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Overpaying water bills for years

Hi, can anyone please help me as I don't think the response I received from United Utilities is correct?🤷‍♂️ I'm currently paying over £60 per month so I recently requested a water meter as my bills would be cut in half.  The engineer came out and said I couldn't have a meter as the supply is shared with my neighbour, UU then got in touch and said because of this going forward, my monthly bill would be £33 per month, I asked about a refund & they sent this reply back :
"Thank you for your contact received on 4 June 2024 regarding payments at address.Unfortunately we wouldn't backdate any other charges before the meter was attempted to be fit. We will just be going forward with a reduced payment amount each month"
I don't think this is fair, I don't want all of it since I've lived in the property 18 years but I would have thought a one off compensatory amount would be fair? 
Any advice would be most welcome! 👍

Comments

  • DE_612183
    DE_612183 Posts: 2,769 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Have you been paying via rateable value?
  • Murfs71
    Murfs71 Posts: 3 Newbie
    First Post
    Thanks for replying DE_612183, just been on to my last bill and they have 3 separate charges : Standing charge: This is a fixed annual charge associated with the costs of providing our services, and is shared amongst all our customers. . Fixed: Based on factors such as the size and location of your home. Assessed charges (other): Your tariff caps your charges based on your property type.
  • DE_612183
    DE_612183 Posts: 2,769 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I'm guessing that you have been on rate-able value up until now, and as they can't fit a meter they have given you an estimated charge of £33 - that's not to say the original £60 was incorrect - it's just you opted for that method.

    You could try a complaint and ombudsman, but I'm not sure you will get anywhere.
  • Murfs71
    Murfs71 Posts: 3 Newbie
    First Post
    Many thanks for your help 👍
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 12,853 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    So has your neighbour also been paying all these years?  If not then perhaps you have been paying for their water as well as your own in which case it's the neighbour you should be talking to about paying you something.
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  • maisie_cat
    maisie_cat Posts: 2,124 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Academoney Grad
    Until you asked for a water meter the RV method of charging was correct.
    The reduced charge is because your property is unsuitable for a meter and because that is not your fault there is a process for a deemed charge based on occupancy rather than RV.

  • wild666
    wild666 Posts: 2,181 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I'm of the opinion that a water meter should be fitted just before the stop tap in any property then the user will only be billed for the water they have used. 
    Someone please tell me what money is
  • saajan_12
    saajan_12 Posts: 4,239 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Murfs71 said:
    Hi, can anyone please help me as I don't think the response I received from United Utilities is correct?🤷‍♂️ I'm currently paying over £60 per month so I recently requested a water meter as my bills would be cut in half.  The engineer came out and said I couldn't have a meter as the supply is shared with my neighbour, UU then got in touch and said because of this going forward, my monthly bill would be £33 per month, I asked about a refund & they sent this reply back :
    "Thank you for your contact received on 4 June 2024 regarding payments at address.Unfortunately we wouldn't backdate any other charges before the meter was attempted to be fit. We will just be going forward with a reduced payment amount each month"
    I don't think this is fair, I don't want all of it since I've lived in the property 18 years but I would have thought a one off compensatory amount would be fair? 
    Any advice would be most welcome! 👍
    Were you paying for both properties, or was that the ratable value for your property only?
    -> If both, then you may have a cause to complain to either the neighbour or the water co. If only yours, then see below..

    If you did get a meter, then the new metered amount would only apply going forward. Before that, you were paying the correct price, just on a different methodology. That would mean ~half bills, and no change for the historical bills. 

    Most people effectively get the best of, since they can choose between meter and rated value. Since you can't get that choice, they're lowering your rated value, but that's just in place of the time you should be paying metered. You should have been paying the rated value until this point, so they are correct there's no retroactive change. 
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