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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the water company really should have sent me a bill before now, given we've lived here for nearly 18 months?!?

25 replies

PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 17:32

Bastards Angry

I suppose I should have noticed but tbh water is one of those things I just don't notice - I've always paid my bills on monthly DD in the past.

Yesterday I got a letter which says 'Dear Ms Mayor, I am writing about your change of address. We have opened an account for your new property from 1 November 2010. A bill is enclosed. Blah blah blah ... Our bills are due for immediate payment'

New property? Change of address? Could they really not have got their act together before now? Angry

Now I'm supposed to rustle up £750 just like that.

Is it worth my complaining to Ofwat or anything? I think it's really crap that they haven't been in touch with me before now (and I'm going to struggle to find that kind of cash too)

OP posts:
HappyMummyOfOne · 19/02/2012 17:40

Its only worth complaining if you have made contact and chased. Given you havent noticed for 18 months, its a little rich to complain that they havent billed you for 18 months!

Best bet is to ask if they will take a couple of instalments.

Pozzled · 19/02/2012 17:41

Did you contact them when you moved in? If so, then they are at fault, but you should have chased it up before now really. I do sympathize, it's horrible to get a bill like that. Try calling them and see if they can offer you a payment plan.

Original poster
PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 17:41

Why is it 'rich'? It's their responsibility to invoice me isn't it? And their references to my 'new home' are frankly laughable.

OP posts:
Pozzled · 19/02/2012 17:43

It's your responsibility to make the first contact- did you do that?

Original poster
PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 17:44

Yes I did Pozzled. I rang them up and told them my details.

I know I should have asked them about it but it just never crossed my mind. For some reason, I think about gas/leccy/phone but water isn't on that list.

I know it's partly my fault but that doesn't help me magic up £750. And if I don't pay it, I'm just getting further and further into debt :(

OP posts:
mummymccar · 19/02/2012 17:44

When you move into a new home, rented or privately owned, it is your responsibility to notify them of a change of address. How else are they supposed to know who lives there?

mummymccar · 19/02/2012 17:45

X-posts.

In that case, if you notified them then it is their fault for not billing you earlier. I'd contact them again and see if you can get a reduction, a payment plan is the least they can offer you for their mistake.

Pozzled · 19/02/2012 17:49

Well if you let them know, then they should have been chasing you and I reckon you'd have a good argument for being allowed to pay it back gradually... Talk to them and see if they suggest anything.

Original poster
PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 17:51

Yes I will do that Pozzled. Sorry for being snippy - I'm slightly stressed by having a massive unexpected bill

OP posts:
dixiechick1975 · 19/02/2012 17:59

You used to be able to have as long to pay as they have not billed you for.

In 90's we rented a new build flat. We weren't billed - despite me chasing several times. Then got a massive bill. I looked into it at the time and we were legally entitiled to pay it off over time not within 14 days they were demanding.

DressDownFriday · 19/02/2012 18:01

Do you have proof that you made contact with them? If not, then i don't think you have any say in the matter.

How can you not realise you haven't paid for that long?

Original poster
PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 18:05

No, I called them on my mobile.

As to why, I'm a fucking idiot I guess.

OP posts:
MrsSleepy · 19/02/2012 18:20

You can arrange to pay it off on top of your normal monthly DD

Original poster
PattiMayor · 19/02/2012 18:34

Can I MrsSleepy? That would be much easier. I will call them tomorrow

OP posts:
tardisjumper · 19/02/2012 18:41

They are awful. I have had problems when moving into places and the water company taking ages to get in touch. We had our first letter a year after we moved in to say that we needed to renew the direct debit. The last occupiers had forgotten to pay theirs so the bill was paid, but I was shocked it had taken a whole year for them to touch base! Gas,electric, broadband and phone don't do that! We thought that the building fees included water.

Call them up, say you can't pay then they will negotiate paying extra by dd.

Mia4 · 19/02/2012 18:52

That seems really expensive to me even for 18 months, ours is 2-300 a year. Make sure you have all the paperwork and everything is from when you moved in. Not from before. Get all the paper work. Talk to them about doing it via DD, paying a higher amount per month- maybe even go to the CAB for some advice?

YouOldSlag · 19/02/2012 19:38

YANBU. This happened to me. I moved into a flat and the landlord said water wasn't included and he had given the water board my name as the new tenant.

Two years later when I moved out I wrote to the water board and told them I was moving out. They wrote to me and said "here's a bill for two year's water pay it NOW".

I paid in instalments. You may call me stupid for not noticing, or even thinking maybe the landlord WAS actually paying it. What puzzled me most though, is that the water company wouldn't have known I owed them money if I hadn't written them a goodbye letter. I find that really strange and they look a bit kind of "not bothered" about whether they get their money or not. It was almost like a "whoops! we forgot, can we have 550 please?".

Icelollycraving · 19/02/2012 19:41

£750 is an awful lot for 18 months,are you sure that figure is accurate?
If you have no proof you contacted them,them I would recommend being a bit grovelly on the phone to see if you can spread the payments.
Definately don't be snippy with them,catch more flies with honey & all that!

PamPerdbrat · 19/02/2012 19:45

Fuckers at the council did this to us. We moved in, but the property was new and hadn't been banded yet. We kept ringing them and asking for a bill, they gave us one after 6 months Hmm luckily we'd been putting money aside, but how can the same council take people to court for late payments?

larks35 · 19/02/2012 19:59

That's a huge bill for 18months! We pay £230 per year so 18months would be well £345(?), this is for a 3 bed terrace. Defo speak to them about spreading costs but also I would be questioning the bill amount.

FlangelinaBallerina · 19/02/2012 20:08

Who are you with? Some of them have trust funds that you can apply to for help with arrears- United Utilities does.

If not, while I'm not recommending not paying the debt, you won't be cut off for not doing so. Or for doing it slowly. They might try and make you go on a meter if you didn't make any effort to pay at all. And they can apply to take deductions from your benefits, if you don't pay at all. But you could arrange payment in installments. Theyll probably harass you, but it can be done.

thetasigmamum · 19/02/2012 20:21

To all those saying it's a big bill - try living in the South West. :(

carrielou2007 · 19/02/2012 20:26

Well if you are used to paying by direct devbit then why haven't you for the last 18 months? Sorry but y9u either put that money aside or pay a big bill now, have you not bad a shower/bath/washed up/used the washing machine in that time? Thought not Hmm

carrielou2007 · 19/02/2012 20:26

forgot to say and I live in the south west!!

takingiteasy · 19/02/2012 20:33

Jeez is that what people pay for water?!

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