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Original poster

Parents not paid their water bill for 25+ years. Are they about to get caught?

92 replies

FreeWatergate · 24/10/2019 08:32

Honestly what they've done is wrong and they probably deserve to get caught, but they aren't in a good place financially and I'm worried it'll cripple them. They've lived in the same house for over 25 years and somehow have never paid for their water. They don't know how, my theory is one of the neighbouring farms is footing the bill unknowingly but I can't say how.

It's always been a concern to me, as kids we were told to never answer the door when water companies were about so we didn't, and nothings ever happened. Except my mums now in a real state as she's had them at her door again this morning, as usual she didn't answer and has now had a letter through that they're installing a meter.

Are they just going to have the meter fitted and start paying? Or are they about to get absolutely fucked for 25 years worth of free water?

OP posts:
FionaOgre · 24/10/2019 10:41

I've paid their share. We were in a rural property with private supply. Found out DM had been paying for water for years. When I questioned it, it was apparently because we were a B&B. A business. I asked what water they were charging for. The woman on the phone Umm'd and aah'd and said "Umm drains?". I asked what drains? They told me drains that took rain water away from our property enabling our customers to be able to even get to us. Turns out we had been paying for..... rain.
We didn't actually have drains (only normal private drainage we had put in fields. They wouldn't refund but I did stop DM paying any more.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 24/10/2019 10:41

Oh bless, the posters on the thread all horrified and angry that the OP's parents won't be getting their 'just desserts'.

We need a 'thigh-rubbing" emoji..

Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/10/2019 10:42

Me and my siblings would feel obligated to help for their dishonesty

Why? You've made it clear they knew exactly what they were doing, so why would you disadvantage your own family to help?

StayInYourLaneBoy · 24/10/2019 10:53

Is that right you can only be charged for 18 months? I cant find it anywhere online, just this from CAB. Only, me and DP are paying £80 a month for bills his ex wife didn't bother to pay when he lived there and was in joint names and these debts stretch back years! We'll be paying off for her not bothering to pay bills for years now

Parents not paid their water bill for 25+ years. Are they about to get caught?
Newbie1981 · 24/10/2019 10:56

Good on them

ExpletiveDEVILighted · 24/10/2019 11:00

They might not have a choice over the meter. We're in a mandatory water meter area, we had no choice but to have one, our bills are much higher than they were on rateable value, its a PITA.

Moondancer73 · 24/10/2019 11:05

Somehow it's one thing people do get away with. I worked for a drainage company that subcontracted to our local water company to do repairs in the sewers and we came across several customers in this situation. Needless to say when neighbours have an issue with broken drains and you want to get access onto their land it's a very tricky situation involving solicitors but they still don't pay and it's illegal to cut off water supplies so that's one thing that won't happen to your parents.

Geneva1995 · 24/10/2019 11:18

I might give this a shot with Christmas coming up and all that... Hmm

dootball · 24/10/2019 11:20

There can be a lot of confusion on farms though. I grew up in a farm cottage and all the water bills were paid by the farm. When there was a leak the water company came to fix it and didn't have a clue where the pipes went or anywthing.

coconuttelegraph · 24/10/2019 11:22

Oh bless, the posters on the thread all horrified and angry that the OP's parents won't be getting their 'just desserts'

Is it all theft that's Ok by you or just theft of water?

Of course people are angry, the OP has clearly said that her parents have knowingly been stealing water for decades. Not realising or thinking you had a private supply would be understandable but deliberate theft imo deserves punishment.

Wtfdoipick · 24/10/2019 11:25

StayInYourLaneBoy yours don't sound like backdated bills just unpaid ones, there is a big difference.

Op check whether your parents are on a private water supply, I am and I don't have to pay anything, however the water company still keeps trying, they'd love to install a meter but it would be between my private spring supply and the house. They really seem to have an issue understanding that some people are completely off the grid where water is concerned.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 24/10/2019 11:25

coconuttelegraph... and if OP's parents were the ones who'd started the thread to boast at their 'coup', I'd be agreeing with you. But they're not, are they? OP is, and is worried out of her wits.

Thank goodness for the first couple of posters who know what they're talking about.

FionaOgre · 24/10/2019 11:27

OP are you sure they're actually on mains water though? It's very possible they're on a private farm supply and the water board are just putting meters in and don't have your parents house registered with them so are trying anyway.

Have your parents ever had the water stop and had to call the water board? (Burst mains etc)

FionaOgre · 24/10/2019 11:30

@Wtfdoipick that's what happened with us when we refused to pay them for water on our private supply. They told us we needed a meter installed. They just couldn't fathom that we had no reason to be paying them for spring water that we maintained with no supply from them.

