Surface water drainage rebate?

M3_Sussex

When I was having some building work done, my builder advised me that my surface water drained to a soakaway. As I have been paying Southern Water to remove this water for the last twenty years, I applied for a rebate (although I think you only get the last year back).
I emailed them and explained the situation and they emailed back saying there was a public sewer running next to my property and that they'd need evidence. I lifted the manhole cover, flushed the toilet to make sure it was the correct one, then put a running hosepipe into the gutter and no water went through the drain. I informed Southern Water of this but they now say they want something like photographic proof of the soakaway. How am I supposed to do that?? I don't know where it is for one thing and even if I did it seems a bit extreme digging it up for a £22 rebate.
Does anyone know how I could convince these people without going to any expense?

alanobrien

Normally they would inspect the local plans and then accept what your saying and apply the discount.
In rare cases they may send someone out to inspect the system before applying the discount.

Sounds to me like they are trying to fob you off.
Ask them to send an inspector around if they are not happy with your opinion, they can then use a dye to check the flow of water from your premises.

M3_Sussex

Thanks. I've emailed them again and asked for them to send an inspector. I'm not too hopeful as surely they'd have offered this if they wanted to help.

alanobrien

M3_Sussex wrote: »

Thanks. I've emailed them again and asked for them to send an inspector. I'm not too hopeful as surely they'd have offered this if they wanted to help.

Exactly - they didnt want to help because they didnt want to give the discount.
Now you have suggested they verify it themselves it will be difficult for them to avoid doing so and hence will have to give you what you are entitled to

Lisa_n

I have informed them today that ours drains this way too - (after a neighbour tipped me off about it)

They have said that I can apply for a rebate for this year only £22

What about the other 12 years we have lived here?

Does anyone know if this is legal - they apparantly knew they were overcharging if neighbours have been claiming for years, and all the houses in my village (street) were built at the same time by the same company so are therefore all the same.

Are they allowed to keep the other years overcharge ?

Anybody legal could help me please ?

andrew-b

Yes it is entirely legal for them to keep previous years overcharged as you never told them before. It's down to you to inform the water company. I read some info on the water regulator's (Ofwat) website about this - im not sure where it was now but you could find the same info i'm sure. Basically the charge is calculated on what it costs the water company per year to pay for that service..so the more people that have soakways and tell the water companies then the less the surface water drainage charge for those that don't.
That most houses in the street have soakaways doesnt mean they all will or indeed always will. For example the previous owner of our house had a soakaway built but for some reason they redirected the rainwater back to the drains when they had new guttering put up.

Andy