These are the numbers for Arcgisa that you don't have to pay for

Our recent article, Your 'water' bill explained, carried a heartfelt complaint about the 902 number that was rarely answered. A kind reader who wishes to remain anonymous said, "These are the numbers to call (if you have free national calls with your ADSL, or broadband) in order to avoid paying the cost of a 902 call: Land line 956 675 183, Fax 956 676 703 - as long as they haven't been cut off." Of course, your call or fax would have to be in Spanish.

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Your 'water' bill explained

Sample 'water' bill

We have had numerous enquiries about what is what on our water bills. What are we being charged for? Is it all water, or is rubbish collection included? So we thought we would offer an illustrated explanation of an itemised bill, which you will find below. This applies to Jimena but is probably extendable to all municipalities served by Arcgisa - if you could scan your bill (outside Jimena) and send it to us via e-mail, we'd be happy to help you understand it (providing we can).
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PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE FUTURE but you can make a donation NOW, too! Please click here for more information on how to help us continue. (This item took 54 minutes to produce.)

Electricity bills to return to 'normal'

You will be able to choose to stay as it is now

SPAIN (Agencies) The country went up in arms in 2008 when the power companies were allowed to bill monthly, with meters being read every other month - and thus causing enormous confusion about 'estimated' bills in between. Now the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism is planning to allow consumers to pay 'only for what they use' (their words, not ours!). The project is in the hands of the National Energy Commission for review. Included in it is the possibility that some consumers might want things to stay as they are, in other words, a reading every other month but monthly bills. What's more, the project also includes the possibility of consumers providing their own reading from their own meters - which used to happen if the meter reader was unable to access the meter. The ministry explained that there had been a 'significant increase in the number of complaints' about estimated bills. IF YOU FIND THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING, USEFUL OR ENTERTAINING, PLEASE CONSIDER THE WORK, EFFORT AND COST IT TAKES TO BRING IT TO YOU. WE WOULD APPRECIATE A DONATION TO CONTINUE A FREE SERVICE.

Why does it take three trips to pay for a single water bill?

Arcgisa head office, Los Barrios

JIMENA (and possibly elsewhere in the Campo) Considering we're in the 21st century and in the age of Internet, it is difficult to understand why we have to make three trips on three different days to pay a single water bill. Here's the procedure if you don't have your bill on direct debit: 1. You get a bill through the post. 2. You turn up at the Arcgisa office in Jimena (open only on Wed and Fri from 9am - 1.30pm) where you get two recibos ('receipt', one for you and one for the bank) and are told to pay it at Cajasol (soon to be renamed Banca Civica, by the way) 3. You head for the bank, where you're told you can only pay the bill on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30 to 10am. 4. You go home in a fury and have to come back the next day. 5. Having stood in the queue at the bank to pay, you now have to take the signed and stamped recibo back to the Arcgisa office - but you can only do that on another day. TOTAL: three separate trips on three separate days! What happened to the concept of service? Or coordination, even? The only possible reason we can think of is a desperate effort to have all our bills paid by direct debit for the convenience and profit of the entities involved - not, of course, for the paying customer.

If you got a reduction on your water and sewer rates last year, this is for you

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR (BOP) Users of the water and sewer services offered by ARCGISA (almost, but not all of the Campo municipalities) and were the beneficiary last year of a discount in rates (available for pensioners, unemployed, etc.), you will get the same reduction this year without having to renew your request. The Boletín Oficial de la Provincia (BOP) says so, so it's the law. Renovation for 2012, however, will be applied for between October and December this year. More information on 902 550 199, or at your local Town Hall.

ARCGISA offices in Jimena and San Roque will no longer accept cash payments

JIMENA/SAN ROQUE (Press release) Aguas y Residuos del Campo de Gibraltar, S.A. (ARCGISA), the water, rubbish. etc. company is no longer allowing payment at their offices in Jimena or San Roque, although both offices will remain open to the public for any other business. Cash payment for the company's services must now be made at any of the banks that appear on their bills. The company reminds us of the convenience of direct debit.

Gas rises, didn't you know?

The price of a bombona (gas bottle) went up yesterday to €12.80, its record price. This is the fourth time the price of bottled gas has gone up in 12 months, the last time on July 1. You may not need reminding that electricity went up yesterday as well, by 4.8%. It would all be fine if salaries, pensions, income, went up accordingly. But then, that's one of the reasons why there was a general strike on Wednesday...

Electricity bills to go up by 4.8% on October 1

SPAIN (Agencies) The Ministry of Industry announced yesterday that electricity bills will be going up by a shocking 4.8% on October 1. The reason behind it -which amounts to a 30% rise in three years- is that 'it costs the supplier more', according to one of the energy companies, Endesa. Consumers organizations throughout the country have called the rise variously as 'unnecessary', 'unjustified', 'barbarous', 'indecent' and the like. One of them, FACUA, says that the government "bends to the interests of the comapnies and not the consumer." So far this year our bills have gone up by about 10%. (Please leave your comments below.)