Are rates negotiable?

The_Slithy_Tove

I have just moved house from a house with a meter to one (in the same water company area) without a meter. I have asked for a meter to be installed, but the whole process is a little slow.

Meanwhile, the water company is expecting me to pay the charge based on rateable value. This makes the water charge about 150% more (i.e. 2.5 times) what I paid on a meter. Frankly, I don't see why I should pay that much
1. They know what my consumption is from my last property, and since it's the same people, my consumption is likely to be the same in the new house.
2. It's the water company who are being tardy in going through the whole rigmarole of installing a meter - why should I pay for their incompetence.

Which lead me to my question - can I negotiate a rate with the water company? I am sure they will stonewall, bluster and say they can't. But they are a private company, after all, and the only regulations they have to follow are the maximum charges the regulator sets. What's more, I have entered into no contract with them regarding charges at the new house - how can they impose it on me with no contract?

What are my chances faced with the faceless, money-grabbing, anonymous entity which is your standard water company?

Cardew

If you have used their water, you have entered into a contract with the firm. Read the Water Privatisation Act(of Parliament)

The company's published schedule of charges is approved by the Regulator.

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/

Do you think any company with millions of customers could set up their computer systems to cope with loads of bespoke bills.

Your chances? I think you know the answer. Besides it is not mandatory to use their water and sewerage - sink a well and install a septic tank!

P.S.
This will be the cue for Samsmoot to post telling you he never pays water charges, and you should do the same.

Mykidsmum

"This will be the cue for Samsmoot to post telling you he never pays water charges, and you should do the same." :rotfl::rotfl:

samsmoot

Cardew wrote: »

P.S.
This will be the cue for Samsmoot to post telling you he never pays water charges, and you should do the same.

Looks like you would have saved me the bother, were that what I was going to do, which I wasn't.

samsmoot

The_Slithy_Tove wrote: »

Which lead me to my question - can I negotiate a rate with the water company?

I recently advised a poster to dispute an £800+ water debt. They did just that and negotiated it down to £360 - so it can be done.

I'm not sure what your water company's responsibilities are regarding the fitting of a meter and the timescale they have to do it in, but if they should have been expected to have done it by now it puts you in a much stronger position. I would investigate this.

You definitely should not pay for their incompetence and I would write and tell them you won't. Tell them you will pay a similar amount to what you were paying before. Tell them you are entitled to a metered supply, and that as it is their fault that you don't have a meter fitted yet you aren't going to pay more for their continual failure to fit a meter (which makes them more money and is therefore to their advantage - which isn't right, is it?).

I always approach problems like this in a manner which will satisfy a County Court judge that I have done everything I could to resolve the dispute. If your water company refuses to lower the charges they will have to claim for it, and therefore you will need a defence, which is that you don't owe what they say is owed. This would depend heavily on whether or not they should have by now fitted a meter. A court would not like them claiming money which they tried to obtain due to their own negligence.

The regulars on here should know more about the water meter fitting, and exactly what the consumer's rights are, so hopefully someone (although mart.vader is about the only one who seems to give any solid, practical advice that actually helps the consumer in debt difficulties) will chip in. If not I'll have to have a look for the appropriate rules myself a bit later.

At the end of the day you have to decide how far you are prepared to take it. If you feel the charges are unfair, and there is a legal basis for disputing them, then you can take it all the way if you have the heart for a battle.

phsci

Not sure what you mean by "a little slow" but OFWAT expects companies to install a meter within 3 months of your request. "If it does not do this, the company should offer to adjust your bill to reflect the charges you would have paid if you had been on a meter."
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/meters/installation/
My local company, United Utilities, says "In the unlikely event that we take longer than three months to fit the water meter, we will normally credit your account with £4 for every full week after we fail to meet our standard."

mart.vader

Thanks phsci for the link.

"If it does not do this, the company should offer to adjust your bill to reflect the charges you would have paid if you had been on a meter."

OP: I can't think of anything other than to quote this to your Water Co. As its OFWAT they should take notice.

yangptangkipperbang

samsmoot wrote: »

I recently advised a poster to dispute an £800+ water debt. They did just that and negotiated it down to £360 - so it can be done.

You are not comparing like with like here. Yes, you can negotiate down a debt, but I think the OP is wishing to pay his bills on time. If you run up a debt you run the risk of CCJs and destroying your credit record - but carry on.......

You seem to be implying that the OP should stop paying - very silly advice !

renegade

Morning all.

I have been with STW on metered water for 2 yrs now.
They made a real hash of my 1st bill and it took ages to sort out( on my side as they were overcharging me).

I have just had my annual reading and the bill, I owe them £24.04, they go on to say that to cover my next years usage they are increasing my DD from £16.00 per month to £21. 18 per month????

I paid the money owing on-line, I then sent them an e mail to the effect that I will not be paying the increased charges and will instruct my bank no to pay any more than I am paying now.

I also stated that I do not pay for things I have not had, either Gas or Lecky , if I owe at the end of the years final bill, I settle it then start with a clean slate, which is exactly what I am doing with them.

They cannot presume to know how much water I am going to use a year ahead, I control my water usage not them.
They say nothing in the letter about increasing the charges , which leads me to think that they will, hence the jump in my DD.?

samsmoot

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

You seem to be implying that the OP should stop paying - very silly advice !

You seem to be inferring something that isn't there - very inadequate post.

samsmoot

renegade wrote: »

Morning all.

I have been with STW on metered water for 2 yrs now.
They made a real hash of my 1st bill and it took ages to sort out( on my side as they were overcharging me).

I have just had my annual reading and the bill, I owe them £24.04, they go on to say that to cover my next years usage they are increasing my DD from £16.00 per month to £21. 18 per month????

I paid the money owing on-line, I then sent them an e mail to the effect that I will not be paying the increased charges and will instruct my bank no to pay any more than I am paying now.

I also stated that I do not pay for things I have not had, either Gas or Lecky , if I owe at the end of the years final bill, I settle it then start with a clean slate, which is exactly what I am doing with them.

They cannot presume to know how much water I am going to use a year ahead, I control my water usage not them.
They say nothing in the letter about increasing the charges , which leads me to think that they will, hence the jump in my DD.?

Hey renegade.

Great attitude there, I must say. It's a nice change to see a few on this board unprepared to be cowed and dictated to by the water companies.

I have always advocated a refusal to pay any advance charges, metered or not. I'd have tested it in court but my water company backed off when challenged.

The remarkable thing is how heated some folk on here get at the very mention of non-instant compliance upon every demand. I sometimes wonder if they're working for the other side.