water rates

missdiy_2

Hello,
I'm new to all this...
I bought a property in April, but as it was a reposession, I'm having to refurbish it completely, and am yet to move in.
I'm yet to let Thames Water know about the purchase, as been so busy, as I'm doing all this alone. Now I'm worried that when I do let them know they might try and back date it. I just want to ask them to install a pay as you go meter as I've heard you have more control, and it's cheaper. Please can someone advise?
Thanks

Cardew

You are liable for water charges from the time you owned the house in April.

If you have a meter then you will pay the water and sewerage standard charges - which are quite small - and for all water you have used.

By not contacting Thames water with your details and(crucially) meter readings you might find them attempting to charge you for the previous occupants water. Being a re-posession I doubt the paid their bill up to date when they left.

There is no such thing as a 'pay as you go' water meter. That is for gas/electricity.

If you haven't got a meter, you will owe water charges(that could be quite substantial) for April 2012 to April 2013. The charges are based on Rateable Value(RV) and you are liable for 12 months in advance - which you can pay 50% in April and 50% in Oct - or arrange monthly payments.

macman

Since, you've owned the property since April, why would they not backdate it, and what would your objection be?
A meter may be cheaper, but it's not automatically so, it will depend entirely on your region, usage and your current RV.

Gothicfairy

You might be able to place the property into Void for a period during the referb but that will be down to them and you need to prove the supply was not required.
Front office staff can back date the void policy 28 days but after that it is back office staff and they might well go against it anyway..but worth a try.

There hasn't been a pre paid water meter for years, STW did them back in the day but they were more trouble then they were worth and OFWAT didn't really approve of them either.

But to be honest, if you or your builders used any water you should pay for it.

samsmoot

Just would like to say that you have absolutely no obligation to tell your water company when you move into a property. So don't, is my advice.

No offence is being committed if you fail to inform your water company that you are using their services so don't worry about a thing.

Despite the name of this site/forum some would happily suggest giving your money away when you don't have to.

jimjames

samsmoot wrote: »

Despite the name of this site/forum some would happily suggest giving your money away when you don't have to.

There is a huge difference between money saving and fraud. Why do you think you don't have to pay for a service you are using?

Why should people freeload on the backs of others who are paying? Its just a shame that water companies can no longer cut off the supply.

@OP yes you do need to inform them and the sooner you do so the sooner you will be able to clear any outstanding balance. Depending on the area you may already have a meter or one being fitted but if you are not resident it would certainly be worth getting one. If you move in within 12 months you can always switch back to RV billing if that works out cheaper.

yangptangkipperbang

jimjames wrote: »

Why should people freeload on the backs of others who are paying? Its just a shame that water companies can no longer cut off the supply.

No .............but they can, and do, take recovery action which will do wonders to the miscreant's credit record !
As everyone seems to live on "tick" in this day and age, that is probably more damaging than cutting the water off.

jimjames

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

No .............but they can, and do, take recovery action which will do wonders to the miscreant's credit record !
As everyone seems to live on "tick" in this day and age, that is probably more damaging than cutting the water off.

Unfortunately it is also a costly process for the water company - which we all pay for.

I think cutting off or the threat of it would focus the mind on payment a lot faster!