Learn how to access the forgiveness of interest, fines and surcharges in the Quito Potable Water company

Users who keep amounts in arrears with the Metropolitan Public Company of Potable Water and Sanitation (Epmaps) of Quito can access the forgiveness of interest, fines and surcharges. The capital of the debt is not modified, but a payment plan can be established.

This is provided by the Organic Law for Economic Development and Fiscal Sustainability, which has been in force since November 29, 2021. The Seventh Transitory Provision of the legal body grants the forgiveness of interest, penalties and surcharges to people passing through mediation processes, according to the following terms and percentages:

• Within two months from the entry into force of the law (until January 29, 2022) shall be entitled to 100% forgiveness.
• Within three months, the benefit will be 75 %; Y,
• Between three months one day and six months will be entitled to 50 % of forgiveness.

The law establishes how condition that the client includes in his request for mediation a commitment to immediately pay at least 25% of the capital.

How is the procedure in the Epmaps?

Walter Maldonado, head of Portfolio and Collections at Epmaps, explains that forgiveness applies to any debt, since the rule and its regulations do not provide that it be for a certain type of obligation. “This does not mean that the debt of the last bill can be deferred, because there are still no penalties and interest,” he clarifies.

The official indicates that this Procedure must be done in person, since there is still no application that allows it to be done virtually.

Epmaps delivers a form that the client must fill out with their personal data: full names, identity card, meter number and a message indicating that you do not agree with the amounts to be charged by the Drinking Water Company, so you want to seek mediation.

The user must deliver to the General Secretariat two copies of this form plus the identity card. The municipal dependency puts a summary in the document and with this the client can Approach a mediation center.

“We suggest, we do not direct, that you go to a municipal mediation center, because normally on these sites on certain amounts (in dispute) they have no service cost. They can also go to the mediation center of the Council of the Judiciary, but it does have a cost there,” Maldonado points out and reiterates that the client can go to the center they like, even those offered by business chambers.

Once the application is submitted, the center will schedule a date and time to handle the process. This is communicated to Epmaps so that it knows where and when the mediation hearing will take place.

Although to request this procedure the client must present a 25% immediate payment commitment, Maldonado clarifies that if an agreement is not reached to settle the debt -and, therefore, the forgiveness of interest, fines and surcharges is not agreed-, the owner of the meter is not obliged to transfer the value corresponding to 25%.

With an example, the official describes how the process works, taking into account the forgiveness percentages, according to the time in which the procedure is required:

• Total debt: $160
• Capital (net consumption): $100
• Interest: $50
• Fines: $10

If they go to mediation, the client must present the commitment to pay 25% of the $100; that is, it offers to cancel immediately $25. The difference of $75 can be deferred in negotiation with the municipal company.

Maldonado explains that if the client wishes, he can commit a higher percentage than 25% or he can also pay off all the capital at once owed.

If the user requests mediation with Epmaps until January 29, 100% of interest and fines will be forgiven -they will not pay the $60 of the previous example-. As of January 30, the remission will be 75% -for fines and interest you will pay $15-. From March the referral benefit will be 50%.

The head of Portfolio and Collections says that the Potable Water Company is communicating by telephone with those customers who can take advantage of the benefit that the law grants. (I)