First contact in 4 years

Cynical_Sid

I moved into my (new build) flat 4 years ago and thought I had called all of the utilities to give them my details. I set everything up on DD but obviously missed the water, however they have never sent me a bill so I didn't notice... until now!

They put a note through my door saying they thought the place was unoccupied but having checked the meter it obviously isn't.

Clearly I will have to own up, although it was an honest mistake, but how much will I have to pay? I am bracing myself for a large bill but do they calculate the whole lot at today's rates or average it out? Any tricks I can pull to lessen the blow?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

This situation happens quite a bit with new builds as many stay unoccupied for a long while, and the water companies have no way of knowing when they become occupied.

With water bills they can go back 6 years - but they could with gas and electricity as well if you didn't tell them you had moved in.

The bills should be at the pro-rata rate for the 4 years, i.e. 25% at 2004/5 rates, 25% at 2005/6 rates etc.

Look at this way, you have had an interest free loan for some years.

Fire_Fox

Unless you are pretty free and easy with water, it won't be that big of a bill: we pay £20 a quarter between two of us.

cajef

Fire_Fox wrote: »

we pay £20 a quarter between two of us.

£80 a year, that must be the cheapest water bill in the country, you could hardly fill a kettle for a year at that price.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1646839

Cynical_Sid

An update...

Firstly, they really didn't believe me that I hadn't noticed I hadn't paid a bill for four years but anyway, it turned out to be my lucky day.

Apparently they can only go back 1 year for standing charges and 2 years for the meter reading. I had even given her the meter reading from the day I moved in but she wasn't allowed to use it! Red tape at its finest!!

Total bill for 4 years' water... £265 :beer:

Cajef, at £66 per year, I just beat Fire Fox to the cheapest water bill in the country!!

cajef

Cynical_Sid wrote: »

Cajef, at £66 per year, I just beat Fire Fox to the cheapest water bill in the country!!

Good one, I moved five months ago into somewhere that had been empty for several months, should have tried that for a few years.:D

Fire_Fox

cajef wrote: »

£80 a year, that must be the cheapest water bill in the country, you could hardly fill a kettle for a year at that price.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1646839

I am metered and the OP in your link is not. Half of my bill is surface water, then my standing change, then sod all for the amount of water we actually use. I compared mine to Sid's as he mentioned a new build flat so is not in a dissimilar situation to me.

Mr. Fire Fox showers quickly, I turn the water off when I am shampooing and use a leave-on conditioner. Then there is two or three loads of laundry a week, wash up on alternate days (several bowl fulls), drinking and flushing the loo.


Cynical Sid: check if you are being charged for surface water drainage. As a new build you probably have soakways so won't have to pay this (I do as my block is a conversion from offices).

MONEYMAKINGMUM

Cynical_Sid wrote: »

Apparently they can only go back 1 year for standing charges and 2 years for the meter reading.

I hope you're right, 3 years we had no bill for and we're still paying

kip_cordelia_40

I thought sometimes soakaways might be on 1 drainpipe ..wasn't aware soakaways on all new properties....could be wrong though

b3nton

It's disgusting how they will take your money for years on end for a service they do not provide, then just pay one year back