The water board

Saucepot

Phoned the water board. On hold for 20 minutes and gave up.
Phoned them again, the next day. Got put through to 4 people, all gormless.

All I wanted to do was move the day of a direct debit, as I've changed jobs and get paid on a different day.

Next month, payment comes out on the same day. There is money in the account, It's covered. But thats not the point. I want it it going out on a day soon after pay day, not a day or two before, so there is no doubt everything is covered, even if I encounter a tight month, where I'm stoney broke.

Phone them up again, they change the day again and try to up the payment.
I ask them why, as they sent me a letter upping the payment a month ago. As the account in in debit, fair's fair. But why up it again?

"okay, we'll stick to the letter you got" he says
"Ta" I say. "It is handy to be sure of the amount you will take"

Then "Are you a home owner?" Well I am but what business is it of his?
"Do you want free plumbing cover for 3 months?"

No I don't. I had plumbing cover with the gas board. I had a leak under the sink. The plumber came out. "You're not covered, mate". I had to find another plumber to come out and fix it that day or have another day off work. As all this cover is basically the same cr*p offer that will involve me punting out good money for b*gger all return, the answer is no.

Dear mother of god, these people!!!!

God knows what day my DD is going out on. We'll have to see, next month.

United Utilities. a*se, utter a*se. utter utter a*se.

jamescredmond

out of all the privatisation excercises in the 80's, the floation of water- no pun intended- stunk the most. Anglian water serves my area. It provides its product in much the same way as the old water board did. Tap on -water out. quality and availability - no notable difference. But wait. Where are the 'market disciplines' - chiefly competitition - that Iwas promised would lead to a vast improvement in services that would benefit all as soon as the sell-off was complete?
An old chap remarked to me at the time 'I'm still waiting for someone to explain the difference between a public monopoly and a private one'.
A year later he said 'I've just had the answer to my question in the post -bigger bills!'

You've just received the type of customer service most of us were used to from the water boards 25 years ago - shoddy and unhelpful. moving a dd date isn't asking the earth! At least, back then, there was no profit motive that led to service agents jumping on you with offers of insurance or inspectors demanding £25 p.a. for the water-butt in the backyard (seriously!)

much was wrong with the industry in state hands but in the absence of competition we can't really expect improvement any time soon.

oh, and before I forget, my account was £80 in credit at the last reading.
phone call to anglian:
'please credit said £80 to my account'.
'no. you leave it where it is and further reduce the next bill'.
'er.. no I don't. I'm asking you to return my money.'
'I'm not sure that's possible'.
'Oooooh yes it is!!!!'

5 minutes of obstruction later, it was begrudgingly returned.

now. I wonder. who told her to try to deter me from claiming my own money?

mrbadexample

Saucepot, I think you're being much too nice and helpful to the Water Board.

After the 4th person who lacked gorm, I'd have cancelled the direct debit at the bank. I'd then be pretty confident of them phoning me.