Being chased for an old water bill

Exodi

EssexHebridean wrote: »

It might also be worth making a request to the water company for a copy of the agreement with them which they are saying you are liable as a result of.

Hahaha, if only it worked like that. Water companies generally have to keep the supply on no matter what (I think it's something to do with water being considered a basic human need). It would lead to a rather comical situation otherwise in which it would be purely at the consumers whim if they fancy paying for the water they use or not.

WhenIam64

@EssexHebridean

It's an easy mistake to make with deemed contracts. Gas/Elec can be cut off and a meter installed when a warrant is applied for, but not water. Though I have head of one water utility dropping the pressure to the bare minimum.

Water companies that I know of just pass the debt to a DCA who then instruct solicitors. It appears to be some form of beneficial assignment in that the water company do not interfere with the process once it is off their books.

@jonny2bad

You should follow Exodi's advice and get the facts on the matter first. If you are being hounded by calls, I expect this is a DCA and not the water company.

EssexHebridean

sourcrates wrote: »

You don’t have an agreement for supply of water, you are obliged to use the company that serves the area you live in, you have no choice there unfortunately.

I realise this - however it might be interesting to find out who the bills were being addressed to in the first instance though - and the water company should be able to reveal that. (Agreement was the wrong word - I just couldn't think of how better to phrase it!) It could be that the LL knows full well that he was liable but has decided to pass on the financial burden.

Some years ago I suddenly spotted from my bank statements that we were being billed for water for a totally random address - and apparently had made a Direct debit with the particular water company for this supply. A request to them for the DD details revealed that there WAS no such DD and I subsequently got compensation from the bank for paying this out in error!

WhenIam64

Some years ago I suddenly spotted from my bank statements that we were being billed for water for a totally random address - and apparently had made a Direct debit with the particular water company for this supply. A request to them for the DD details revealed that there WAS no such DD and I subsequently got compensation from the bank for paying this out in error!

You certainly have a point. Water billing is shocking - mainly due to consumer side c**k ups. Cowboy plumbers running all sorts of pipes from the utility's meter and hoping that the utility will sort out who should pay for what. Have seen bills where 1 flat pays for the other 3.

fatbelly

Water companies can be a bit ccj-happy, though some are worse than others. It is probably best to engage - a prove-it to the debt collector would be a first step.

At the end of the complaint process there is an ombudsman. But £500 for a year's water sounds like the right ball park.

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/investigations/how-we-investigate/complaints-disputes-can-help/