Vic: Bogus water firm claims city's drinking water is health risk

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2009
Vic: Bogus water firm claims city's drinking water is health risk

MELBOURNE, April 3 AAP - Dodgy sales people are posing as water authorities and warning
residents their water may be unsafe to drink, in a bid to sell filters worth thousands
of dollars, a Victorian company claims.

Melbourne water retailer South East Water says the bogus company dresses like its own
staff when door-knocking houses.

Residents have received letters from the company, Australian Water Solutions (AWS),
stating their water may be a health risk following the recent dry spell and bushfires.

The company offers to send water advisers to homes to analyse residents' water and
then uses powdered tints to falsely indicate the water may be a health risk, South East
Water general manager of corporate services, Russell Eddington said.

Some residents have reported spending up to $2,800 on water filters from Australian
Water Solutions, and have then complained to South East Water that the filters don't work,
believing them to be from the water retailer.

Mr Eddington assured residents their water was safe to drink and warned them to be
on alert for the bogus company.

"Every so often, we see letters like this and residents should not be scared into spending
thousands of dollars," Mr Eddington said.

"Companies like this prey on the elderly and vulnerable and should be exposed."

South East Water is investigating the matter and will take further action if necessary.

The company has come to the attention of South East Water on previous occasions over
the past few years and moves to other cities when it is exposed.

Australian Water Solutions lists its address on its mail-out as Level 28, 303 Collins Street.

The address is occupied by Regus, a company providing office space, meeting rooms and
reception services.

The receptionist who answered the Australian Water Solutions number said she had never
heard of the company's chief executive, John Wilkinson.

Comment was still being sought from the company.

AAP md/sjm/wf

KEYWORD: BOGUS

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