Underpaying sewage.

rcorke

Hello.

Any advice on the below welcome.

We moved into a property in July which had previously been classed as two rateable values for water/sewage as it used to be sub-divided.

I contacted water (South East Water) and sewage (Southern Water) companies when we moved in. The water company told me we had to pay the two rateable values of the property (not a problem) so I was expecting the same from the sewage company.

However, after having contacted them several times by phone to tell them I believe that they are undercharging me as I am only paying one rateable value and should be paying two - I've not moved forward and seem to be banging my head against a brick wall.

I don't mind underpaying;) (although I would rather pay what I owe) but I don't want them to realise in 6 months/a year's time that I haven't been paying enough only to recieve a huge bill. Could they do this?

Every time I have contacted them about the matter and they have stated that I am paying the correct amount, I have asked them for written confirmation but they have failed to provide this.

Other than to put money aside just in case they do send me an additional bill, any suggestions?

Thank you.

Cardew

I am surprised at Southern Water's stance that you pay RV charges for two properties.

The Water Privatisation Act is quite clear that when any major alterations are made to a property, RV charges cease and a meter must be fitted.

Otherwise virtually derelict properties with a peppercorn Rateable Value could be modernised and carry on paying tiny charges.

The whole basis on how your two properties were originally assessed is now invalid and a meter should be fitted.

Are you paying two lots of Council Tax? Two standing charges for Electricity supply?

rcorke

The thing is though that no major alterations have taken place - it was never properly divided into two flats. All we have done is taken a few yale locks off room doors.

We are not paying two council tax bills - it is being rebanded. We are however, paying two electricity bills as there are two meters still.

Southern Water don't have any choice to whether we are RV/metered as we have South East Water as our water company.

South East Water had been charging us two service charges as they believed we two supplies but we have since had an engineer out who had confirmed the property had only ever had one supply(- questioning whether it should ever have been charged as two rateable values previously?) In fact the engineer told us that the water company actually had our property listed as four flats on their database !!! So now South East Water are only going to charge one service charge and I guess two rateable values. They did talk to us about choosing to be metered but we declined at present as it would probably cost us more.

Like I say I'm not trying to con companies out of money, I want to pay what I owe. If South East Water insisted we have a meter then we would obiously have one. They haven't so we haven't. Just don't want a big bill from Southern Water for Sewage when they start agreeing with me that they are undercharging us.

spiro

I would phone them again, explain the situation (again) and if they still agree you are paying the correct amount and they wont put it in writing I would write to them (recorded delivery) detailing the phone call (including agents name) and that you have had similar conversations. I would give them 2 weeks to respond if they disagree. Then keep a copy of the letter and the recorded delivery record. If they then change their mind they would be hard pushed to try and back charge you.