Water Charges

Artman_2016

I am a single pensioner living alone, I have been paying for water at the rate of £34.87/ month.
I asked for a water meter, but they (the water company) said it could not be fitted.
They said I would be assessed, as a single occupancy and as such am likely to be paying some £24/month in future.
I have been paying £34 odd for the last 3 years. Can I claim back the over payment over the last 3 years, and if so .. how, please can you help.

McKneff

No. ..........
This question has been asked many times before .

McKneff

It's not an overpayment, that was the price when you started. Which you were happy to pay. It was charged on rateable value , that's how much it was.

agrinnall

Have they said why a meter can't be fitted?

DoaM

Because it'll cost money to fit, money that they (probably) can't charge back to the consumer.

(Is my guess).

Bogalot

DoaM wrote: »

Because it'll cost money to fit, money that they (probably) can't charge back to the consumer.

(Is my guess).

A customer has a legal right to a (free) meter unless it is unduly costly or impractical to install one. It's rare that they are refused, normally only old houses where they'd need to make major alterations where they won't do them.

The OP is entitled to the assessed charge (what they are paying now - this is not the same as rateable value) from the time they first asked for a meter. Is this the first time you have asked Artman?

pappa_golf

and they say £2 a week will keep a village in africa supplied with fresh water for a month ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sicard

I would have though it's in the water company's interests to install a meter. Even if the household at the moment is single occupancy in the future anyone who buys the house will automatically be charged at meter rate.