Community Utilities charging excessive fees – is this allowed?

WaterAgencyWarrior

Hi everyone,

I wondered if anyone has come across this situation before or has any advice.

Our water was originally with LEEP Water, and we used to pay them directly. However, the company that owns our building has now put a third-party management company called Community Utilities in the middle. We can no longer pay LEEP Water directly and instead have to pay Community Utilities.

The problem is that Community Utilities are charging really high fees, and our bills have doubled if not tripled purely because they’ve been added as a middleman. We never signed anything or agreed to this, but we’re being forced to use them.

I’ve already spoken to the Consumer Council for Water and Citizens Advice, but both said they can’t help as it’s not directly with the water company. So at the moment, I feel completely stuck as no one seems to want to help.

Has anyone else experienced this, and do you know if it’s actually allowed? Or is there anywhere else I can turn for help?

MyRealNameToo

Is this a domestic setting or commercial? 
If domestic this is presumably a block of flats? 

WaterAgencyWarrior

Yes, it’s domestic. The landlord owns the whole block of over 200 flats