"Assessed charge" and do-nothing Ofwat"

sardarji

Last autumn I began a longish thread on the secrecy of some water companies--Thames Water notably, what else would you expect--over the (usually cheaper) "assessed charge" alternative to "rateable value" for people who cannot have a meter.
One poster revealed that Ofwat is actually in favour of this lack of information for people who might gain from a switch. I've confirmed this with other people.
Ofwat is supposed to protcect us from greedy water companies isn't it? Like helping them keep us from getting useful info that might save us hundreds of pounds a year?
How can we give Ofwat the kick in the boiler-room that it clearly deserves? Is there a website called Ofwatsucks or suchlike? If its bosses won't do what they're paid to do--in fact, do exactly the reverse--is there a bit of Whitehall or a minister responsible for appointing them and removing them?
At least, let's publicise the assessed charge however we can, and go a little way to defeat the water money-grubbers and their kindly neighbourhood secrecy-loving "regulators".

PlutoinCapricorn

I remember your original post: I have had no choice but to request a water meter, even though I know that one can't be fitted, as OFWAT were not at all helpful. I have been paying for water that I have not used for decades, as alternatives were not publicised.

Perhaps there are not very many people in this constituency of people, and as many flats in mixed use blocks in the centre of big cities are short let, perhaps the owners recoup the cost from rich tenants so are not bothered about possible ways to cut their water bills.

sardarji

Well Pluto, when your water suppliers (Thames Water, I suppose) do get round to (a) confirming what they already know, that you can't be fitted with a meter, and (b) then---but only then---offer you an assessed charge instead, first accept it and then be as rude to them as you feel able.
And publicise this alternative way of charging, so they can't rip off quite as many people, with Ofwat's full knowledge and blessing, in future.

Fire_Fox

I would be amazed if "protecting us from greedy water companies" is Ofwat's remit.

Gothicfairy

sardarji wrote: »

, first accept it and then be as rude to them as you feel able.

Don't agree with the above though, even if the assessed charge/ meter argument is not fair. There is no need to be rude to the staff that work for any company, it is not their fault and they did not make the rules.
I can't quite understand why people would think it right to be rude to anyone who has nothing to do with the policy or how it is employed.

sardarji

Gothic Fairy, you misunderstand me, I think. I wholly agree, one shouldn't be rude to the person--my experiance of these large organisations is that the lower-down human beings most often want to be helpful, even if they can't or don't always succeed. But you can often and very justifiably be rude to the organisation whose policy these friendly humans have to operate. One way of marking the distinction might be to start any communication with the wording "Dear So-and-So-Water/BT/British Gas..." or whatever maxi-body it is.

Fire Fox, for sure Ofwat's official remit won't include the words "greedy water companies" but it certainly claims to "protect consumers" so I suppose that that is part of its remit. And if it isn't it should be. And if you then ask yourself "protect consumers against who?"... well, against who else?

stephenhj

An update to this thread. It's plain why Thames Water is so secretive about the very existence of the Assessed Household Charge: they make more money. But it's not so clear--except to cynics--why Ofwat supports this policy of anti-consumer secrecy.

I wonder how long Ofwat will be able to main its own anti-consumer attitude now that Thames have gone one step further in secrecy.

The Thames pamphlet of "information" that used to come with each year's water bill did in the past (though I'm not sure about 2010) at least mention the Assessed Household Charge, albeit on a page conveniently headed "Thinking about a meter?" that few non-meterable households would ever think of reading. The 2011 version of this pamphlet does not even mention the AHC. To learn about it you will have to delve into the Thames website, for a charge you've probably never heard of and in a section (it's labelled 'requestameter') whose title, just as with the pamphlet, will probably ensure that few non-meterable households will ever look at it.

How can Ofwat tolerate that? Still, I don't doubt it will be able to think up arguments. In another thread I've publicised some of its manifest claptrap, that reached me by email from the horse's mouth, Ofwat itself. A wretched broken-down nag it may be, toothless (at least to bite water companies) and fit only for the knacker's yard, but it's probably still quite able to dream up nonsense--which, as before, by happy coincidence, will suit its friends in the water monopolies.

Gothicfairy

I replied to this on your other post

bluewire

It really does astound me the number of people who simply do not understand how the water companies work.
The water companies income works as so.........OFWAT agree with the companies every 5 years how much money they can charge customers. This is the TOTAL pot.

So if they had 10 customers and OFWAT said that they can raise £10,000 per year in sales the company would split this between the 10 customers and so they would each pay £1,000.

If one customer went from paying RV to Assessed and saved £100 then at the next April Price change that £100 would then be re-split over the 10 customers and so they would pay £1,010 and the Assessed would pay £910.

The water company still gets £10,000.

If everyone went on a meter the water company can then change the price so that they still get £10,000 per year.

BUT YOU DO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE..............................................
Request that they disconnect you from the mains. Go to the shops and buy bottled water or collect rain water (and clean it)........You should also plan on how you are going to clean your waste water.

I am sure that you can do this cheaper than Thames Water can't you???

BackOnTrack

stephenhj wrote: »

An update to this thread. It's plain why Thames Water is so secretive about the very existence of the Assessed Household Charge: they make more money.

No Thames Water don't make more money they will make exactly the same amount of money no matter what happens. You really should check facts before going off on an ill informed rant.

Cardew

The above expanations have been given several times.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2110007

We shouldn't let logic get in the way of a good rant!!