Single Occupier Assessed Tarrif- £150 per annum saving. Does anybody know about it ?

andyb190

I am posting this for my mum who is appalled by Seven Trent Water.
She rang them to ask about a water meter as she lives on her own and wanted to cut her bills.

She was told that her flat (a big 16 storey block) was not really suitable and that they would put her on to the Single Occupier Assesed Tarrif , a tarrif which nobody she has asked had ever heard of. Apparently they cap the rate at £200 per annum which is a saving of nearly £150 on her recent annual bill.

What is getting her goat is the fact that ST never informed her of the Tarrif's existence and it has been around for 3 and a half years. She feels they ought to let all those suitable for the tarrif know about it. I have tried to explain that few companies have a moral obligation to do such a thing but she is an Idealist and has a bee in her bonnet about i.

I am not sure if this is widely known on here but she is on a campaign to let as many people know about it.

She may reply to any posts made (on my log in) to give any further information if required...but she is new to all this and may take some time .

Cardew

This has been discussed many times on MSE.

As you indicate, you can only get the single person assessed rate after you apply for a meter and one cannot be fitted.

If a meter can be fitted then of course you pay on the basis of the water you use.

The assessed rate charging system for properties(where a meter cannot be fitted) has been in existance since 1990; but only fairly recently has a lower rate for single people been introduced. Before this the various water companies had an assessed charge for number of bedrooms(sometimes number of people with two being minimum)

I believe you will find that information on how to apply for a meter is sent out with every ST bill. However it is a valid point that more publicity needs to be given to the scheme.

It is much like the position with Surface water drainage - millions pay this charge(called measured drainage by ST) when they can claim relief from the charge.

Incidentally, ST or any of the water companies, don't lose money if people go on an assessed rate and pay less. The revenue, and hence profit they make, is strictly controlled by the government appointed Regulator(ofwat). They are allowed to raise £xxxmillion and if your mother and a couple of thousand others pay less, then charges are increased a little for all other customers to compensate.

The issue has been taken up with the Regulator and their view essentially is that the customer should read the literature sent out with bills(which few of us do!!). Caveat emptor!

andyb190

No, if I'd been informed of this tariff I would have remembered-after all it makes a difference of £150 per year-over £500 in unnecessary payments to Severn Trent since April 2009. But I'm gonna do all I can to let people know about the sole-occupier tariff, even stand in the city centre and tell people. Incidentally, Age UK were unaware of it too. The onus is on the customer, so if you live alone request your water meter-I've got it in writing that you can have it taken out if you change your mind.

Cardew

andyb190 wrote: »

No, if I'd been informed of this tariff I would have remembered-after all it makes a difference of £150 per year-over £500 in unnecessary payments to Severn Trent since April 2009. But I'm gonna do all I can to let people know about the sole-occupier tariff, even stand in the city centre and tell people. Incidentally, Age UK were unaware of it too. The onus is on the customer, so if you live alone request your water meter-I've got it in writing that you can have it taken out if you change your mind.

As I said earlier it needs more publicity. However I think you will find that ST(I am also with them) include with every bill information about how to get a water meter; but that is to apply for a meter not the assessed charge.

You talk about 'the sole-occupier tariff' as if it is a right, and it is not. Most people will have a water meter fitted and not get the assessed charge.

Just a couple of points. I would be very surprised if you have it in writing that the meter will be 'taken out.' You have 12 months to elect to revert back to being charged on the original Ratable Value(RV) System. However the meter remains in situ and the next occupant will pay metered charges.

The situation with metering is changing. Firstly in 1990 when metering first came in, customers were allowed to stay on RV charging; but when they moved a meter should have been fitted for the new occupant. However most companies just didn't bother enforcing that regulation - however some did, and more are now doing so. It has even been argued that(in theory) anyone who has moved into a property post April 1990 can even today have a meter fitted even if they don't want one - of course they are highly unlikely to test that theory.

Also it has been estimated that about 60% of people could be better off with a meter, but 40% worse off.

macman

But had your mother asked for a meter survey, then she would have found out about it.
As above, the meter is not 'taken out'. It remains in place but is not read and you can return to RV billing within the 1st 12m only. Subsequent owners or tenants will be metered.

BRIANCARSON

I was aware about it so applied just before the 2012/2013 bill was being sent out .

