£26,575 Water Bill !!!???

DEC99

Good Afternoon

I would like some advice on a recently received bill from Thames Water. I own an independent health & fitness club on the ground floor of a mixed use commercial and residential building. It transpires that since TW installed a meter 'sometime' in 2001, they have not been billing for the supply of water and wastewater removal, any of the previous tenants utilising the unit I now occupy. Under the Limitations Act 1980 they have now estimated my usuage and the original bill was £26,575. A summary of facts are as follows:

- The meter was installed 'sometime' in 2001 - according to TW
- Between 5th February 2001 to 31st December 2005 TW charged a previous occupant on an incorrect meter standing charges only no water usage or waste.
- On 18th June 2003 TW established the meter that they were charging the previous occupant on standing charges only was a dead meter, and established the correct meter that supplied the business unit. However they failed to act on their own information and continued to miss-charge the previous occupant.
- 18th June 2003 the correct meter read 05286
- 9th June 2014 the meter read 23661
- 27th June 2014 the meter read 23765
- Under The Limitations Act 1980 TW claim to be able to recover charges for a period of upto 6 year from 28th June 2008 to 27 the June 2014.
- Following a site meeting TW technicians have seen and agreed that building Specs of Building show that my Unit is fed by the landlords supply although these certainly appear to be inaccurate. I was operating in good faith under the belief that my service charge payments covered my water and waste supplied by my Landlord.
- 7th July 2014 TW calculated ADC to be 5.8m3
- 13th August 2014 TW calculated ADC to be 4.73m3 based on updated readings.


TW have offered to scale the ADC in 2 year steps which would reduce the overall bill to £18,243. But have not offered a discount accounting for their errors on the meter since in 2001 install.

As TW have no accurate reading between June 2003 and June 2008, during which time at least 2 different companies have leased this unit, I cannot see how they can fairly calculate my usage, this is purely a guesstimate. They have asked for my membership numbers and sales information to help calculate usage more accurately. I haven't as yet provided this.

TW also refuse to start issuing bills from 27th June 2014 so that I can stay upto date with current charges. They maintain they are unable until this is resolved.

Help greatly required and advice accepted. Please ask any questions you have.

thankyou
DEC99

Cardew

Contact the Consumer Council for Water - they are very helpful