Shared Water Supply Propblem

persistence7

Hello Everyone


I am new to this fantastic site and a would appreciate any advice/help at all. The situation is, I have been at the premises I am currently at for some years. The water bills always seemed high. Eventually I found out this was due to someone else sharing my supply. An engineer was called from Thames water who confirmed this was the case. I have enclosed both my email and Thames waters response. What is my best way forward as Im concerned re: having to pay for a meter installation when there is already one there all be it, being shared. Should it not be Thames Water sorting out their supply issue rather than me having to pay ?? As I have stated In the email I have no problem paying for what I have used but not for someone elses supply also, which has been the case which I am now contesting. Thank you in advance. I have included both emails. Incidentally they say there is no meter at the premises. This is not the case.There has been and still is a meter at the premises.Also They are charging me for 10 full time staff !!! I have one plus myself if and when I am there, we only open Saturdays and Sundays and have done for many years.

the following is TW's reply to my email which is also enclosed.



We write further to your email shown below.

We would advise that your are currently charged on an assessed rate for your water usage at the supply address as there is no metre at the property. This means that the fact that the water supply is being shared with another property has no affect on your charges as it has no relation to the physical volume of water being consumed.

The calculation for your water usage is based on the number of full time employees and the nature of the business that operates at the address. Our Client has advised that they have previously provided the relevant forms to obtain this information but these have never been completed and returned to them.

As a result of the above you have been charged at a default commercial rate which is based on there being 10 or more full time employees at the address and not the 1 full time member of staff that you describe. Our Client has advised that any amendment to these details will only amend charges going forward and that the arrears would remain the same.

You also express a desire for your supply to be isolated and changed to a metered supply. Again this would be up to you to arrange and pay for these works and it would not have any effect on the historic charges that we are instructed to collect.

We would also ask that you explain the error in the address shown above to the we and our Client may amend their records.

Failure to make a reasonable offer of repayment in 7 days may result in further legal action being taken against you.









Dear Madam/ Sir


I have just received your correspondence from a neighbour due to incorrect posting. With regard to the Thames Water concern, this has been an ongoing situation for sometime. Until Thames Water accept that the amount they are requesting has been based on a seriously false estimate due to the current supply being shared by another user that Thames water have not been able to identify. This is on record and has been confirmed by one of Thames Waters own engineers. Until this has been rectified I am reluctant to pay any further monies for a debt that is not all mine. This does not mean I will not pay, just that I am not happy paying someone else's as well as my own. You will be able to see from my previous records that I had been paying a regular amount until I found out my suspicions were proved to be correct as the bills always seemed high for a premises that only traded for two days a week with one staff.
My other concern is I would like to have the water meter isolated form the shared supply so I can be informed as to exactly how much water I am using so the.correct charge can be levied. I am not happy with a water estimate as our useage will be minimal. If I have to have my day in court to deal with these issues then I will do so. As any judge will see that what I am requesting is not unreasonable. In fact we are only In this position due to the situation not being dealt with effectively initially when the Thames Water engineer visited Hopefully this can be resolved amicably.


Regards

mogchops

Although the supply is shared, this bears no relevance to your bills because you are being charged on business assessed. This is based on your number of employees and type of business, and is not measured by a water meter.

The TW email states that you are currently being charged on a default of 10 employees, as the forms were never returned with the correct details. You need to concentrate your efforts on getting this amended, so that you are charged on the correct number of employees which will bring your bills right down.