Southern water - massive meter reading!

Cardew

Fidge wrote: »

They told me on the phone I had to prove my swd was not entering a public sewer this is especially difficult where so many ex council estates had their own sewers built for surface water drainage and people are wrongly thinking they should be paying swd charges.

To top it off my neighbour has just had a rebate for swd charges and I still have not until they investigate "as a special case" lol

I think it's about time we had a choice of supplier for water as we do electric and gas, it's a sure thing that one these meters have been quickly rushed in to ensure when a new supplier is introduced SW own them and can charge a standing charge. :mad:

As said above - just submit a claim for relief of SWD and state where you have been told a soakaway was situated under your garden.

If you have access to your foul sewer, run a hose onto your gutter and check that none of that water is entering that sewer.

A choice of water company will do very little to reduce water bills. The main costs of water supply are to replace the largely Victorian water infrastructure each company inherited when Maggie privatised the industry.

Each company has a different level of work - and hence cost; which is why the South West customers pay over double your water charges(both metered and RV)

Are you on benefits or have 3 or more children under 19? If so you will be capped and will only be charged a certain amount no matter how much water you use, so everyne else pays for it! More proof that these meters have nothing to
do with saving water!

You are incorrect about meters not saving water. Houses with meters use considerably less per occupant than unmetered - look it up.

In fact 'everyone else' pays for those properties with a low RV where occupants have no incentive to save water. If meters became mandatory we would all pay for what we used. Just like we do for gas and electricity - where we have the choice of supplier that you advocate;)

Gothicfairy

Fidge wrote: »

Go ahead if you are quite willing to accept what is forced upon you with no alternative, I pity you if this is your way of life, or is it because you will be unaffected by metered charges? Are you on benefits or have 3 or more children under 19? If so you will be capped and will only be charged a certain amount no matter how much water you use, so everyne else pays for it! More proof that these meters have nothing to do with saving water!

You are right that I will be unaffected by a metered charge but not because I claim benefits or have children ( not that I need to explain myself to you or anyone) but because I DON'T have running water at all. I have to fetch and carry my own clean water and remove my own waste water.
You have missed the point of watersure as it is not just about getting benefits , you have to have the right kind and show that you use more water then normal and then it is capped but that is taken into account in the profits so like paying tax out of your wages you don't really notice it.

I am with Cardew on the SWD issue and I also think that everyone should be on a meter as that means you can cut down if needs be and can be responsible for what is being used. I do think you should be able to choose your water company as well but can totally understand why that is not possible at the moment and as such rather then taking pop shots at others I prefer to be more realistic and understand the situation.

rachey2711

Hi all,

Slightly overdue update......

After Joel contacted me on this forum things got moving pretty quick. They sent someone over to ivestigate, and after 5 mins the problem was diagnosed.

When our meter was fitted it was fitted on the main water pip in to both our - and our neighbours - flats.

So, we had been paying for the water to two properties..... for 6 YEARS!!!!

To make things even worse, we moved out of the flat about a week after the problem was spotted.

They have now worked out our overpayment (by tacking test readings at our new property and calculating our actual usage) and a refund is being processed.

I wanted to get the settlement sorted before I complained, and I am now complaining in earnest. I have pointed out that I tried to get this sorted several years ago and was ignored. I tried again to get this sorted in June, and was ignored again. It was only when I posted on here that I was contacted by the metering team (who, to their credit, have been very helpful and efficient).

When I compained, and asked what sort of compensation would be offered, I was told they most they could give us was £25. I find that a bit of an insult.
We have given them nearly £1200 of our money over the last 6 years (which could have accrued up to £150 in interest I might add) they ignored my complanits - TWICE - and they want to offer us twenty five quid.

Does this seem fair?!?!?

Cardew

What charges were your neighbours paying?

Put to them a figure for compensation(on top of any refund) that you think is reasonable. If they won't alter their position from £25, then go to the Consumer Council for Water.

rachey2711

My 91 year old neighbour is still on water rates.

I have spoken to the consumer council for water and they have advised that legally they do not have to offer anything more than the £25 figure; this is OFWAT regulations for times such as 'not replying to a written complaint within 5 days' or 'failing to keep to an appointment time'.
They dont seem to have a 'have fitted a meter to two properties, been taking inflated payments for 6 years, and taken no notice of complaints' senario, oddly.

Also, when I asked to whom I could compain (before I posted here initially) I was told "there is no-one you can complain to, as there isnt a problem". Awsome customer service there.

Cardew

Take them to the Small Claims Court. If you do take that course of action have a figure for what you are claiming - with justification.