Water firms in U-turn over letters that use ‘scare tactics’ - MSE News

MSE_Luke

Water firms have been forced to review their communications and in one case even cancel a mass mail-out after a backlash from angry customers, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal...

Read the full story:
'Water firms in U-turn over letters that use ‘scare tactics’'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

Takmon

I think the letter is clearly a sales letter trying to sell the insurance. Obviously getting sales letters is annoying but if anyone finds that letter confusing then they should be looking to get someone to help them with their finances.

Yorkshire_Pud

Water firms 'used to' do the first water supply pipe repair free within a customers boundary.

Then they stopped.

At the same time they started flogging Homeserve accidental pipe damage policies which they receive commission on.

What a coincidence?!

Where's the ombudsman when they are needed.

Fact is most (but do check your own Policy!) home buildings insurance covers damage to supply pipes within the boundary of the policy holder but Homeserve like to pretend only they can provide this service in an insurance product.

Usual only exclusion is if the pipe is worn out which can only be decided when the hole has been dug. More likely tree roots, soil compaction damage, stone damage which are usually insured risks under the buildings policy assuming its been taken out.

Its a bit of a scandal how long this saga has been going on and in cahoots with the profit driven screw the customer ethos of the water companies.

So to repeat where's the ombudsman on this?:mad:

Caddyman

I used to get similar letters from my own water provider until I started popping them back in the post with return to sender written on the front. If you do that, I believe they have to pay Royal Mail for the return postage. I don't get this type of dross marketing from them anymore.

fatbelly

South West Water send these out regularly. I don't even bother opening them any more. As soon as I see 'homeserve' it goes in the bin

Andy_L

Caddyman wrote: »

I used to get similar letters from my own water provider until I started popping them back in the post with return to sender written on the front. If you do that, I believe they have to pay Royal Mail for the return postage. I don't get this type of dross marketing from them anymore.

AIUI they don't directly pay for return postage. Royal mail assume there will be X percent returned to sender and build the cost of that into the price they charge for their bulk mailing service

50Twuncle

Yorkshire_Pud wrote: »

Water firms 'used to' do the first water supply pipe repair free within a customers boundary.

Then they stopped.

Wessex Water still do - at least their latest newsletter says that they do - in most circumstances !