£2451 water bill!!!! please advise

[carmot]

Hi,
Really need some advice please.
I had a water meter fitted in Dec 06 hoping i would save money as i live alone and not present at the property for long periods.

In July '07 a Severn Trent official came to the house to investigate high water consumption and a possible leak. He determined that there was a leak and workmen came a week later to find and repair it. The leak was found in the garage which they patch repaired but subsequent leaks occured upstream and downstream of the repair owing to poor condition of the lead pipe. They advised to have the supply pipe changed which I had to carry out privately. At that point they told me to submit a water leakage allowance form which I did with meter reading following the repair.

Now, I have just recieved a letter saying that the will not put an allowance on the account as the leak was in the garage. I know someone who works for the company and they can't understand this and have also contacted OFWAT for their advice also.

What do people think about this?

Thanks

[carmot]

Any advice would be much appreciated!!!!!

[tiglet]

I would wait for the outcome with OFWAT and would also write them a letter asking for a copy of their procedures following leaks and where it states in these that because it is a garage no refund is due to you.

[lolly371]

i dont know if this is any use, but most water companies provide a trust fund for people struggling to pay utility bills. if you can prove you have a valid reason for the high bill (which in your case would be the leak) they may give you a grant to clear the bill. while being processed, the account will be frozen, which will stop them pursuing any money leaving you free to you look into any other ways of dealing with the problem.

[salinia]

Have you checked your home insurance? some companies cover this type of claim.