FAMILIES have revealed their horror after their housing association wrongly charged them for public street lighting in an error lasting more than 20 years.
Residents in Fordcombe Close, Senacre, had been paying bills to Golding Homes.
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But when one local Steve Wilson inspected the bill’s breakdown closely, he realised they were being charged for public street lighting – something in fact covered by the council.
It means many of the residents have been paying up more than £70 extra to cover the bills needlessly.
Steve – who has been living with his family in a Golding Homes bungalow in Fordcombe Close, Senacre for two and a half years – was being charged £1.12 a month, which breaks down to 28p a week.
The Senacre resident said: “It’s a rip-off, it’s a scam. They’re thieving off their tenants and charging them for something they’re not providing.
“I understand if you live in a block of flats or a private road, paying for lighting makes sense, but not for me.
“There are no grey areas in my life, it’s either black or white, right or wrong and this is definitely wrong. I’m not a religious person but I will get on my knees and pray for justice.”
The public streets lighting should be covered by the Kent County Council, but Golding Homes, who took over the council housing from Maidstone Council in 2004, has been charging the residents of that street.
Steve will be refunded £35.25 along with another eight residents who were notified by the wrong charge by letters.
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One tenant who has been living there for 16 years is expecting a refund of £78.42 while another who has been residing there for 10 years will receive £72.49.
Steve has been trying to voice his concerns with Golding Homes on the phone. When contacted by KentOnline, the housing association finally issued the refund and removed the public lighting charge from the bill.
“I don’t know what spurred Golding Homes to take action all I now is I received my refund after speaking to KentOnline.”
Golding Homes were sorry for such mistake and have contacted all those affected by the fees. Director of operations Annemarie Roberts said: “We’ve been in touch with customers to apologise and refund the communal lighting charges and are grateful for their understanding in resolving this issue.
“We acted quickly, reviewing the information available to understand what went wrong and put it right. We’re checking the services charged to customers and are listening to their feedback to learn lessons and keep improving.”
She added on how such mistake was made, and also said that some residents in other roads will still have to pay such a charge, such as Steve’s daughter.
She lives in a Golding Homes property in Quarry Square, two miles away – is paying £1.16 a week for communal lighting and is not entitled for a refund.
Roberts added: “When stock was transferred to us from Maidstone Borough Council we received a list of assets that are our responsibility, including these street lights.
“We pay the electricity service provider, and these costs are passed back to customer in their service charges.
“Some customer are still required to pay communal lighting charges as they do not only relate to street lighting; they can also include bollards and lighting in internal communal spaces.
“Charges are variable depending on the electricity usage. We pay the electricity service provider, and these costs are passed back to customer in their service charges.”
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