In anticipation of an issue ahead with Southern Water, I wonder if anyone on NSC has any recent experience or can offer some advice? In fairness to SW they have been very helpful in my two calls to date but something that they have just said makes me feel that I may have an issue ahead!
Yesterday I received my metered bill for the period from 1st December 2018 - 13 June 2019. It shows that our water usage has increased by more than 400% each day, we are now using c400 litres per day as opposed to 280 litres per day for the many years that we have lived in the property to date (14 years). From speaking to SW it sounds like the usage increased to this level at some point in November of last year.
So for 10 months, my usage has increased by 400% per day and the first I hear from SW is a metered bill telling me that I now owe them £994.64 and my monthly payment is going to increase from £34 per month to £110 per month moving forward.
Tests done and we've established (obviously) that the problem is an external leak. They are sending an engineer this time next week! to try and locate the leak. It sounds like the problem will almost certainly be "Supply Side" and as such, even when located, it's down to me to get plumber in and get it fixed. Currently checking home insurance to see if we're covered for this under our policy.
My query relates more to the nearly £1k that they say I owe to them. The lady that I spoke intimated that if the problem is "supply side" and for me to resolve, then this balance will still stand and I'll need to pay them what has been "used"... Is this correct? Any experience on the board?
My main gripe, surely if they have known since November 2018 via my metre that usage has increased by that much, then the onus should be on them to contact me and tell me that I may have a problem that needs resolving. It seems like pure profiteering on their part to leave it 10 months and then just send me a bill and tell me that it will stand. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but forewarned is forearmed.
Yesterday I received my metered bill for the period from 1st December 2018 - 13 June 2019. It shows that our water usage has increased by more than 400% each day, we are now using c400 litres per day as opposed to 280 litres per day for the many years that we have lived in the property to date (14 years). From speaking to SW it sounds like the usage increased to this level at some point in November of last year.
So for 10 months, my usage has increased by 400% per day and the first I hear from SW is a metered bill telling me that I now owe them £994.64 and my monthly payment is going to increase from £34 per month to £110 per month moving forward.
Tests done and we've established (obviously) that the problem is an external leak. They are sending an engineer this time next week! to try and locate the leak. It sounds like the problem will almost certainly be "Supply Side" and as such, even when located, it's down to me to get plumber in and get it fixed. Currently checking home insurance to see if we're covered for this under our policy.
My query relates more to the nearly £1k that they say I owe to them. The lady that I spoke intimated that if the problem is "supply side" and for me to resolve, then this balance will still stand and I'll need to pay them what has been "used"... Is this correct? Any experience on the board?
My main gripe, surely if they have known since November 2018 via my metre that usage has increased by that much, then the onus should be on them to contact me and tell me that I may have a problem that needs resolving. It seems like pure profiteering on their part to leave it 10 months and then just send me a bill and tell me that it will stand. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but forewarned is forearmed.
