Water Bills - Are they legal?!?

randomnut

Hey,
So the other day someone from Southern Water knocked the door and asked how long i'd occupied my flat for. Apparently there were quite a few properties in the area not on their books so they were going around catching up with everyone.

I've received a bill dating back to Sept 06 for just shy of a grand! Surely it's not legal to just come and spring a bill on someone for that amount of time, at least it's not with the gas/electric companies, they can only bill for a year?

I can't believe this had been overlooked, as much my fault as it is theirs. I had been paying the incoming waterbill everytime they sent a bill but this one was for wastewater which had been completely forgotten about.

When I phoned them the guy was very sympathetic as it was a brand new account and not like i'm just a non-paying customer, but it still came down to they want the full amount or it will be 'pursued'. Just as i'm starting to make some headway on my debt as well!

As a consumer do we have a leg to stand on in a situation like this?

mute_posting

Water "debts" can be claimed for upto 6 years IIRC, so yes, as long as you have lived at the property, you are liable to pay any water charges AFAIK

You may have a good case for a "goodwill" gesture on their part dur to their error - but i wouldn't count on it.

MP

Cardew

Above post is correct. No 12 month get out clause like gas and electricity. In any case that wouldn't apply as you have had bills; albeit incorrect bills.

However nearly £1,000 for just sewerage for 20 months????

Presumably you are metered?

You must have used a lot of water? or if not metered you must have a very high Rateable Value.

Not unknown for one flat to be charged for the whole block - including for water.

Could you post some figures from your bill - both sewerage and water - and how many people in your flat.

randomnut

OK I just got off the phone with them, and the only reduction I could get was them putting the actual date I moved in (30th sept) instead of charging from the 1st (wish I hadn't been so bloody honest now and said I moved in sept 07 instead!). So in total I owe now 758.64, of which per year the cost is 310.05 . This is only a small 2 bedroom flat, so that seems quite extortionate!

I'm not on a meter but am seriously considering it as it sounds like it would save cash. Just got to try and get some kind of written permission out of the landlord for it to be installed.

Cardew

randomnut wrote: »

OK I just got off the phone with them, and the only reduction I could get was them putting the actual date I moved in (30th sept) instead of charging from the 1st (wish I hadn't been so bloody honest now and said I moved in sept 07 instead!). So in total I owe now 758.64, of which per year the cost is 310.05 . This is only a small 2 bedroom flat, so that seems quite extortionate!

I'm not on a meter but am seriously considering it as it sounds like it would save cash. Just got to try and get some kind of written permission out of the landlord for it to be installed.

I am getting more confused!

From 30th September 2006 until today is less than 20 months.

So how does £310.05 a year for 1 year 8 months come to to £758.64?

For a small 2 bed flat, £310 for sewerage is still very high. What is the Rateable value on your bill?

Are you in a converted flat? (converted from a house) Could you be paying for other flats?

lindens

I think its from sept 06 to 31 march 09, dont the water bills run over the same periods as the council tax when you aren't on a meter? ie april one year to march the next?

randomnut

Sorry yes that amount covers up to April 09. The rateable amount says it is £266, is this high? I do believe these are converted flats.

lindens

That sounds about average, but you are a smaller than average household so appears high for you. I think you need to take it on the chin and pay, maybe over installments which i am sure they will accept, and go onto a water meter asap (if in fact you can as conversions are sometimes hard to meter)

deanos

I can understand your fustration as you were getting a bill, most people just pay and dont check them.

They cant check very regually in Southern Water , we do them every week

boxrick

my water bills are around 17 a month unmetered... thats for everything.... seems an aweful lot for drainage water.... O_O

randomnut

deanos wrote: »

I can understand your fustration as you were getting a bill

It's not the getting the bill that was the problem, as I pay the other water bill on time every time etc. It's just the fact this was overlooked on both our parts and they're allowed to sting us with such a high back dated bill

I don't debate that I do owe them this money it's just very frustrating that this has undone a lot of good work this year clearing off debt. Here comes an overdraft extention :mad: