Smartsource Water

molotov1917

Having worked in the water industry I know these sort of companies cannot really save you money. When a water company bills you surface water drainage is automatically included in your standing charges, whether water drains form your property to a public sewer or not. In the Thames Water region, where Smartsource operate, this charge for domestic customers equates to about £50 per year. Most customers are connected, if your aren't then the water company will rebate this charge, backdated by 6 years, for free. What smartsource will do is charge you 50% of your rebate. You will at most save £30, £40 per year, of which half will go to Smartsource. Go to Thames Water direct, they won't charge you for the enquiry, or the rebate if you are due one. I guess that Smartsource didn't make much money, they were never going to, and went bankrupt as a result. My serious advice is never touch these sort of companies with a barge pole. They cannot work, go direct to the main water company for a proper saving, should you be due one.

Cardew

molotov1917 wrote: »

Most customers are connected, if your aren't then the water company will rebate this charge, backdated by 6 years, for free.

Welcome to the forum and I certainly agree with most of your post.

However clarification of the backdating is needed; this has been discussed in several posts.

Until recently the Ofwat guidance was very firmly that Surface Water Drainage rebates would NOT be backdated beyond April of the current charging year(billing period).

It gave sound reasons for this policy and scores of posters on MSE tried to get the rebate backdated and the companies refused.

Recently Ofwat softened their guidance to:

There will be occasions when a company did
know, or might reasonably be expected to have known, that a property or properties were not connected to its sewerage system for surface water drainage. Under such circumstances we would expect the company to apply a rebate with effect from the
date that it knew it was not providing the service.”

More information in this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4417421

If as an ex-employee of Thames water you have further information on their backdating policy it will be interesting, and might well save lots of people some money.

wobbly588

The winding up petition against SmartSource was scheduled this morning in Manchester. That is shown on the London Gazette website if you search for it.

Does anybody know what the outcome was? I'm guessing that they owe that brewery a considerable amount of money that hasn't been passed on to the water company as it costs over £1400 to petition for a winding up order.

Anybody?

AltM

I asked a friend who lives in the area to attend today to find out the outcome. Neither party was represented so the hearing did not proceed. It is fair to assume that the matter was settled prior to the hearing. They owed £58K to a large Manchester based brewery.

There will be a call to the court to confirm outcome tomorrow. I will keep everybody posted

anonbour123

SSW have been put into liquidation as from today. [text deleted by MSE Forum Team]. To be fair, it was a new company who grew to quickly, invested heavily and caused a serious cash flow, became too top heavy and tipped over. [text deleted by MSE Forum Team]

AltM

I can indeed confirm that after a call to the court this morning. SmartSource Water Liquidation Confirmed.

Hundreds of businesses and ordinary people have had water bills unpaid. Some dating back to last year.

The first some customers knew was debt collectors calling.

Directors conduct VERY questionable throughout trading. I will start a website where people can confirm their story so this is properly taken to task

wheezy_chilli

Gonna be loads of unhappy customers and staff if Smartsource go pop.

Can you put the website on the forum?

Social media and review sites need to be informed

Do we know how much money is lost? Directors should be made accountable.......

awayfromthefront

Wobbly588 wrote: »

The winding up petition against SmartSource was scheduled this morning in Manchester. That is shown on the London Gazette website if you search for it.

Does anybody know what the outcome was? I'm guessing that they owe that brewery a considerable amount of money that hasn't been passed on to the water company as it costs over £1400 to petition for a winding up order.

Anybody?

I think I saw £58.000 owing to a Brewery called Lees and Co in Manchester

awayfromthefront

AltM wrote: »

I asked a friend who lives in the area to attend today to find out the outcome. Neither party was represented so the hearing did not proceed. It is fair to assume that the matter was settled prior to the hearing. They owed £58K to a large Manchester based brewery.

There will be a call to the court to confirm outcome tomorrow. I will keep everybody posted

Thanks altm

ubeehappy2

On recommendation from a friend ........Yes initially they do save money and before I moved house 3 years ago very pleased with service.

Horror story now been at new home 2 years, paid DD every month, never had any paperwork, bills, correspondence.

Then received an arrears letter from Yorkshire Water saying last payment May 2013 and account in arrears by nearly £300!!!:(

Smart source never reply to emails, when ring most time don't answer phone and on rare occasions they do promise a Manager call back which never happens.
When question why no paperwork and why arrears they cant get you off the phone quick enough.

I smell a Rat a big RAT in a drain so to speak.

Anyway for the little have saved it it worth the hassle and now in arrears as unreliable and not paid monies.