Brian M. Lucey

Irish Water : “we haven’t a clue” (at last, honesty)

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brianmlucey
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I dont mind, really, paying for water. But, I cant. I dont have my “application pack”.

When the neighbours got theirs, I rang, and they said “oh, wait a few days”. I did. They didnt come. Around the start of October, I rang again “right, thats odd, I will reorder, should be there in a few days”. They werent. This week, rang again. I got an honest woman. She explained there were “thousands” looking for packs and they “hadnt a clue when they would get sent out”. She warned it could well be after the end of the month, but they “hadnt a clue”. IW then tweeted to me that I could DM them to give the information I have already given them three times. They asked me to contact them. Lads, im easy contacted. Im sick of ringing you. You ring me now.

This is small beer really, but its indicative of a huge problem. IW seems catastrophically badly organized. Rather than having to apply online with a pin sent by a pack a simple solution would be to have the following. If you havent a pack, ring this freephone number, or email this address, and we will send you one. With a pin. That would be simple. But this is not how IW do things. There is a culture of “sod the customer” already inbuilt. This is what will lose general elections.

Take the childrens PPS number. I am hugely opposed to giving this to them. I do understand that they need proof of a child. I am happy to give them that. A copy of the passport, a copy of the childrens allowance, a letter from his doctor. FFS a look to my facebook page will show the ongoing existance of Prof Jr. Why they need HIS PPS is beyond me. Perhaps they can tell me when they ring me.

Meanwhile, this on Social media. If its true, and I have no reason to doubt it isnt, given how sloppy some of the installation work is alleged to be, then lots of people will be stunned when they get the bill.

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Comments

6 responses to “Irish Water : “we haven’t a clue” (at last, honesty)”

  1. househusband Avatar
    househusband

    It isn’t as simple as sending out a form. Each form is related to an address with a unique ref number. If forms haven’t been sent – then those addresses aren’t currently on the IW database. It’s not 100% clear how they built the address database – a combination of An Post Geodata and LPT . Somewhere along the way thousands of addresses have been missed. There is no full and accurate property database with a unique identifier for each property that exists in Ireland. This is probably the first attempt at it. If a form hasn’t gone out – they first have to “find” that address and set it up on the database with a location etc. That’s why they can’t just send a blank form out.

    Reply
    1. brianmlucey Avatar
      brianmlucey

      There is such a database.. The LPT one

      Reply
      1. househusband Avatar
        househusband

        The LPT system allowed people to go online and enter their own address. There is probably no geographic data element on there . IW need to link every address to a unique location. LPT probably has 95% of properties – but not uniquely identified. They don’t know if everyone has registered – there were probably thousands that never got LPT forms too. I could go on now to LPT online and set up an account for Joe Bloggs, Back Lane , Lisnahooley , Co Cork. LPT will accept it and take the money – but they don’t need to one day find that actual house and fit a meter outside it to bill it. They just have to assume a postman will (might) deliver a letter there. IW will probably be also using data fron AN Post’s GeoDirectory – which may not be 100% accurate and will not identify all apartments within buildings. https://www.geodirectory.ie/Maps/Research-Irish-Addresses.aspx
        There is unlikely to be a common link between LPT data and GeoDirectory data – because it wasn’t needed for LPT.
        Using data from LPT and GeoDirectory – along with data from other sources (PRTB) IW (or their consultants) will have tried to build up a database of every home in the country linked to a probable occupier where possible. Even a 1% failure/mismatch/error rate will mean 20,000 “missing” addresses.
        We are getting unique postcodes in 2015 (If Capita can cope) – but IW have had to manage without them .
        Maybe that’s why IW seem to be asking people to ring in if they haven’t had a form – so they can get them to describe where the house is whilst IW staff look at a map to find it?

      2. brianmlucey Avatar
        brianmlucey

        http://www.openpostcode.org/

  2. househusband Avatar
    househusband

    Openpostcode ?? An idea – but not a database that can be used.

    Reply
  3. mary healy Avatar
    mary healy

    If this is just another utility bill like gas or electricity like they call it in their forms to apply, why do they need so much personal info? like pps numbers, how many people in the house etc,can they not just like with gas or electricity just bill for whats used.Its to much info and data required for just a “utility bill”and data can be transferred if required( it says in their data protection) outside europe forget about just outside Ireland.Theres definitly more to come with such drama and requests for personal info,anyone heard about one world order!think about it.Just another excuse for more control while we’re stressing about paying these bills we’re distracted from the fact that more info is gathered on each individual children and all.If this really was about concern for water preservation why arent the government subsidising this,they’re not because this company is a profit making company and not concerned about water conservation just more fat cats getting fatter.!

    Reply

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