United Utilities: We never signed a contract with them so are we liable to pay?

Scrimping_Sket_Pigeon

Obviously from a completely immoral point of view but it just occurred to me today, having received a 'telemessage' which inevitably turns into a solicitors' letter the longer you ignore it.

Then it got me thinking; we never agreed to pay them anything...ever.

I've never not paid our water bill, sure it's never paid on time but yeah we usually pay it in two halves.

So I was wondering has anyone ever looked into this? Not that I'd want to start some sort of revolution whereby nobody will ever pay for their water ever again, but from a legal perspective, how can United Utilities chase us for money when no contract is in place?

dzug1

Did they ever agree to supply you with water? Or did you steal it?

A contract doesn't have to be signed to exist - accepting their supply is (or may be - I don't know your circumstances) enough to form an implied contract.

deano4930

I was thinking that the other day while at my local petrol station..

As I was filling up, watching the dials move round i thought.. "Hang on a minute, I havent signed anything here.. I might get away with not paying..."

Exactly the same scenario.. You wouldn't drive away from the pump without paying simply because you haven't signed anything before filling up

macman

You have taken their goods/services and it is implied that payment is required-therefore a contract exists.
A contract is not a piece of paper, signed or otherwise.
When you buy your morning paper, you are similarly making a contract with the newsagent.

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny

Are the children on Holiday again and have too much access to the internet?

antrobus

Scrimping_Sket_Pigeon wrote: »

... Not that I'd want to start some sort of revolution whereby nobody will ever pay for their water ever again, but from a legal perspective, how can United Utilities chase us for money when no contract is in place?

S144 Water Industry Act 1991- Liability of occupiers etc. for charges - should cover it.

System

antrobus wrote: »

S144 Water Industry Act 1991- Liability of occupiers etc. for charges - should cover it.

And I believe that there is similar in the relevant legislation covering gas and electricity

timbo58

and for train travel.
Implied contract made the moment you step onto a station intending to travel or not depends on the sort of implied contract however the effect is the same: you have agreed to be bound by the terms & conditions and therefore are liable under that contract.

samsmoot

Water companies, in the main, are required by law to supply you with water and take away the sewage.

You are not required by law to pay anything towards those services.

You may be found to be liable for charges, and ordered to pay them, but only after it's proven in court that you owe the charges - and if you fail to pay you still aren't necessarily affected by any order - depends on your financial situation. I'm thinking of the really poor - property owners had better watch it.

I have written a good many posts on water bills etc if you are interested - I argue that advance payment cannot be enforced, this view formed after my water company threatened a court claim for advance charges which failed to materialise when I called them on it. Some of these companies are proven liars you know.

Gothicfairy

Advance payment is legally enforceable as OFWAT and the government allow for RV charges and that is in advance.

Pure and simple and just because you say otherwise doesn't make it true.

samsmoot

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Advance payment is legally enforceable as OFWAT and the government allow for RV charges and that is in advance.

Legally enforceable? What does that even mean? Each claim will stand or fall on its own merits - they wouldn't even take me to court for advamce charges only - have they ever done so and won when such a claim was properly defended? I doubt it but prove me wrong if you can.