Severn Trent - help please, just got huge bill!

[Sarah_Pussycat]

Hi, I hope someone can help here.... (sorry if it's long - it's a bit of a tricky situation!)

 

I moved into my flat in October 2006 - it's a flat above a shop, which was empty until around September last year. Not long after I moved here I received a letter from Severn Trent requesting a meter reading - and although the letter was addressed to my name, the address was actually that of the shop (the shop is number 2, my flat is number 2a).

 

I called Severn Trent at the time and explained, and they told me they didn't actually have the two registered as seperate properties - and basically both properties are sharing a water supply, with the meter in my bathroom.

 

I went to the letting agents who said they'd sort it - heard nothing more from Severn Trent, so I assumed (maybe stupidly!) that the owner of the shop (who is also my landlord) must be responsible for the water.

 

Until last week - when I received another letter from Severn Trent, addressed to MY name and the shop address again, requesting a meter reading. I got back on the phone to Severn Trent and explained yet AGAIN that I live at no. 2A, not number 2 - number 2 is a hairdressers and has been for about 6 months, and I'm certainly not paying THEIR water bill!

 

Yesterday I received a letter from Severn Trent saying the following....

 

Dear Sarah,

 

Thank you for your telephone call received 26 February 2008.

 

I have amended your account so that you are billed for the Water Service Charges for 2a ***********, *******. This property is billed for clean and used water on our Assessed Volume tariff. These charges are based on the average amount of water used by a sample of metered properties. We have worked out the average annual usage per property type and have therefore based you on our lowest band for a flat.

 

Thank you for keeping us informed, your help allows us to ensure our records are kept up to date.

 

Then TODAY I received a bill for £347.11 - for the period 14/10/2006 - 27/02/2008 - payable by, ummmm.... TOMORROW! Are they having a laugh?!:o

 

Does this amount sound right for water usage in a flat for 16 months? And why did they not update their records the FIRST time I called them, back in 2006? There's no way I can come up with that amount of money by tomorrow! HELP!

[Bookworm]

Well, I just got my water bill for 2008 (Thames Water) and it is £371, so £347 for 16 months doesn't seem excessive, actually.

 

As for the tomorrow deadline, write to them and say that you are prepared to pay X amount per month until it is paid off, and that since you told them back in 2006 about the issue and they did nothing about it, you expect them to be a little more accomodating. Also point out that it is ridiculous to send a bill for 16 months worth of water and realistically expect people to pay in full straight away.

 

You also need to get on to landlord/agent to make sure that your supply is no longer linked to the shop below or you are bound to have problems again in the future, I'd take a bet on that. ;-)

 

Let us know how you get on.

[Sarah_Pussycat]

I'm just off to phone them to see what they say about me paying £20 a month - it doesn't sound a lot, but I'm going to have to pay the current water charges on top of that, and need to eat ASWELL as drink at the same time!

[Bookworm]

Well, at least now you'll have plenty of water to drink!

[Sarah_Pussycat]

Blimey - I just phoned them and they were actually quite helpful! I've agreed a payment plan of £48 per month (I haggled 'em down from £53! ) until the HUGE bill is paid off (that covers the water I'm using in the meantime too) then it should go down to "normal" monthly rates!

 

That's about what I was expecting to pay - and I didn't even have to put up much of a fight!

[Bookworm]

Wey-hey! Result!

 

Now get on to the agent and get that meter issue sorted!

[JonCris]

It would appear to me that your landlord has named you to the utilities as being the new tenant when in actual fact he is still responsible for the water charges.

 

I suggest you contact him at once & ask that he pay the bill until he resolves the matter of the seperate meters Then tell the utility company what you have done.

 

frankly you landlord sounds a bit of a scallywag & I would go & see a solicitor post haste

[Sarah_Pussycat]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I actually think it may have been ME who told Severn Trent I lived here...:o The first bill I got was addressed to "The Occupier" at no. 2, but came through MY door, so I rang them, gave them my details, and said that I live at no. 2a - which is when they told me they didn't have them registered as seperate properties.

 

I'm going to get onto the letting agents and see what they say - they're normally pretty good, but JonCris I think you may be right about the landlord being a bit of a scallywag! I've been waiting for a new boiler for months and all I've had is a succession of plumbers coming out to look at the OLD one! (Despite lots of chasing up from me AND the letting agent!)

[raydetinu]

Get a water meter installed, it is your right, as you are responsible for paying the bill ( landlord cannot refuse ) its free and must be done within a short period of you applying for one. Then you know the bill is just for what use.

I have done this and my water charges went down from £800/year rateable to £175 mearsured.

[JonCris]

It appears to me that your landlord either intented to pay the water charges in total - OR - he had no intention of same - As he must have known that any water used at no 2 would be charged to you he has been nicking YOUR water