Water company compensation query

davidhenson441

Hello from first-time poster,

Yesterday morning I noticed our downstairs toilet bowl would not empty when flushed. Further, upon leaving for work, I saw that brown-ish liquid was trickling out of the drain-cover on our driveway. My wife phoned me at work a couple of hours later to say it was getting much worse (our family ‘business’ really flowing from the drain cover now) and smelling very bad so she called a plumber. £240 later he told her that the problem was a blockage in the road, for which Southern Water are responsible.

Southern Water are apparently coming today to look at it. If the blockage is indeed their pipes/their issue, do I have any chance of getting compensation for the £240 I paid the plumber to tell me this?

Many thanks for any help,

Dave

peter_the_piper

Why did you not phone the water board first? I doubt any compensation is due or likely to be paid.

Aylesbury_Duck

davidhenson441 wrote: »

Hello from first-time poster,

Yesterday morning I noticed our downstairs toilet bowl would not empty when flushed. Further, upon leaving for work, I saw that brown-ish liquid was trickling out of the drain-cover on our driveway. My wife phoned me at work a couple of hours later to say it was getting much worse (our family ‘business’ really flowing from the drain cover now) and smelling very bad so she called a plumber. £240 later he told her that the problem was a blockage in the road, for which Southern Water are responsible.

Southern Water are apparently coming today to look at it. If the blockage is indeed their pipes/their issue, do I have any chance of getting compensation for the £240 I paid the plumber to tell me this?

Many thanks for any help,

Dave

I wouldn't have thought so, unless they're feeling generous for some reason. You can ask, but I can't see how they can be held responsible for costs you elected to incur before contacting them.

[Deleted User]

davidhenson441 wrote: »

Hello from first-time poster,

Yesterday morning I noticed our downstairs toilet bowl would not empty when flushed. Further, upon leaving for work, I saw that brown-ish liquid was trickling out of the drain-cover on our driveway. My wife phoned me at work a couple of hours later to say it was getting much worse (our family ‘business’ really flowing from the drain cover now) and smelling very bad so she called a plumber. £240 later he told her that the problem was a blockage in the road, for which Southern Water are responsible.

Southern Water are apparently coming today to look at it. If the blockage is indeed their pipes/their issue, do I have any chance of getting compensation for the £240 I paid the plumber to tell me this?

Many thanks for any help,

Dave

Absolutely not. Was the fact that the drain on your driveway was blocked not clue enough for you that it must be from the driveway out somewhere further along?

davidmcn

Why on earth did the plumber cost £240? The water company aren't going to indemnify you against being ripped off.

peter_the_piper

Why do people, these days, want compensation for every little thing?

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

davidhenson441 wrote: »

Hello from first-time poster,

Yesterday morning I noticed our downstairs toilet bowl would not empty when flushed. Further, upon leaving for work, I saw that brown-ish liquid was trickling out of the drain-cover on our driveway. My wife phoned me at work a couple of hours later to say it was getting much worse (our family ‘business’ really flowing from the drain cover now) and smelling very bad so she called a plumber. £240 later he told her that the problem was a blockage in the road, for which Southern Water are responsible.

Southern Water are apparently coming today to look at it. If the blockage is indeed their pipes/their issue, do I have any chance of getting compensation for the £240 I paid the plumber to tell me this?

Many thanks for any help,

Dave

No. You employed the plumber, it was your call.

Aylesbury_Duck

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Why do people, these days, want compensation for every little thing?

I think that's a little unfair in this case. Although OP used the word, I don't think he meant compensation in the usual sense, more a refund or partial refund of an unnecessary plumbing visit.

I don't think anything is due, mind, and I also think that a plumber charging £240 for seemingly doing almost nothing is outrageous.

unholyangel

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

I think that's a little unfair in this case. Although OP used the word, I don't think he meant compensation in the usual sense, more a refund or partial refund of an unnecessary plumbing visit.

I don't think anything is due, mind, and I also think that a plumber charging £240 for seemingly doing almost nothing is outrageous.

A friend of mine owns an ex-council flat and has had the local council trying to charge them:

1) £50 for changing 1 light bulb (that can be purchased privately for as little as £3.40, including delivery)
2) £60 for unblocking their own tenants drain after their plastic loo freshener got flushed down and blocked it.

Both of those were supposedly a 1/8th share. They got both invoices cancelled after pointing out the deeds do not give them the right to recover those sums.

But is it any wonder they don't have any money for essential services, if they're paying someone £400 for 30 mins work (including travelling time) and £480 for half an hour & sticking a rod down a drain?

mattyprice4004

My laptop charger broke, I paid a computer shop £5000 for them to tell me it was broken - are HP liable for this fee?

Come off it. You chose to employ a plumber, you pay the fee. Not the water board's fault, and I certainly don't want my rates rising because of stupidity like this!

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

OP it states on Southerns website that they will come out to look at a blocked drain and if it's the first time they won't charge you even if the problem was within the bit your are responsible for which does seem very fair.

Water companies are regulated and will have a complaint procedure so you have the opportunity to ask the question and maybe would receive goodwill but as they have their policy above and it's unlikely you could prove negligence on Southerns part I don't think you could argue you have a right to be refunded