Over Charged for 8 years

Rascal1980

It was recently discovered that the water meter fitted for my flat 8 years ago was supplying my downstairs neighbours flat as well. He was never on a metered connection. I have therfore been charged for all the water he has used as well as mine. 

We both now have internal meters fitted. I've raised this with ses water twice now telling them I expect reimbursement. This has not been forthcoming. I suggested they refund half the metered water for 8 years.

Whats my legal right here? There's no way to accurately know how much we have each used. Can I ask for interest on top? 

mmmmikey

This may not be the fault of your supplier as the issue is likely to be downstream of the meter so unfortunately I'm not sure that you have any claim against the supplier at all Unless anyone else knows better?

Rascal1980

mmmmikey said:

This may not be the fault of your supplier as the issue is likely to be downstream of the meter so unfortunately I'm not sure that you have any claim against the supplier at all Unless anyone else knows better?

The supplier did not do the due diligence when fitting the meter to check what it supplied. It's not rocket science to figure out where all the 14 supplies are coming from. 

mmmmikey

Rascal1980 said:

mmmmikey said:

This may not be the fault of your supplier as the issue is likely to be downstream of the meter so unfortunately I'm not sure that you have any claim against the supplier at all Unless anyone else knows better?

The supplier did not do the due diligence when fitting the meter to check what it supplied. It's not rocket science to figure out where all the 14 supplies are coming from. 

Sure, it is possible that the supplier bears the responsibility, but that may not be the case so they're likely to just bat the problem back to you until you prove your case. 

For example, if the plumbing in the flats was completed (incorrectly) or changed after the original connection of the supply then the supplier wouldn't necessarily know. 

And although you'd expect the supplier to verify that the meter is supplying your property when the meter was installed, I'm not sure it's so clear that's it's reasonable to expect them to go round knocking on the doors of the other flats just in case it supplies one of them too? I guess it depends on the layout and circumstances of the water meter installation - where do the pipes run, what was there when the meter was installed and so on?

Or you may have some evidence that this is clearly and obviously the suppliers fault to support your claim?

You may have a legal case against the supplier or you may not. I'm really just pointing out that there are a number of "ifs" and "buts", this isn't automatically the supplier's fault and there are counter-arguments they can make. 

So for your claim to be successful you're probably going to have to do more than just prove that your meter was supplying more than one flat.

Bigphil1474

Clearly it is the suppliers fault. If it was the same water company who discovered that your meter was measuring your neighbours water use as well as yours, and who have now ensured you have separate meters, how can they not be responsible for incorrect billing. Either the neighbour has paid unmetered water bills, in which case the excess metered payments need offsetting, and the OP receives a refund, or the neighbour has paid no water bills, in which case the neighbour needs billing and the OP needs a refund. Either way, I would say they do have a duty to refund you, and your suggestion of 50% of water billed is reasonable. Interest might be pushing it, but no harm asking. 

You need to exhaust the water companies complaints procedure, and if you don't get it sorted, contact the Consumer Council for Water