I received a very long and sad letter from a 27-year-old woman called Siba. She got married and had a baby. However, her husband physically abused her and eventually threw her and her daughter out of the house to marry another woman. For over a year, the man did not support his wife or child financially or even bothered to ask about them.

After this brief introduction, I believe I can sum up the rest of the story in one sentence: She went to court. I am sure that all readers are aware of how stories like this end.

However, I want to describe the ladies’ waiting room inside Jeddah court. This is a room that makes one shiver. I don’t know if it has been refurbished or left to dilapidate, but I remember that eight years ago women had to wait in a renovated bathroom before going to court. All women, who had to make a court appearance for any reason, had to stop by that room.

The law is supreme and we respect that. People have high hopes and expect the authorities to help bring disputes to an end. However, a woman has her dignity that requires everyone to act quickly. The authorities need to check on female waiting areas in the majority of the government offices, not just at courts.

Let us move to another reader’s complaint. Khaled Al-Ghanmi confirms that he lives in the same house throughout summer and winter, and does not need to use heaters and the like during the winter. He also hardly feels the urge to use fans or air-conditioning units during the summer. Therefore, he is always using the same amount of electricity throughout the year. Yet for some weird reason his electricity bill during summer is double that of winter. After searching and investigating, some friends told him that the person that checks his electricity meter has decided to save himself the hassle of checking the meter and estimates a number without reading. The reader sent me a letter complaining about his bill. I wonder if what he is saying is true then where does all the extra money go? What does the Saudi Electricity Company do with all of this extra money?

From complaints about electricity we move on to problems relating to water. I have been hearing lately so many stories about the theft of water meters from people’s homes. I did not quite believe that it was actually happening until a friend of mine went through the horrible experience herself. Someone stole her water meter and she went and reported the incident to the police. The police officer arrived, expressed his sympathy and told her that she needed to buy her own meter, as there was no other solution.

My friend was asking me if it was necessary to hire a guard to protect her water meter now that she has installed a new one. She also asked if the Ministry of Labor would allow her to recruit the guard and expressed concern that she might be tricked into hiring the same thieves who stole her meter. My friend keeps a check on her meter from her bedroom window. Water meters are supposed to be the property of the water company and, therefore, when something goes wrong the company must be the one that takes care of things.