Water Bills questions and comment

Miss_Bitan

Someone pls Help!

I recently received a bill of £450 from Thames Water from my parents' former address which we haven't lived in since December 2007. Thames Water have asked me to provide proof of when I moved from the place as the bill was in my name but the property was always in my parents' names. The house was not sold until 2009 but it was empty. I am worried that they may want me to pay up to 2009 even though it was empty since 2007.

They have also asked me for proof of when I moved to my new address but I think that this might be a trick so they can send bailiffs round to my new address.

Does anyone know what I can do fight this unfair bill.

Many Thanks
T

Cardew

Miss_Bitan wrote: »

Someone pls Help!

I recently received a bill of £450 from Thames Water from my parents' former address which we haven't lived in since December 2007. Thames Water have asked me to provide proof of when I moved from the place as the bill was in my name but the property was always in my parents' names. The house was not sold until 2009 but it was empty. I am worried that they may want me to pay up to 2009 even though it was empty since 2007.

They have also asked me for proof of when I moved to my new address but I think that this might be a trick so they can send bailiffs round to my new address.

Does anyone know what I can do fight this unfair bill.

Many Thanks
T

Why is the bill unfair?

How were Thames Water to know you had moved out in 2007 as you presumably didn't tell them you were moving or your new address.

Had you told them, they wouldn't have billed you, provided they were satisfied that the place was left unfurnished and unoccupied by anyone. Charges are not raise provided:

the consumer is able to demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction
of Thames Water that the premises are both unoccupied and unfurnished.

Was the property metered - if so, no water should have been used.

Is there an element of the £450 bill that is your responsibility?

It is not unreasonable that Thames Water want some sort of proof that the house was unoccupied. They might check up with gas/electricity suppliers and neighbours.

amanda273

Me and my boyfriend have just moving in together so haven't dealt with utilities and things before. I had a letter from United Utilities saying their records said the property was empty and to get in touch with them if otherwise. I filled in a form with mine and my partners details, direct debit details and date we moved in on. I had a letter and bill from them today from 8th May till 31 March for £57.51 (wastewater services) and they want us to pay half now and half in September. I'm a little confused, do i pay this and then they'll bill us monthly by direct debit, or are wastewater services different altogther and we'll get separate water bills monthly? I tried to have a look on United Utilities website but it wasn't much help. Thanks

Jon_Lawes

I run a small business and have recently received a bill asking for 6 years worth of water charges. I have never been invoiced for these, even after setting up my account with the supplier. I continually wrote to them stating I had received no invoices, but typically had no response. Can they legally ask for 6 years worth of charges even if they failed to invoice?

Gothicfairy

Jon_Lawes wrote: »

I run a small business and have recently received a bill asking for 6 years worth of water charges. I have never been invoiced for these, even after setting up my account with the supplier. I continually wrote to them stating I had received no invoices, but typically had no response. Can they legally ask for 6 years worth of charges even if they failed to invoice?

In one word..Yes

The water companies have different rules and they can backbill for 6 years and often do.
I would however write to them again and see if there is any chance of them looking at the charges again. However what would concern me is that they have to reply to customers within 5 working days ( or 10 with written complaints) so they have either not lived up to the DG rules or they have not recieved your letters.
I would also ask them what they hold from you

alan9858

hi i am paying on average £402 97 a year for my water bills we have no meter and are at work during day got a shower used daily is this bill right we are in severn trent water area
thanks
alan

Gothicfairy

I am guessing you are being charged RV rather then assessed ( as that figure is slightly higher then there detached rate)
If you are being charged RV then yes it is correct as you are not being charged for your usage. Ask to have a water meter installed.

Cardew

alan9858 wrote: »

hi i am paying on average £402 97 a year for my water bills we have no meter and are at work during day got a shower used daily is this bill right we are in severn trent water area
thanks
alan

Depends on several factors - principally how many are in the house - but that charge would probably be lower with a meter.

You have nothing to lose in asking for a meter as you can revert back to your current arrangements(within 12 months) if metering turned out to be more expensive.

sophisticat

Gothicfairy wrote: »

In one word..Yes
The water companies have different rules and they can backbill for 6 years and often do.

This is disappointing

I came in looking for the answer to this question as my Mum has just received a letter informing her that due to an admin error (i.e. THEIR fault) she hadn't been billed for standing charges for the last three years.

As a goodwill gesture they didn't intend to reclaim these charges but would be correcting their error from April next year.

This would be great, except when we looked at the bills she has been charged her standing charge in each year anyway. Good going, South East Water, worry a pensioner that she might have to pay extra charges when she's been paying them all along :mad:

Cardew

sophisticat wrote: »

This is disappointing

I came in looking for the answer to this question as my Mum has just received a letter informing her that due to an admin error (i.e. THEIR fault) she hadn't been billed for standing charges for the last three years.

As a goodwill gesture they didn't intend to reclaim these charges but would be correcting their error from April next year.

This would be great, except when we looked at the bills she has been charged her standing charge in each year anyway. Good going, South East Water, worry a pensioner that she might have to pay extra charges when she's been paying them all along :mad:

Had she been paying two Standing Charges? One for water and one for used water(sewerage)