Overpaid water bill but refund not possible

ajarn

I recently learned about the benefit of having a water meter fitted in my home. I live alone in a one bedroom flat and would therefore benefit from having a water meter fitted. I felt it unjust that I had overpaid my past year's water bill by more than double, so I contacted the Consumer Council for water in Bristol for their advice. They informed me that Bristol water had acted legally and it was my fault I had overpaid my bill because I should've asked for a water meter to be fitted when I moved in and am therefore not entitled to a refund or credit on my next bill. They suggested I contact my local MP to complain further if I felt aggrieved. Neither my support worker or the landlord (in this case its a large and well known landlord in the south west) informed me about the option to have a water meter. Anyway, it seems entirely fair that I am owed a years supply of water or a refund yet according the the rules the water company are legally allowed to rip me off. I have contacted my local MP before by email but received no reply, not even an acknowledgement, so I am loathed to do it again. Any suggestions welcome as to how I may pursue this matter. Thanks in advance.

McKneff

You havent over paid, you paid what was due in the bill, which is calculated on the rateable value of the property.

You are wasting everyone's time including your own.

You will now pay what is going to go through your metre, hopefully a lot less.

You could have had a water meter a long time ago. Your choice.

And you have not been ripped off.

You really need to move on and enjoy the savings you are going to make with the meter installed

McKneff

By the way, have you actually got a water meter installed now, because lots of flats are not allowed to have them.

If you cant have one installed, then ask for an assessed charge

Own_My_Own

I no not know where you live, but our water company do a discount for homes with only one occupant.
See if yours does something similar, it could help bring your bills down.

I very much doubt you will get any money back on the meter issue. I have a friend who will not go on a meter as there are 5 of them and she waters her garden everyday in the summer. I don't think than when she has to go on a meter they bill be able to bill her for all the years she didn't have one.

Cardew

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I no not know where you live, but our water company do a discount for homes with only one occupant.
See if yours does something similar, it could help bring your bills down.
.

I think you will find that single person discount is only for assessed charges.

If you are paying charges based on the Rateable Value, you can apply for a meter. Neither metered charges or RV charges give a single person discount as far as I am aware.

However if a meter cannot be fitted(often happens in flats) you will be given the choice of an Assessed charge which is based on the number of bedrooms (or number of occupants with some companies) and the companies will give a lower single occupant rate.

For the OP.

This has come up countless time, and you have been paying the correct bill. Had you read the leaflet that accompanies your water bill it would have mentioned the possibility of getting a meter.

It is also pertinent to point out that you are not being 'ripped off' by the water company. It makes no difference to the company what you are charged, their Revenue(and hence profit) is controlled by the Government appointed Regulator(Ofwat). if you and a thousand others pay less by having a meter, other charges rise to compensate.

Own_My_Own

Cardew wrote: »

I think you will find that single person discount is only for assessed charges.

If you are paying charges based on the Rateable Value, you can apply for a meter. Neither metered charges or RV charges give a single person discount as far as I am aware.

However if a meter cannot be fitted(often happens in flats) you will be given the choice of an Assessed charge which is based on the number of bedrooms (or number of occupants with some companies) and the companies will give a lower single occupant rate.

For the OP.

This has come up countless time, and you have been paying the correct bill. Had you read the leaflet that accompanies your water bill it would have mentioned the possibility of getting a meter.

Sorry just checked. It is for people on meters that use less than 75 cubic meters a years.:o

Every single (non couple) person I know must be on a meter.

deanos

You have not been ripped off, you didn't apply for a meter when you moved in, it really is as simple as that, the only person who has made a mistake is yourself, now man up and take it on the chin and stop trying to blame everyone but yourself.

Sambucus_Nigra

You haven't overpaid your water bill; you've....paid your water bill.

macman

What possible concern is it of your MP, landlord or support worker? Information about the possible benefits of metering has been included with every bill sent out for years now. You are not entitled to a retrospective discount for any period prior to fitment of a meter-the bill goes down (hopefully) once the meter is fitted.
This policy is made quite clear on your supplier's website, so you are not being 'ripped off'. You have chosen to stay on RV billing, and have been correctly billed accordingly.
Going by your theory, how far back would you expect to get a retrospective credit-why only one year?