Paying Severn Trent Water in advance?

pandalover_2

Hi has anybody experienced the same problem?

I always pay Severn trent water (STW) monthly at my bank.
Recently I got a new bill from STW charging me the whole year from Apr 1st (£265). So I rang them up telling them that I want a quarterly bill. The reason is my contract with this flat is gonna be ended this July.

The guy on the line told me they can no longer produce the quarterly bill and today STW request me to pay monthly by 8 installments (£33 each based on watercard). I do some calculations and found their charge is far too high than my water charge I should pay each month (around £23) and that will only allow STW to collect the whole year charge by this Nov.

It's not fair since I'm gonna move out within 3 months anyway. The guy also told me that I can apply for a refund when I move out?

Why do I have to pay in advance for the service I will not use? Why can't they just charge based on my real situation (monthly or quarterly)? I don't want to pay them in advance and don't want to apply for a refund either. Can anyone give me some advice what I should do next? Can they take me to the court if I don't pay these stupid upfront charges? I'm also afraid of them disconnecting of my water supply.

quietheart

Severn Trent are up to something funny. They changed my billing from monthly to splitting the year into 8 bigger payments, they get the interest on our money instead of us. They changed it easily to 10 payments but said "computer says no" to 12 equal payments.
Pain in the bum.

Cardew

I have recently(late Jan) had my Severn Trent bill for 2007.

For some reason they have decreased my payments by £55 a year even though I was slightly in debit last year.

They are taking this sum in 11 payments(Feb to Dec incl)

pandalover_2

Cardew wrote: »

I have recently(late Jan) had my Severn Trent bill for 2007.

For some reason they have decreased my payments by £55 a year even though I was slightly in debit last year.

They are taking this sum in 11 payments(Feb to Dec incl)

I see. So why can't they produce the same thing for me. It's clearly they have a double standard or they suddenly need money (in a rising interest rate situation). Should I try contact anyone for this? My friend say I should just pay what I will use a month or 3 month in advance and just ignore them.

deanos

pandalover wrote: »

Recently I got a new bill from STW charging me the whole year from Apr 1st (£265).

The guy on the line told me they can no longer produce the quarterly bill and today STW request me to pay monthly by 8 installments (£33 each based on watercard). I do some calculations and found their charge is far too high than my water charge I should pay each month (around £23) and that will only allow STW to collect the whole year charge by this Nov.

£265 / 8 is £33 a month so the ST guy was correct

pandalover_2

deanos wrote: »

£265 / 8 is £33 a month so the ST guy was correct

Deanos, you are right. It is £33 a month for that 8 installments they urged me to pay every single month until Nov 07.

But what I requested them is to pay monthly by 12 installments or even quarterly since I will leave this flat soon within 3 months.
so £265/12=£23

I will leave in July so if I follow them (STW), I would have to pay £33*3=£99 and apply for a refund of £99-£69= £30, which I don't want to. I will only pay for what I use or will use.

pandalover_2

I've made a complaint to CCWater - the consumer council for water Midlands.

Today I've got a letter from CCWater telling me that I should call STW's payment dept. By refering CCWater I should be able to get a fairer billing. So I called today and it seems that they become more friendly and flexible than last time. The guy told me I can continue paying what I think I should pay.

Thanks you guys for all useful advices. Hope I will never have problem with STW again.

Just in case anyone need to call STW, here is the payment plan phone line: 0845 601 1555.

AbbieCadabra

pandalover wrote: »

I've made a complaint to CCWater - the consumer council for water Midlands.

Today I've got a letter from CCWater telling me that I should call STW's payment dept. By refering CCWater I should be able to get a fairer billing. So I called today and it seems that they become more friendly and flexible than last time. The guy told me I can continue paying what I think I should pay. Thanks you guys for all useful advices. Hope I will never have problem with STW again.

Just in case anyone need to call STW, here is the payment plan phone line: 0845 601 1555.

just make sure you have got an actual payment arrangement on your account tho - were you told to expect a payment booklet or watercard statement for the amounts agreed in your latest call?

it's possible that if you have no active plan on your account, even if you pay monthly, you will keep getting reminders & eventually, a summons.

don't wish to worry you, but just thought it best to be safe than sorry.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like they are taking a leaf out of the big banks book and going for conning the consumer, its the way ahead

Cardew

Yant1 wrote: »

Sounds like they are taking a leaf out of the big banks book and going for conning the consumer, its the way ahead

So how is the 'conning' taking place?

The criticism is that their computer systems couldn't cater for someone who knows they will be leaving the property in 3 months; and the customer care centre guy was inflexible or didn't understand what he was being told.

You don't have to have a payment plan; you can just have a good old fashioned bill.

Or the OP could have paid 2 monthly instalments, which, if my arithmetic hasn't let me down, is 25% of 8 payments, which equates to 3 months of 12 months.

[Deleted User]

The con is they want the money sooner, this will make them a couple of million extra in interest and the guy who decided this will get a big fat bonus. Otherwise it would be staying longer in your account earning you interest, that is why I always pay things on the last date and always pursuade companys to put the direct debits back to later in teh month.