Had a bill after supplier said we're not liable

JustAnotherSaver

Got in touch with our water supplier to set up payment & was told we're not liable - get in touch when we move in.


http://s151.photobucket.com/user/Kev_83/media/water_zps9a1024fb.jpg.html

Today i get a bill through from the supplier. The bill date is 14-11-13 & the date it appears to be billing is 10/11/13 - 31/03/14.

"Your charges this year are £137.50".

This is all new to me, so it's probably going to be right, but it doesn't make sense to me - the supplier told me we're not liable. Get in touch when we move in.

My mother also isn't on a meter, she's under the same supplier & she doesn't pay anywhere near as much as what they're quoting me & there's 5 people in the house now.

Just hoping someone can make this a bit clearer. If you need more info i could scan the letter i got from them if it'd help.


EDIT: Since photobucket is being crap & making the image tiny ...


http://i39.tinypic.com/dpzbba.jpg


Ugh, i don't know what's going on with the images. They were very readable when i uploaded them.

fiesta04

First thing is you are liable for Water, Gas and Electricity from the date you took ownership of YOUR HOME ( sorry for shouting). I assume you did give readings.

Are you not on a meter for the water? Not sure from the Bill.

I know I did block you in one of your previous lives on here, but I am trying to help.

F4

JustAnotherSaver

Yeah i got in touch with British Gas & gave them readings for gas & electric. They sent out account info at the weekend & i created an online account. I checked the readings & they match what i gave them so that is fine.

The water at the address is not on a meter. This is what our solicitor told us as well as the supplier on the live chat. It was only through people on MSE i thought we 'must' have a meter (no offense meant to anyone), but it turns out we don't.

So i wonder why this worker then has told me via the live chat that we're not liable & just tell them when we move in & they'll bill from then?

I don't know how to make it (the image) big, but hopefully someone can work it. No idea why it's made it tiny.

£140 for 4 months sounds dear to me though.

JustAnotherSaver

How long do you generally get to pay these things off?

The bill says "please pay straight away". Now, i'm sure they wont come to kill me if i don't pay today or indeed tomorrow, but equally if i don't pay in 2013 i don't expect them to be happy.

The reason i ask is because i'm going to write to them & send them a copy of the conversation i had with one of their employees & ask what is going on. Why i've been told one thing & then a bill comes through telling me the opposite.

I'd like to think that because i'm enquiring, it'll be ok to not pay, until i get an answer.

fiesta04

As you are not on a meter, the Annual charge is what it is, so in your case just over a 1/3 of the annual charge. Ask them if monthly DD is possible, it may not be.

Is this for supply of water and sewerage? If it is, £400pa for 2 people does not seem too bad

fiesta04

Although saying that I pay £14 pm for just me on a meter. What you need to consider is if you have children you will think it a bonus not having a meter.

F4

samsmoot

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

How long do you generally get to pay these things off?

The bill says "please pay straight away". Now, i'm sure they wont come to kill me if i don't pay today or indeed tomorrow, but equally if i don't pay in 2013 i don't expect them to be happy.

The reason i ask is because i'm going to write to them & send them a copy of the conversation i had with one of their employees & ask what is going on. Why i've been told one thing & then a bill comes through telling me the opposite.

I'd like to think that because i'm enquiring, it'll be ok to not pay, until i get an answer.

I'd think that would be OK too. In your letter you should offer whatever regular payments you can afford to clear the arrears and assume they won't take action whilst it's under negotiation. They won't starve if they have to wait a year or so for it all to be paid off.

Cardew

When not on a meter, your charges are based on the Rateable Value of the property.

The bill is payable in advance. So the full amount for 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 is payable on 01 April 2013. However it is normal practice to allow two payments on 01 April and 01 October; or you can set up a payment to pay monthly by Direct Debit.

In your case you are liable to pay the bill(pro rata) from the date you move in to 31 March 2014.

Without a meter it doesn't matter if only 1 person is in residence or 20 people.

glassy2010

the house we have just left didnt have a water meter and we payed £38 per month for our 3 bedroom house in north east england

samsmoot

Cardew wrote: »

The bill is payable in advance. So the full amount for 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 is payable on 01 April 2013.

No, it's not. You pay for what you use, not for a service you haven't yet had the benefit of. Cardew and me have had this out before and I have still yet to be shown evidence that any court order has ever been made over non-payment of advance charges after submission of a relevant defence.


If the law required payment for a year in advance the DWP would also be required to make deductions from benefit for current usage a year in advance, which they aren't. Water companies must accept weekly payments because their ability to make charges according to a charges scheme doesn't give them any right to get advance payment from benefit claimants. Therefore there is obviously no absolute right to obtain advance payments.


Water companies are also required to arrange a payment plan before deductions can be made from benefit - and another if you fail with that. If on benefit deductions can be made in order to prevent court proceedings - but you can't pay weekly or monthly if you are low-waged? I think you can and should.


A contract may have been formed when you used your water supply but unless you agreed to paying advance charges there's no legal basis for a judge to find you owe money for them. OFWAT's approval of a Charges Scheme has no force under contract law, though the ability to charge does.

Cardew

OP,

I suggest you contact the Consumer Council for water for their advice.

Samsmoot has had a problem with a water company and spends his time on this board trying to get people not to pay their valid bills on any pretext.

If you want to get a bad credit record and possibly court action against you, then follow his advice.