year-old retired teacher in Parañaque was left in shock after receiving a water bill of over ₱19,000, six times higher than her usual charge of ₱3,000.
Magdalena Balen filed a complaint with Maynilad after receiving the surprise billing for May.
However, a property check found no leaks, and tests on her water meter came out normal. Still, Maynilad replaced her meter.
But the shock didn’t end there. Come June, her bill ballooned to over ₱23,000. Maynilad explained that the new amount already included her unpaid May bill, minus the ₱3,000 she paid to avoid disconnection.
Maynilad spokesperson Rona Librella explained the original reading was accurate, and the spike could be due to undetected leaks in toilets or tanks.
The company has offered Balen a staggered payment plan.
