Problem with United Utilities

LittleJawa

I lived in a tiny studio for a period of 6 months. None of the tenants who had lived there previously had ever paid water rates before so I was the first to register with United Utilities (I know this because UU couldn't find the address when I called to register with them).

Although I was hardly ever in the flat and calculated that I should have been paying about £12 per month for water, I got a bill from United Utilities for £230 for 6 months. I contacted them and refused to pay such an extortionate amount and they told me that because my water wasn't metered (something out of my control and refused by the landlord), I was going to be charged this amount of money. The letting agency I was renting through also contacted United Utilities to explain I wasn't allowed to have a meter fitted.

Now United Utilities are chasing me via a debt collection agency for an extortionate amount of money and I feel I am being penalised for being the first honest tenant and for not fitting a meter in a property that I had no legal right to alter in any way. I refuse to pay £230 for 6 months of water in a studio that contained 2 sinks and a shower! Has anyone been in a similar situation and managed to get out of it? Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should do? Thank you!

amiehall

You are only obliged to pay the bill for the period you were resident in the property. However, it's likely that this is all the bill you've been given is for. What are the dates on the bill? If you give United Utilities the dates you were resident in the flat, you will be issued with an accurate bill which you will owe to them. My annual water bill is in the region of £350 for a very small flat so £230 for 6 months is no totally out of the question. It might well be the accurate bill.

If the property is not metered, you are billed based on the rateable value of the property. The fact that you can't fit a meter is not the problem of the water company and this bill remains due. If the bill is based on RV then it doesn't matter how much water you use, the price is the same. This is just how water bills work, fair or unfair.

I would clarify that you've been billed on the RV for only the correct dates of your tenancy. However, if this is the case, the bill is owed and you will be pursued by debt collectors until it is paid. I'd advise you to ring them to set up a payment plan.

Have you ever paid UU anything towards your water throughout the tenancy?

Gothicfairy

If you are not metered then there is nothing you can do about the price from move in date (which is all you have to pay from) as that is correct no matter what you might think or believe.

You can apply for a meter if you have a 6month ( I think but check) tenancy agreement even if your landlord doesn't agree.

You can choose not to pay but they can choose to ask the court to issue a ccj so in the end it is down to you but without a meter they are right to ask you for the full RV amount

samsmoot

You could easiy delay things - I assume you are very poor, yes? Then tell UU that you cannot afford to pay your bill and would like to be sent the information and forms required to apply to their water charity for help with paying your charges. They should then put a hold on collecting the debt whilst your application is being dealt with. Letters sometimes go astray in the post so if that happened it might get stretched out for longer.

Other delaying tactics may be possible - it also may be the case that UU won't take the court route. I know that one water company in particular has failed to take action for a period of over six years, their agents/debt collectors sending plenty of threats in the name of previous tenants but no court claim whatsoever - but that would be a risky way to go, unless you had some kind of defence.

I'd make sure I disputed the bill in every way possible and just keep the complaining process going indefinitely. Use some imagination and tact and you could bounce it around for a while. Pay them a pound a week in the meantime to show good faith if you intend to eventually pay anyway - harder for them to county court you, I would imagine.

macman

If a meter has been applied for and cannot be fitted for technical reasons, then you can apply to go on assessed billing. But that does not remove your existing liability for RV billing to the date you switch. The RV value is historic and cannot be challenged.

deano4930

I afraid the RV is your water bill, and you dont have much control over this.

If you are going to be having difficulty paying your water bill then there are a few schemes we run to help people in hardship.

If you have been in the property for longer than 6 months then we can fit a meter regardless of the LL consent.

If you want a meter fitted now however, we would need for your landlord to request for it.

Miss_Honest76

Also UU now offer a tariff for single people if a meter cannot be fitted at the property. ( this does not include the landlord saying no to one )
If your tenancy agreement is for over 6 months, you dont even have to ask the landlord.

macman

But, as already pointed out, that does not remove the OP's existing liability under RV billing since they moved in.

samsmoot

Gothicfairy wrote: »

You can choose not to pay but they can choose to ask the court to issue a ccj so in the end it is down to you but without a meter they are right to ask you for the full RV amount

Once again you lie - why?

A water company cannot ask for a CCJ unless and until a judgement is made, so please stop giving out incorrect information.

Thank you.

Gothicfairy

samsmoot wrote: »

Once again you lie - why?

A water company cannot ask for a CCJ unless and until a judgement is made, so please stop giving out incorrect information.

Thank you.

Whatever...

samsmoot

Snappy comeback there Gothic - here's the truth:

samsmoot wrote: »

OK...this is the third time in about 20 minutes spent on this forum that I have seen it suggested that a CCJ is a consequence of non-payment of water charges. I have pointed out the error in a couple of recent posts. Are you trying to scare people into paying? You should all get together and start a new site called 'moneyspewingexpert.com'.


Please Note:

A County Court Judgement can only follow a successful Claim.

A Claim can only follow a Letter before Action.

A Letter Before Action can only follow a refusal to pay.

Refusal to pay hasn't been mentioned in the above post.