Italian Woman Dies After Billing Error Triggers Heart Attack
An elderly woman in Italy passed away following a heart attack induced by a significantly erroneous utility bill.
Morgan Riley
- 2023-12-27
- Updated 10:25 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - An 88-year-old Italian woman died on Sunday after having a heart attack over a month ago, triggered by an exorbitant water bill. The heart attack followed an incident in November when the woman, from northern Italy, was charged 15,339 euros for her water usage covering the months from August to October. As per reports, a substantial portion of this charge had been automatically deducted from her bank account prior to the incident. Following the heart attack, the woman was admitted to a hospital in Sanremo but never fully recovered.
Utility Company Admits Mistake
The water utility company later acknowledged the bill was a mistake, citing that the actual water consumption was significantly lower. They confirmed that the correct amount due should have been only 55 euros, attributing the colossal error to a possible malfunction in the meter or a reading mistake. Despite the correction made by the utility provider, the elderly woman's health did not improve after the initial shock and health scare she experienced.
Family Seeks Answers
Her family, now mourning the loss, is pursuing an investigation into the events leading up to her death. They are intent on understanding how such a dramatic oversight occurred and why it had such a devastating impact. The family’s request for an investigation echoes a broader concern about the effects of automation and errors in utility billing on vulnerable populations.
The incident has sparked a discussion on the need for improved checks and balances in utility billing processes to prevent such occurrences in the future. The community and local authorities are closely monitoring the situation, awaiting the findings of the investigation. Meanwhile, the case serves as a somber reminder of the human cost that can be associated with what are otherwise dismissed as clerical errors.
