Southern Water headache

[laurafoulds9]

Hello!

I would appreciate any advice.

Just received a Water Bill from Southern Water. This is the first Bill or letter I have ever recieved from them in 18 months I have lived in my flat. It is asking for money from April 2006 (I didn't live there then) up until March 2009 (don't agree with paying in advance in case I move out). It totals £663! EEEK!

It is addressed to 'occupier' and they have no idea who lives at the flat or the one below who have also received a separate bill for exactly the same amounts over the same time. The lady downstairs has only lived there for 6 months so she of course is liable for hardly any of it. Very confusing.

I am convinced that my landlord said that he paid for our heating and water rates, although upon looking through my contract I have realised that it is actually me who is liable . Silly me, I should have realised, but have been very naive as this the the first flat I have ever lived in and been responsible for. This is not the first time he has said one thing and then done another.

I have calculated and removed the amount for which I am not liable for, but I can't help but think that the couple who lived there before me must not have received a bill for 2006/2007 either.

Can't believe that they can just send a bill like that out of the blue without ANY previous correspondence. I am scared to call because then they will know my name.

They have calculated on estimates and it works out about £19 a month over 2 years and then they have added a calculated estimate for the rest of this year into 2009.

What shall I do?????

[old_andrew2007]

Bump

[Conniff]

They will get your name eventually Laura, they will ask the land registry who owns the house and then write to your landlord for the details of who lives there and then bill you. The longer you are puting off getting in touch with them, the larger the bill will be.

Contact them and ask for a bill from the date you moved in until the present day and pay it monthly.

None of us likes paying these type of bills, especially when half of it goes to shareholders for spending money, but don't get yourself into financial difficulty and make it harder for yourself.

[laurafoulds9]

Thanks for replying, have since spoken to my landlord who has said that he does actually pay the water rates on our behalf, and that the water companies try occasionally to get money out of people who don't actually owe anything. Apparently Southern Water recently got fined over 20 million pounds for bad service and such and such and i wonder if they are trying to scrape some money back. I think some people must be scared enough to just pop a cheque in the post believing its a true debt. Im just glad its all sorted now but I hope no one else has the wool pulled over thier eyes.