Tartyflette · 24/10/2019 11:32

My mother didn't pay her water bill for over three years (she was in the early stages of dementia) and I only found out about it when she phoned me in a panic saying she was being taken to court.

She had got spectacularly bad about paying all bills in fact and neglected to open much of her post. I think the court summons came by registered post so she opened it.
I went round to hers to sort it out, phoned the water company and explained, paid the bill over the phone and set up direct debits for that and all her utility bills. I hadn't realised how bad she had got, she was good at hiding it from us. Not at all uncommon, I believe.
The only company who were arseholes about it was BT who kept cutting her off very quickly the moment a payment was missed, like the day after, and charging loads for reconnection even after they were told it was an elderly person with dementia who had genuine need for the phone line. She had been a customer for about 30 years and had always gone round to the post office to pay as soon as she received her bill, until, sadly, she started to forget.
The water company, OTOH, was very understanding.

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 24/10/2019 11:34

@stayinyourlaneboy
*
Consistent with that change, it is proposing retailers can bill customers for a maximum of 24 months, where there is a dispute. In other circumstances, the back billing restriction remains at 16 months. *

Worth checking the outcome of the consultation in 2018 as to whether it increased to 24 months. Either way, it's a lot less than 25 years.

Notodontidae · 24/10/2019 11:36

I get fed up with people speeding that dont get caught, people causing damage that dont get caught, people working and getting JS, cyclist's on the footpaths doing 25mph. This world does not have a level playing field, it is down to authorities to ensure fair play, but because they dont we all suffer. Why does everyone have to put up with speed bumps just because a few ignorant people do not comply with the speed. Why put fences in front of all football crowds to stop a few idiots from throwing things. Water bills are expensive, I think they are unfair in that some people conserve this resource, and others just waste it. These people deserve to be caught, and have to pay back thousands, if that means losing their house, or you losing your inheritance, so beit.

Genevieva · 24/10/2019 11:42

water supply is often more complex than you might think. We pay a regular water bill, but we are not metered because it can't be installed in the house and we don't know where the water comes from. The water company have sent lots of people out. They dug up the road. They did all sorts. I am fairly sure we are now over charged because they have a policy of trying to encourage people to move onto water meters, but it isn't our fault! I also know someone who still has a fresh water supply from a natural spring, but it hasn't stopped the water board from sending them threatening letters.

DontCallMeShitley · 24/10/2019 11:47

Not certain but I think water used to be included in rates bills (before we had council tax). So maybe they believed it was covered in council tax, if they didn't know the difference.

Water rates were charged independently of what we used to call 'The Rates'

We have never been forced to have a water meter, were able to decline However when we actually wanted one because it would be cheaper the company couldn't find the supply to connect it so we never got one.

DowntownAbby · 24/10/2019 11:57

@Genevieva

also know someone who still has a fresh water supply from a natural spring, but it hasn't stopped the water board from sending them threatening letters.

What happens to their sewerage and surface water?

Water bills aren't just for the incoming supply, obviously.

Although, if they're on septic tanks and soak aways then indeed they shouldn't be billed.

Genevieva · 24/10/2019 12:01

@DowntownAbby I think a septic tank and a soak away in the chalk, so I think it pretty much empties as fast as it fills up even in wet weather. They also had someone from the water board try to persuade them that their water might not be as safe as the chlorinated water that would come from the mains supply, but they are happy with it.

StayInYourLaneBoy · 24/10/2019 12:06

StayInYourLaneBoyyours don't sound like backdated bills just unpaid ones, there is a big difference

I thought that was what this thread about...

Thanks Namechangeymcnamechange11 she's really screwed him over with loads of unpaid bills. When he lived there they had bailiffs out and all sorts, now his credit score is practically non existent even though he's never had anything in just his name and he's worked a decent job all his adult life Hmm

Andromeida59 · 24/10/2019 12:19

My "mother" used to do this. She'd run up huge bills and then plead poverty to get the debt written off.

rainingallday · 24/10/2019 12:29

On the fence here.

rainingallday · 24/10/2019 12:29

@FreeWatergate

On the fence here.

As a few posters have said, it's very wrong that they have deliberately avoided paying, and have never said anything. I would never dream of doing that. (A mixture of being fairly honest, and scared of being found out. 😬 )

However! I also think the powers that be/the water board have to carry some of the blame. To let this go unnoticed/undetected for TWENTY FIVE YEARS is farcical.

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