XN000022-1988-12-19 — Page 17

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1988

16

WATER BILLS CAN BE SETTLED BY AUTOPAY

**

THE PUBLIC CAN NOW SETTLE THEIR WATER BILLS IN A MORE CONVENIENT WAY - BY AUTOPAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE WATER AUTHORITY SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL NEW SERVICES ΤΟ BE INTRODUCED BY PHASES OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.

SYSTEM.

IT ARISES FROM ENHANCEMENT OF THE WATER AUTHORITY'S COMPUTER

ANY CONSUMER WHO HAS A CURRENT OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH A LICENSED BANK IN HONG KONG CAN USE THIS SERVICE.

THE CONSUMER SHOULD COMPLETE A DIRECT DEBIT AUTHORISATION FORM, OBTAINABLE FROM MAJOR BANKS IN HONG KONG, THE DISTRICT OFFICES, THE TREASURY COLLECTION OFFICES OR THE WATER AUTHORITY CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRES, AND RETURN IT TO THE WATER AUTHORITY.

"WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF ALL THE FORMS. AS IT WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX WEEKS FOR US TO PROCESS THE COMPLETED FORMS, CONSUMERS WILL NEED TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS IN THE USUAL WAY UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ONB PRINTED WITH THE NOTE 'PAYMENT BY AUTOPAY AS

** AUTHORISED' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AUTOPAY.

"IF A CONSUMER SO WISHES HE MAY SET A LIMIT FOR HIS PAYMENT BY

"IF THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES ON THE BILL EXCEEDS THIS AUTOPAY LIMIT, THE CONSUMER-WILL NEED TO SEPARATELY SETTLE THE EXCESS AMOUNT INDICATED ON THE WATER BILL.

"BY USING THE AUTOPAY SERVICE, CONSUMERS CAN AVOID THE INCONVENIENCE OF HAVING TO QUEUE TO PAY, AND THERE IS NO NEED ΤΟ WORRY WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CHEQUES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY US ON TIME,

"THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS WILL BE DEBITED ON THE LAST DAY BEFORE SURCHARGE IS IMPOSED AND THERE IS NO RISK OF LATE PAYMENT OF WATER BILLS."

FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CONSUMERS, THE WATER AUTHORITY WILL, FROM JANUARY, ALSO SEND ALL THE CONSUMERS A DIRECT DEBIT AUTHORISATION FORM TOGETHER WITH THEIR NEXT WATER BILLS.

FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE AUTOPAY SERVICE CAN BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING THE OFFICE OF THE WATER AUTHORITY ON 5-890022) (12 LINEU OR BY CALLING IN PERSON AT ANY OF THE WATER AUTHORITY'S CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRES.

THE SPOKESMAN