Honiton: OAP paid EDDC's electric bill for 10 years
EAST Devon District Council is checking alarm control boxes at former warden accommodation after it was revealed an 84-year-old Honiton pensioner, living in sheltered accommodation, had been paying the council s electric bill for 10 years.
EAST Devon District Council is checking alarm control boxes at former warden accommodation after it was revealed an 84-year-old Honiton pensioner, living in sheltered accommodation, had been paying the council's electric bill for 10 years.
Joyce Clarke (pictured) lives in one of 10 warden controlled bungalows at Jerrard Crescent and only discovered she had been paying for the warden's alarm system when a housing officer came to check her electric supply.
East Devon District Council estimates the "oversight" has cost Mrs Clarke a total of �240 and is to compensate her.
She told the Herald: "I'm shocked. I am also annoyed, because the council did not reply to me when I asked what they were going to do about it.
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"There has never been a warden in this bungalow. I've been here for 10 years and I know who the previous two tenants were.
"I wouldn't cheat anyone and I wouldn't want anyone cheating me."
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A spokesman for the council said: "This issue came to light as a result of a review carried out by a housing officer, who was checking on the electricity supply systems to former warden accommodation.
"He found that this property, which had formerly been occupied by one of the council's wardens, had not been disconnected from the system.
"This meant that the tenant's electricity charge included a small extra amount - around �2 a month - that should, in fact, have been paid by EDDC."
He added: "Now that we have uncovered this oversight, we will be checking all other former warden accommodation to ensure that there are no other similar cases.
"We have contacted Mrs Clarke and will be offering her an amount in compensation for the overpayment she has made.
