assessed charge, rebate possible?

nickm321

Hi all,
I live on the top floor of a house in a self contained flat. I recently applied for a water meter, which was fitted. Since then I noticed it going round when the water tank was being filled. My supply does not come from the tank, and that is used to supply the flats below.

I contacted Wessex Water, who came and confirmed. They have now put me on an assessed charge, which is over £100/year less than my original rateable charge.

I phoned and asked if I could have a rebate for the difference between the two charges for the 14 months I had been paying the higher rateable charge prior to the assessed charge being made. They told me this was not possible.

Does anyone here know any different? Surely I have overpaid for a service based on what they told me I should be paying when I moved in?

Thanks in advance.

Nick.

Cardew

Surely I have overpaid for a service based on what they told me I should be paying when I moved in?

Welcome to the forum.

When you moved in you were correctly paying a rateable value tariff. Whilst that was more than the assessed charge(and possibly more than you would pay on a meter) I don't think you can describe it as 'overpaid'.

Neither you nor the water company were aware that the meter installation would not work out.

Had the meter installation worked you presumably would have been content to pay metered charges from the date of fitting the meter - as everyone else does? Some people have "overpaid" by being on a Rateable Value tariff for many years.

I would have thought therefore you would have a case for the effective date of the assessed charge to be the date your meter was fitted; or possibly from the date you applied for a meter.