Water leak compensation

Cardew

As said above, contact the Consumer Council for Water - that is their job i.e. to represent the User.

crrussell

consumer council for water will not get involved until water company complaints process has been followed

i agree that the problem was with the installation i was trying to point out what they will use to get out of back dating unless pushed further
as i said they do not use commom sence or have any form of loyaty to customers as they dont have too as you cant change supplier YET!!! (you will be able to in the next couple of years)

trying to be helpful and use my knowledge of how the water companies work as i work for a water company i dont agree with all policies but the only 2 read back date is a min requirment given by ofwat i know the water company i work for send charts every year to all customers but as a min requirement and by ofwat is that they should be supplied when applying for a water meter or when you move into a property that already has a water meter installed so you can compare your bills and check usage they may not always be a chart but will give estimated bill for number of occupants

Cardew

crrussell wrote: »

consumer council for water will not get involved until water company complaints process has been followed

Agreed. Which is why I stated:

I doubt you will get them to budge on their policy, but if you get no joy with SWW, you could get a second opinion from the Consumer Council for Water.

It is pointless speculating on this forum if the leak had been there for 4 years(probably was) or how it occurred(probably faulty work during installation).

The OP should put his claim to SWW and go to CCforW if they refuse claim.

crrussell

while looking at older posts on this board i noticed same user and you can check on his post history that he noticed an increase after a higher than normal bill not by a chat with a neighbour

this is why they only have to back date 2 readings as he stated on an older post he did notice an increase in usage but now states info came from a chat with neighbour

Cardew

crrussell wrote: »

while looking at older posts on this board i noticed same user and you can check on his post history that he noticed an increase after a higher than normal bill not by a chat with a neighbour

this is why they only have to back date 2 readings as he stated on an older post he did notice an increase in usage but now states info came from a chat with neighbour

Yes but the point he is now making(as I understand it) is that he believes his 'normal bill' was too high - by a factor of 30% - because his consumption has dropped by that amount since the leak was fixed.

crrussell

usage will have gone down from last reading all credability has been lost on this story and there is proof that there was a leak and approx when it started i will be very surprised if there is any further back date than the 2 reading rule

the usage has not been high and only noticed by a chat with a neighbour

he was happy with readings and bills until he noticed an increase due to the leak and the readings will show within 6 month when leak started

we may need to agree to dis agree on this one the fact that there was a leak cant be disputed how long can be and that is the point that has changed from one thread to another it may be that working for a water company (not the same as the company in question) has made me synical as i investigate these kind of problems everyday

crrussell

can i just add that his usage will have gone down from before the leak as in his old threads he also states that his son is now at university less people means less usage

arsenalboy

Inspector Crrussell
can I clarify a few things for you!!

I first had suspicions I had a problem when I received a higher than normal bill, I then discovered the leak. A week or so later, during conversation with a neighbour I discovered my historic usage was way out of line.
My son went to Uni well over a year ago but my consumption has remained constant over the 4 years. It has immediately dropped since the repair has taken place.

For me it is quite simple i.e., the water board have always produced the bills on the readings they take. They will continue to take the readings which will show a dramatic drop in consumption.
They appointed their contractor to dig up the meter connections. The contractor took photos of the dodgy connection which was only hand tight. The contractor sent the photos and report electronically to the water board.
All the evidence that supports my stance has been gathered by the water board (readings) and their contractor.
If I were to post every twist and turn of the facts and dot the i's and cross the t's the post would be too long for any body to read.

Don't be cynical without knowing the full facts.

Thanks to those who have posted good advice. I have know received an "invitation" from the water board to put in a claim for 6 months leakage now that they have repaired "my leak"!!
I will get back to them and ask them to read the report and look at photos etc.,

mart.vader

arsenalboy wrote: »

I have now received an "invitation" from the water board to put in a claim for 6 months leakage now that they have repaired "my leak"!!.,

As you point out, it's not your leak -it's their leak, caused by them, and it cost you money for the past four years, not the past six months.

arsenalboy

What do you guys think, I am trying to frame my reply to water board and want to come across as reasonable.
I know that my usage has come down by probably a 1/3rd. This is based upon the fact that I have not changed the pattern of usage.
However, the water board will not believe this based on a few weeks.

I am thinking along the following lines. I have had the meter for 4 years. Between the readings (taken by the water board) my usage has been relatively constant for the 4 years.
My proposal would be to accept a 6 months adjustment but only if they would for the next 4 years adjust each quarterly bill based on the evidence that my consumption has really reduced. i.e., each quarter would demonstrate my current consumption is a lot less than the previous 4 years? So I would ask for a rebate for each quarter.

I know that my consumption has reduced and will remain reduced into the future. I am also aware that the water board will assume my reduction is short term, thus I am saying to them let the future readings tell the truth.
Am I being too reasonable and should I ask for a full reduction now?

It is difficult to know how to play this?