📍 Water bill came 3 times higher than normal, Tolichowki office keeps sending me back

Our water bill is usually around 1,200 rupees for the two of us. This month it came as 3,860, with no reason given. I took a photo of the meter the same evening and the reading was normal. So either someone guessed the reading or typed it wrong. I went to the section office on Saturday with the bill, the photo and my old receipts. The clerk barely looked and told me to come Monday. On Monday they said the officer was on leave till Thursday. On Thursday I waited almost two hours with a token before he saw me. He asked for a written application, so I wrote one on a notebook page. He kept it and said the correction will come in the next bill. The problem is my due date is Friday and there’s a late fine. So I’ll pay the full amount and hope the refund really comes. My neighbour had the same issue in March and still hasn’t got his money back. Has anyone in Tolichowki actually got a refund for a wrong water bill? How long did it take?

At last, I got a refund for the wrong water bill, but only after visiting the office many times. I submitted the application, followed up regularly, and kept copies of all receipts and photos. It took several days, but the extra amount was finally adjusted in a later bill. Asma was right about keeping the receipts, keep your token number and application copy safe, and visit the office every few days to follow up.

Check if your bill says the reading was estimated. Ours in Tolichowki had a small "E" next to the reading the month the meter reader didn't come to our building. He just guessed, and the bill was almost three times our normal amount. The uncle downstairs spotted it, I would have missed it.

A written application on a torn notebook page with no stamp is the most hyderabad thing i have read. When my bill doubled in Kondapur, the officer wanted the same thing plus a photocopy of my Aadhaar card.

Paying the full 3,860 is the safe move, but keep the receipt somewhere you won't lose it. We had a 2,900 bill in Masab Tank two years ago and the refund showed up as credit, not cash. It got adjusted over three bills, so the next few were just smaller than usual, took four months but it did come through, so don't give up yet.