News
Severn Trent Water overcharge a client over £ 14,000 and accept no liability for raising incorrect water bills.
Author: Graham Mann, Water Audit Expert.
Severn Trent Water overcharge a client over £ 14,000 and accept no liability for raising the incorrect water bills.
Water companies really need to enter the real world, for far too long many have enjoyed overcharging business customers on a massive scale and continue to do so without redress, refusing point blank to refund all of the overcharges, many of significant value. During this year our Water Auditors here at H²O Building Services identified and an secured refunds ranging from £ 2,000 to £ 60,000 and in one case over £ 200,000 on single sites which seem incredible.
A recent claim is most worrying, this was for a small builders merchant site in Leamington Spa, the claim was for reduced surface water charges based on site area, potential for reduced charges was identified and a site survey was conducted, a site drainage drawing was produced clearly showing an overcharge as the site was being charged on a Band 12 and we measured the site at a Band 11, a £ 791 a year overcharges.
The water company refused to refund all monies overcharged, in addition the comment in writing was more alarming “I’m afraid the onus is on the customer to apply for a reduction in charges for the surface water”
We guess if the customer does not identify incorrect charges for several years then has a water expert complete an historical detailed water audit and identifies historical billing errors the customer is refunded all of the monies right? Wrong, most if not all cases the water company will not refund all of the monies especially if the customer makes the application, in the case of an expert water consultancy firms like H²O Building Services who keeps records of all cases and where we have secured refunds in excess of 6 years plus we keep these cases for future reference which enables us to claim back much further than most companies will allow. In this case we were offered £ 791 we settled in part on this.
In this instance the claim was deemed a success, however to offer £ 791 and settle on £14,000 is plain wrong, water companies should join the real world and be more transparent and do the right thing in all instances or they will continue to receive bad press.