Advice needed - Southern Water bill

AlexW80

Hi there, new here so please bear with me. I hope someone can shed some light on this. Sorry if this post goes on a bit.

Firstly, a little back story. My Sister and myself used to live with our Mother in a Housing Association house. My Mother was registered disabled for many years and sadly died just before Christmas, my Sister ,who was her registered carer, had been diagnosed with severe depression a while ago but it has since become far worse. She's also been diagnosed with Agoraphobia and Anxiety. We decided that she should take over the lease for the house on the 8th Dec 2011, as that way whatever happens she'd have somewhere to live. We informed all those we could remember to, it was a little hard to focus on things at the time, and changed the names where we could.

On 11th of this month (Sept) she received a waste water bill from Southern Water, Portsmouth Water cover fresh water for us. The total bill was for the past 2 year, totalling £612.52 (1st April 2011 - 21st March 2012 = 292.95 and 1st April 2012 - 31st March 2013 = 319.57).
This is the first communication she's had with them since Mum died, no bills sent previously. She contacted them and informed them when she took over the lease, asking if they could amend the bill to start from 8th Dec 2011 to show when she took over the property. She was told over the phone that as she was living there at the time she's still responsible for the bill. Surely that can't be the case, can it? I would've thought that she would only be legally responsible for bills/debts from when she took over the house.
Now Mum had nothing left, no money or estate and my Sister is on benefits as she can't work. I'm happy to clear the debt for her if need be but just want to know where she stands on it. Does she owe for the 2 years or are Southern Water pulling a fast one and trying to get her to pay more than she needs to? I've no idea whether Mum paid the bill the previous year or not, but seeing as they've only just sent out the bill now I'd guess they probably hadn't bothered to send one out to Mum before.

If anyone can offer advice it would be much appreciated, as I'm sure you can guess this isn't doing my Sister's health or mental state any good right now.

samsmoot

You should insist on an amended bill. Simple.

If they won't see sense then that's their problem - I don't see how your sister is any more responsible for a previous ocupier's water charges than I am. If they want to take court action over it then let them - don't see how they would possibly succeed.

I would in any case keep them waiting for any money that I actually owed - as I say often, an application to a water company's charitable trust may get get you financial help, and if not will at least delay things as they have to stop with the collection methods whilst your application is being considered.

So just insist that you are informed of the correct amount owed - as of 8/12/11 - then agree to pay that but tell them you don't have the money to pay right now so you'd like to ask their charity for help. I'd break this up into two letters to stretch it out.

Basiclly don't panic and try and have some fun as well as they are in the wrong and therefore you should mess them about as much as possible. That would include stretching out your complaint if necessary. You could also make complaints to the CCW and/or OFWAT, your MP etc.

Gothicfairy

The problem you have is that the person who lives there usually is responsible and as one party has passed away they are now chasing the other..This happens with student lets all the time ( ie one moves away and they go after the others)

You need to go down the APORTS route (non standard change of occupier) and ask if they can allow some movement with the bill but do it in writing and be polite...you might well get what you are after going that way