Thames Water - Massive bill error pay-out...

MEsteve

Hi All

Someone in a flat above me notified Thames Water that they were moving out. Unknown to me I received a payment into my account of £734 from Thames water. Then - I got a bill from them for the £734 back plus the remaining amount on my account for the year...

I called them up and what happened is that they made an error and repaid me the outstanding credit from another flat above - in slightly confusing circumstances. They repaid credit from payments made from 2009 up to the current date. Then they realised their error and billed me the sum back. The credit of £734 - as I understand it - has come from a Thames Water error, combined with some mis-information they received from a tenant above on the specific address. Now they want it back. If a company makes an error like this - is there any ground on which I can keep it? Im actually having financial difficulties and the money went into rent payments and has now gone.

Gothicfairy

You can not keep it, it is not your money and legally does not belong to you. One way or the other they will get it back and the only issue will be how much damage it does in the mean time...ie CCJ or anything like that.

If you paid someone by mistake you would want it back so why is this any difference ? You know it is not yours and you have to right to it..

MEsteve

ok - it sounds kind of stupid now I think about it - but you never know...I mean - if they put the money into my account via their error - on what basis is it still their money?

Sooki

Why don't you ask if you can pay it back interest free small installments by direct debit, if you can do this then everyone is a winner.

JC_Derby

Sooki wrote: »

Why don't you ask if you can pay it back interest free small installments by direct debit, if you can do this then everyone is a winner.

as it was their error initiallt i suspect they wouldnt charge interest anyway, but it would be best to speak to them and tell them to take a little everymonth if you cant afford otherwise

NeverInDebt

On what basis do you feel it is your money?

If it was a mistake its reasonable to ask for it back. If you made a mistake wouldn't you want it back?

MEsteve wrote: »

on what basis is it still their money?

afterthegap

Steve, you will have to pay it back im afraid. They have clear evidence that it was for someone else.

They are likely to pursue it until they get every penny and dare I say it, if you remain in arrears and not pay it back they could cut your water off?

NeverInDebt

I dont think you can cut water off its the only utility they cant they can restrict its usage though and recover any monies owed via debt collectors/court

Gothicfairy

Domestic supplies are not cut off but if attached to a commercial property it can be...ie flat above pub

mart.vader

NeverInDebt wrote: »

I dont think you can cut water off its the only utility they cant they can restrict its usage though and recover any monies owed via debt collectors/court

No, They can't cut off or restrict your supply, if it's a domestic property.

Gothicfairy

They can if attached as part of a legal rental to a commercial property, they might have to reconnect but they most certainly can cut it off to begin with.