No Water bill for 5 years

russell1968

Hi, i need some advice? I moved into my house five years ago and to this day have never had a water bill, i now it sounds crazy but i just never thought of it.

Two days ago i recive a letter from the local water board reading that its come to there attention that my house may have recenlty changed owners or be in recievership,it's asked for my details and move in date.

Here is where the dilema is!

Do i just right back with the exact date i moved in back in 2007 and hope they they would share some of the responsiblity ?(This sort of bill would kill me)

just give them my move in date from a month ago ?

How long can i be back billed for

WantToBeSE

YOu REALLY never thought of it? Or you thought you'd see how far it would go?

I wouldnt lie, as that will just end up with more hassle. Come clean and face up to it.

Have you been saving any money towards this- as surely you knew it would happen at some point?

russell1968

No,i have been to busy getting divorced becoming bankrupt,having my daughters 3 days a week and working full time.

WantToBeSE

russell1968 wrote: »

No,i have been to busy getting divorced becoming bankrupt,having my daughters 3 days a week and working full time.

Well, i am sure thats kept you busy, but lets be honest, how can your 'forget' to pay for the water you use?
When you were going through the process of being bankrupt, were you never asked what outgoings were, and wasnt your £0 water consumption questioned?

I am not judging, i am just curious really. We all do things we later realise should have been sorted out at the time.

Anyway, as i said, i would come clean and disclose your move in date. Good luck, i hope for your sake that the water company are forgiving

Miss_Havisham

russell1968 wrote: »

No,i have been to busy getting divorced becoming bankrupt,having my daughters 3 days a week and working full time.

Steady ! It was a perfectly valid question.

russell1968

I actually thought it was one of the few things my ex wife paid, it was only when everything went wrong at the start of year i realized it had never been paid.

As much as i am to blame for not paying it the water company must share some of this resposibility?

WantToBeSE

I doubt it.

Maybe they will go easy on you and just ask you to set up regular payments to cover your usage, plus extra amounts to cover the arreas.

macman

It's your job to register for the supplies, not for the water utility to find you.
Giving a false entry date would of course be fraudulent.
The back billing rule does not apply to water, so yes, they can bill you for the full five years.

russell1968

Thanks for that.

What would be my best course of action?

Cardew

Agree with above, you are liable for full 5 years.

There really is no point in lying as apart from it being fraud, it would be too easy to check with electoral register, council tax and utilities.

The companies have considerable discretion on back payments and can reduce the total amount and/or give you time to pay off the debt.

I would take an apologetic approach as it might achieve a better outcome.

russell1968

I would take an apologetic approach as it might achieve a better outcome.[/QUOTE]

Tahnk you !

Do you think this is best dealt with via phone or post?

Do you thinki could come to an agreement to pay of arears with a reduced lump sum?