MSE News: Anglian Water SoLow customer? It's axing the tariff meaning bill hikes

Herbalus

I'm in this area and I didn't know that this tariff existed.

I know this is going to be unpopular on here but for me, having had to pay more for the first quarter of this year than some complainant's annual bill (fixed rate, though I've just had a meter installed), this SoLow tariff strikes me as quite unfair.

If 300,000 people are having their prices increased to be the same as me and the rest of us, I can't say I disagree.

Ken68

There are lots of unfair tariffs, one is "children half price", or single supplement on holidays. My view is if it's offered and legal, take it and if cheaper and you can use it, fill your boots.

iris

We are on the SoLo tariff and have been for the last 14 years (since moving to our present property). We are low users and we like the fact that there is no standing charge on this tariff - why can't they just increase the charge per cubic metre? We really do not like 'standing charges', we prefer to pay for what we use. Sometimes we are out of the country for 3 months, so why do we have to pay these 'standing charges'.


We only pay for water (we have a septic tank), so the Solo tariff was ideal for us.


We have yet to receive a letter advising of the change in tariff.

Katiehound

I haven't had a letter yet either- and the charges change next week! How's that for keeping their customers informed? The first I heard of it was when I saw the headline on this website over the weekend.

I have not had a meter for that long ( a couple of years?) but I too am out of the country quite a lot and when I am home I am very frugal with water. SoLow tariff was a way to reward people who were careful. I would rather pay more for the water used per cu L than a standing charge

soya

Paid my SoLow bill last month but haven't received any letter from AW about the withdraw of this tariff.

robin58

Herbalus wrote: »

I'm in this area and I didn't know that this tariff existed.

I know this is going to be unpopular on here but for me, having had to pay more for the first quarter of this year than some complainant's annual bill (fixed rate, though I've just had a meter installed), this SoLow tariff strikes me as quite unfair.

If 300,000 people are having their prices increased to be the same as me and the rest of us, I can't say I disagree.

I would agree being one those affected. But this smacks of trying to raise money because Anglian could not get there way with Ofwat.

'Well we could just dump the SoLow rate and rake in an extra £26 million a year' was no doubt said in the board room.

I would not mind but when my Essex & Suffolk water bill is going to be a third of the Anglian one, I wish to know what they are going to do with this extra money they raise.

Anglian water do not have a good name in my town right now after the trouble we had with bursting manholes and the floods we had, twice, because of their disregard to keeping the system up to scratch.

Cardew

robin58 wrote: »

'Well we could just dump the SoLow rate and 'rake in' an extra £26 million a year' was no doubt said in the board room.

By 'rake in' it appears you think that the £26 million will be extra income.


If so, you really need to understand how all the Water companies(including Anglian) are financed before making such a statement.


Their revenue, and hence profit, is controlled by the Regulator and raising more revenue above that limit is not an option.


If SoLow costs £26 Million in subsidy(and I have no idea if that is the figure) then that was raised by additional charges( a cross-subsidy) on other Anglian customers.

That is how all the schemes e.g. 'watersure' are funded - a cross-subsidy.

ampersand

Katiehound wrote: »

I haven't had a letter yet either- and the charges change next week! How's that for keeping their customers informed? The first I heard of it was when I saw the headline on this website over the weekend.

I have not had a meter for that long ( a couple of years?) but I too am out of the country quite a lot and when I am home I am very frugal with water. SoLow tariff was a way to reward people who were careful. I would rather pay more for the water used per cu L than a standing charge

#
Katie - you've written as I would have done - and ditto, soya.
Anglian Water do not have a good name in this fenny village either.

[a] 5 years ago, alerted by a useful article in village mag., I spent over 6 months sending photo proof and letters, 4 times[3 times mysteriously 'lost' ] to ensure I was not charged for surface water drainage. I then battled for 11 months to have this backdated and refunded.

Last year, it took over 8 months to have an erroneous default judgment removed from my name: [FONT=&quot]'Dear &,
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Please ignore the email I sent to you yesterday and accept my sincere apologies for the wrong advice I gave you.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It’s been brought to my attention that our debt recovery team had spoken with you about your email of xx and have made the decision to set the judgement aside. I trust you’ve received our letter dated xx confirming this.'[/FONT]


This was barely the start and is inaccurate anyway. There never was, never has been, any 'debt'. I pursued this. They bungled the process 3 times, used some extremely rude and illiterate management bully letters, lied, were found out and officially rebuked, promised goodwill payments[twice] which did not easily come. Finally it was made right, but only with my detailed claim against them, ready for Court.
They paid up and backed down with ill grace.

[c] After one long stay in France, I returned to a bill for £1650, being told it was for 'longstanding work' I'd called someone out for, to repair a swimming pool leak....need I say? No pool here, live alone, often away, v. water conscious. Ludicrous. What really sticks with me is the reaction of the young male who listened to me offering proofs of all denials. Lackadaisical in the extreme - 'Oh well, don't worry. I've cancelled it. Must have been someone else'.

[d] Similar casual back-off when learning they intended trebling my DD to £33. This time ' Oh okay. You can't blame us for trying.' were the words used, with a chuckle.
#
Anglian Water are the pits - and, yet again, I cannot access my a/c online.
Happens every time with this crapulous lot.
Here endeth another Anglian Water Saga.

Hooleywoman

When I spoke to Anglian Water a couple of months ago, they advised us to go onto the Solow tariff because we use so little water. There was no mention it would be a complete waste of time and that my bills would be hiked up come April. I like many others am still waiting for my letter to inform me...

Katiehound

No letter today either.... the post has finally come (hey it was early! before 3pm!).... and still no communication from AW.