Northumbia Water offer - legit?

Rosa_Damascena

Yesterday I had some mail from Northumbria Water that appeared to be too good to true. The leaflet appeared to be genuinely from Northumbrian Water and came complete with a QR code (which I have not yet scanned).

The company offered to do an assessment of home water usage and install anything required to improve efficiency. All repairs etc would be foc. Thoughts?

I live in Essex.

la531983

Rosa_Damascena said:

Yesterday I had some mail from Northumbria Water that appeared to be too good to true. The leaflet appeared to be genuinely from Northumbrian Water and came complete with a QR code (which I have not yet scanned).

The company offered to do an assessment of home water usage and install anything required to improve efficiency. All repairs etc would be foc. Thoughts?

I live in Essex.

Northumbrian Water trade as "Essex and Suffolk Water" in your area so likely legit as they will be your supplier one assumes. Why not just ring them using the phone number on their website or a bill and ask?

p00hsticks

I'd be a bit sceptical about the 'any repairs free of charge' bit, but the rest of it sounds reasonable, I've had water companies in the past offer things like free 'toilet bricks' to put in your cistern to reduce the amount of water used per flush

Rosa_Damascena

p00hsticks said:

I'd be a bit sceptical about the 'any repairs free of charge' bit, but the rest of it sounds reasonable, I've had water companies in the past offer things like free 'toilet bricks' to put in your cistern to reduce the amount of water used per flush

It was this element that sounded too good to be true - I can see that this could be used as a means of entry / recce for those up to no good.

I did have a quick look at the website before posting and didn't see any sign of this. Using the contact details on the leaflet would not be helpful if its a case of guilty before being proven innocent!

Rodders53

Likely something like this https://nwl.watersavingkit.com/your-free-water-saving-kit/ plus maybe contact https://www.eswater.co.uk/contact direct to ask if it is legit and what exactly it entails?

Maybe they check for dripping taps and overflowing toilets customers are not aware of  - especially if on a priority register with them?

Fannyfart

Hi. I have a small shop which I don’t pay rates on, and don’t have any running water at all ! No toilet nothing! But Northumbria water have charged me £150 per year for the last 14 years! They say it’s because the rain water goes over my shop into their drains! Is this right?? 

Rosa_Damascena

Fannyfart said:

Hi. I have a small shop which I don’t pay rates on, and don’t have any running water at all ! No toilet nothing! But Northumbria water have charged me £150 per year for the last 14 years! They say it’s because the rain water goes over my shop into their drains! Is this right?? 

If the rainwater accumulated around your shop who would you contact re: drainage? I'm guessing that if you are the nearest postcode it probably is. I would have suggested checking with the LA but I can see you don't pay rates and might be wary of your council.

I came back here to update - I hade a call from an 0800 number earlier with the same offer, this time purporting to be Essex & Suffolk water. Seemed genuine but then so are the best scammers - again no verification.