Paid too much on unmetered property

Davvex

Hello everyone.

I recently discovered my partner had paid off an £800 water bill debt from our previous property. After looking into why our debt was so large, it turns out that our unmetered bill was £41 a month. Considering it was a small 2 bed flat that was way too high given our consumption. For comparison at our current address, we use £17 a month according to the meter.

I know it's unlikely but is there any chance we can be reimbursed for all or part of the debt we've paid off? We did request to be put on a meter at our previous address but for a reason I can't remember, either Southern Water or the Council said they couldn't.

Thanks

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

As you have surmised you have no grounds for re-imbursement as you paid the correct charges for your property.

If you requested a meter after April 1990 it would have been to the water company. As a meter could not be fitted(often the case with flats) Southern Water would(should!) have offered you the option of electing for an assessed tariff which would have been cheaper than the charges based on a Rateable Value. For 2016/17 the charges for a two bed property are £399 or £422 a year.

https://www.southernwater.co.uk/our-charges

If you can prove that you were not offered the option of an assessed charge, you might have some grounds for compensation.

Davvex

OK thanks for the info. Much appreciated.