A woman is fed up fighting with the city of over a $7,500 water bill. Muriel McFadden, 71, said the house at the address billed has been unoccupied for some time.
This all started five years ago when she was trying to sell the home in Philadelphia which her family has owned for 62 years. At that time, the water bill was $32 per month, but while she had the home on the market, she began receiving water bills for over $300 per month.
She contacted the city and asked that the water be turned off because her rooming house was unoccupied. However, the residence continued to rack up outrageous water bills.
Ms. McFadden advised the city of this problem, but she could not get the issue resolved and that's how the bill reached $7,500. Even stranger is that other neighbors are having the same problem.
Rosita Youngblood, State Representative, and her staff contacted the water department about Ms. McFadden's case numerous times to no avail.
Ms. McFadden is scheduled to go to court May 16. She said the city told her she would be losing her home when she goes to court if she doesn't have the bill settled before then. She thinks the city wants to take the home.
She could be right about the city wanting her home, especially since her neighbors are having the same problem. What reason could the city have for ignoring numerous complaints about this problem?
There is no valid reason why it should take five years to get someone at the city offices to respond and when they do, it is to take her to court. The city should be required to pay Ms. McFadden for her time and five years of frustration in getting this issue resolved.
Peace
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