In fact I would have preferred a meter but they cant fit one into my flat due to the water supply being shared.
I applied via http://customerhelp.thameswater.co.uk/app/answers/detail/a_id/132/~/
and after the survey I was moved onto the Assessed Household Charge straight away and as I live on my own I did qualify for Single occupier tariff.

The OP cant complain because his water company did not let his mother know as after all how would they know there was only one person living at the address.

In my situation I would save even more money if I had a meter as I don't use much water but its better than nothing.

Cardew

BRIANCARSON wrote: »

The OP cant complain because his water company did not let his mother know as after all how would they know there was only one person living at the address.

Correct. I think people should realise that with Xmillion customers, an account holder is just several digits on the computer database and it doesn't matter how many people are living at the address, until such time as a meter is applied for, and cannot be fitted.

andyb190

I stand corrected-I just checked my letter from Severn Trent and it does say 'revert back to RV charge ' if not happy with meter and not have it removed. It was my son who wrote on this site on my behalf and he happens to agree that I am living in cloud cuckoo land expecting a company to inform people that they can actually get something at a lower rate (mind you, look what the government are doing now with electricity and gas companies so that customers can make more informed choices in terms of being on the best plan), and I guess he's got a point. I wasn't expecting to be informed personally (I'm not that arrogant) or even asked if I am a sole-occupier, but surely that information could have been put on the reverse of the yearly water bill and as a previous message said, the water company doesn't lose money if customers pay less or more. So my point is this:- why have the tariff if customers aren't informed? You can bet that if they weren't the only water company and were vying for your business they would be shouting from the roof-tops about the 'sole-occupier' tariff as it would be a bargaining tool! Incidentally, I had previously applied for a water meter but was informed, incorrectly I've since found out, that the whole block of 128 flats water would have to be turned off for at least half a day and I wouldn't expect my neighbours to agree to that so didn't pursue it until recently. All I know is that had I known about this tariff when it came into being 3 and a half years ago, I would have saved myself more than £500. Multiply that by how ever many thousands of people live alone (single parents, senior citizens etc.,) and maybe you will realise why I'm disgruntled with Severn Trent

macman

The supplier has no idea how much water your mother uses, how many people live in her property, or anything else about her lifestyle.
She is the only one who can assess whether she would be better off on RV billing or an assessed/metered charge.
Metering is widely publicised by all the water utilities.

Cardew

andyb190 wrote: »

I stand corrected-I just checked my letter from Severn Trent and it does say 'revert back to RV charge ' if not happy with meter and not have it removed. It was my son who wrote on this site on my behalf and he happens to agree that I am living in cloud cuckoo land expecting a company to inform people that they can actually get something at a lower rate (mind you, look what the government are doing now with electricity and gas companies so that customers can make more informed choices in terms of being on the best plan), and I guess he's got a point. I wasn't expecting to be informed personally (I'm not that arrogant) or even asked if I am a sole-occupier, but surely that information could have been put on the reverse of the yearly water bill and as a previous message said, the water company doesn't lose money if customers pay less or more. So my point is this:- why have the tariff if customers aren't informed? You can bet that if they weren't the only water company and were vying for your business they would be shouting from the roof-tops about the 'sole-occupier' tariff as it would be a bargaining tool! Incidentally, I had previously applied for a water meter but was informed, incorrectly I've since found out, that the whole block of 128 flats water would have to be turned off for at least half a day and I wouldn't expect my neighbours to agree to that so didn't pursue it until recently. All I know is that had I known about this tariff when it came into being 3 and a half years ago, I would have saved myself more than £500. Multiply that by how ever many thousands of people live alone (single parents, senior citizens etc.,) and maybe you will realise why I'm disgruntled with Severn Trent

You still appear to be missing the overall point that the single person assessed tariff is not 'on offer' or even 'available'.

Your choice is between charges based on Rateable Value(RV) or a meter; and that choice is mentioned on the paperwork with every bill. The majority of people who apply for a meter, get one fitted and are thus not eligble for an assessed tariff.

Incidentally, even if a meter couldn't be fitted, why do you think that a 'single parent' would be eligble for a 'single person' assessed tariff?

diamonds

Thankgod Scotland water is paid minimal with council tax and to a government dept not a raping people for profit private company.

Did I mention the tap water up here is amazing drinking quality too ? lol

Are the water companies in England self regulated like the electric/gas & telecoms companies ?