Water leak - now huge increase in ddr payments

ben_and_elly

Hi, not sure if anyone can help.
We have a water meter, generally pay £11-13 p/m for our bills which covers our water usage.

We found out that we had a water leak from the pipes under our kitchen floor:mad:. Have no idea how long leak was for, but I expect some time due to puddle under floor! Leak now fixed:j

Anyway, to get to the point, this would have put a huge increase in the amount of water used and now Thames Water have readjusted our direct debit to £48 per month. This is a massive increase which we are going to find hard to meet and not a true cost to what we actually use.

Really am getting to the point now....Is there any way I can get Thames Water to reduce direct debit? I have offered to pay the outstanding bill due to leak (£95)but they still say we have to pay the £48. They will recalculate the bill in 12 months and refund any overpayments then.

Any way I can get Thames Water to reduce bill due to exceptional circumstances? (ie water leak!)
Any advice would be super duper. Thanks

deanos

If you had a leak you should have reported it first and put a claim in for a leakage allowance, not sure where you stand now tho, you need to ring and explain

Gothicfairy

Pay the outstanding and then just pay the bill on demand as any payment plan will take your average daily consumption into account and at the moment that is really high due to the leak.
OR the other option is to give them 2 readings 2 weeks apart so that the adc can be looked at and maybe adjusted.

Bob_the_Saver

A little leak can look like a lot of water, it might not be as bad as you think.

ben_and_elly

Deanos - thank you for your response.

With hindsight, yes we probably should have. To be honest, it never really crossed my mind. I just assumed that as leak was in "our responsibility area" that TW could not do anything.
I did try to explain, but was told that they can only go by usage and refund as necessary later in the year.
I may try them again - nothing to lose!

ben_and_elly

Gothicfairy - sounds like sensible solution. Sometimes it takes someone else to help you see the "bigger picture!" Thanks for that - if no further joy tomorrow from TW I will do that - pay o/s and pay on demand.

V.Lucky

Some home insurance policies cover for loss of metered water. Might be worth giving them a call to see if you have that.

Gothicfairy

Glad to help. Might be worth trying the meter reading though as it could help with a payment plan.
You can also try for a leakage allowance form (it might get you nothing but worth asking)