So I go to the water billing dept. asking for an explaination of my $461 bill.

She looks up my account and states you have been at 77 (meter reading) since 2007 and the 162 (current) reflects an actual read done in March.

I asked her to elaborate and explain the current meter reading as to catch them in some sort of malfeasance. After stating that the meter is not digital (it is a rotating dial with a 5 digit read) and that there is no way I could have used $461 in Feb and March. She stated thats what we have and thats what was read. I then say...well, if thats the case, why does my meter still read 77?

Then she elaborates that "nobody has 0 usage" implying to me that I should have known...I stated the meter was replaced with a new one a few years prior to 2007 and that I just paid what was billed not thinking that a single occupant with HE washer, dishwasher, faucets and shower head used more than $24 a month in water.

Anyhow..."I should have known" is what they are saying and some employee is coming out the 18th to look at meter.

I understand if I may owe...sure. But to send someone a $461 bill in middle of winter and call it "actual" is a little fraudulant. If the city wanted to audit accounts and use this $461 billing as a ruse to get me to come in and get my meter inspected, not cool. Just send me a letter and state the meter may be defective. Don't make up some BS bill when the meter still reads 77 and you say 162. My meter reads otherwise.

Again, my meter reads 77, they say 162. How could they come up with that reading?