Southern Water - new saving scheme

angryoldgit

Hi folks, looks like Southern Water have hit on a new savings scheme - for themselves & shareholders -
I have just received our latest bill from Southern Water only to be told my direct debit payment is to rise from £32 per month to £64 per month. No explanation has been given. No hint of rise in charges etc.
(We are currently in credit to the sum of £14)
Do they have a crystal ball and know we are going to use twice as much water this year?
I can only assume Southern Water need the extra money so they can invest it.
If I wanted to invest in Southern Water I would buy shares!
Has anyone else been hit by this?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly you need to understand the way all water companies are funded.

The Regulator(Ofwat) strictly controls the revenue any water company can raise; and hence the profit they make.

As a monopoly provider the water companies would have no hesitation in massively increasing charges, and hence their profits, if they were allowed to get away with the increases. However the Water Privatisation Act simply does not allow that practice.

Any increase/decrease in their revenue will be compensated for by a decrease/increase in other charges.

So your increase in DD is not a way of increasing profits.

Turning to your increased DD. If your up to date bill shows a £14 credit balance based on current(and correct i.e not estimated) meter readings, then it is clearly a mistake.

angryoldgit

Some mistake! If Southern Water were to pull this stunt on every household in their area and if only a fraction of the households did not spot the error I'm sure Southern Water would accrue a tidy interest from the monies received. Sure they would refund the overpayments, but not the interest.
p.s. Southern Water are not the only utility co to try this on my gas/electric supplier has tried it on too but not by 100%

Cardew

Do you not understand that their revenue is controlled by the Regulator? - and that includes interest.

Also you think the Regulator would allow them to get away with the sharp practice for all consumers.

Have you asked them the reason why your DD has doubled?

If you don't get a satisfactory explanation, contact the Consumer Council for Water who look after the interests of consumers.
http://www.ccwater.org.uk/


Why don't you establish some facts before making statements like ' If Southern Water were to pull this stunt on every household in their area'

matelodave

Can we assume that these calculations are made on actual water meter readings and not estimates.

samsmoot

angryoldgit wrote: »

Some mistake! If Southern Water were to pull this stunt on every household in their area and if only a fraction of the households did not spot the error I'm sure Southern Water would accrue a tidy interest from the monies received. Sure they would refund the overpayments, but not the interest.
p.s. Southern Water are not the only utility co to try this on my gas/electric supplier has tried it on too but not by 100%

Funny how water company errors always favour themselves rather than the consumer. And also odd that their capped profits aren't enough to make them stop obtaining money by deception, fraud and overcharging. If it's not for profit I guess it must be for fun.

Cardew

New readers should read back on Samsmoot's posts - he conducts a vendetta against all water companies because he was apparently 'wronged' in the past.


Nothing objective, nothing logical - just pathetic whining.

sax11

My water readings have given me for usage 17th sept to 17th jan of £30.90.

They were going to take that amount each month so a quick call to them got it down to £10 a month.

Give them a call with a proper meter reading

samsmoot

Cardew wrote: »

New readers should read back on Samsmoot's posts - he conducts a vendetta against all water companies because he was apparently 'wronged' in the past.


Nothing objective, nothing logical - just pathetic whining.

So you accuse me of pathetic whining in the same sentence that accuses me of not being objective whilst encouraging new readers to read these pathetic, whining, subjective and illogical posts. Well done for giving us all a perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black.


If people do take notice of your advertising of my posts they may also see how you put words in people's mouths and blatantly lie about what they have said rather than quoting what was actually said and then having a rational discussion about the issue.

samsmoot

Cardew and the water boards sitting in a tree...