Thames Water bills up

[Guest]

Got my new bill today and noticed that the price seems to have gone up by nearly 8% year on year. Several things in the envelope with it telling me to give money to charity, save water, buy other services etc, but nothing explaining a hike that appears to be more than twice the level of inflation.

I appreciate that services have to be paid for but wondered if anyone can tell exactly what the business case is for this since Thames Water doesn't seem to feel the need to communicate that to its customers?

Thanks.

[BeksLP]

I wouldn't expect an explanation or even a reason - I moved into a new flat 6 months ago. Thames Water came round to rad the meter only to discover that there isn't a meter. Since then they have sent 4 more people round to read a non-existant meter, have failed to turn up on at least two occasions when an engineer was supposed to be coming round to fit a meter, eventually sent an engineer round who confirmed that I didn't have a meter and they need to do preparatory works, have then had more calls asking for a meter reading but none to try to arrange to fit a meter. Then today, someone came round asking if I had just moved in as they had no record of anyone living at the property, hadn't had any contact with anyone at the property and didn't have any details for the address.

I would think it was funny if it wasn't for the likelihood of getting a huge bill when they eventually do sort themselves out.

Perhaps they could bring bills down if they actually got round to charging people properly.

Rant over, for now...

[Guest]

My sympathies. I wonder if they have any idea how stressful that can be for the customer on the receiving end.

My own annoyance was because, in a climate of economic hardship for many (blah blah...) and when other utility companies are finally being brought under pressure to communicate and charge in a fair and transparent way, it seemed bloody tactless of them, frankly.

Still regionally a monopoly I suppose. Maybe that's why the customer service feels like dealing with BT 20 years ago.

[Dodo1]

Call them. I did and they lowered mine.

[i*Rate]

We had a water meter fitted last summer and they told us, after we got our first bill, that there must be a leak because our bills were high.

Nine months later and we have had two lots of engineers call, messages telling us that leak would be repaired by Jan, then message telling us that we did'nt have one; told that bill will be put on hold then money being taken by direct debit anyway.

Absolute chaos - hoping to get meter removed in June and back to normality! Will certainly check new water rates, thanks for the warning Ms B.

[ianr]

>- hoping to get meter removed in June and back to normality!

I've just been ploughing through their website and detailed charging leaflets. I think I read that you can switch from metered reading, but that they leave the meter in place and revert to metered charging if there's a new occupier.

I'm wondering whether they will be able to install a meter for my flat, one of two in a converted house. The incoming pipe only divides under the small entrance hall, so any meter would presumably have to go there, at floor level, which might be an inconvenience for both flat owners, or else perhaps somewhere (I've no idea where) in my (upper) flat. Has anyone any related experience? TBH, it would be fine if they couldn't, as I could then go on the Assessed Household Charge rate, which would still be substantially cheaper than my current standard rate.

[first mate]

Thsmes Water is part owned by Kemble Holdings and the Chinese! It seems to have an incredibly complex financial and investment structure so I wouldn't be surprised if left hands do not know what right hands are doing. Do the inevstors care that much about the quality of service? Obviously they care about profit, but as seems to be the case thus far, making a profit does not have to be justified by the quality of service- they charge you anyway.

[Huguenot]

Not the Chinese! Surely not the Chinese!

[Salsaboy]

Could be worse. It could be the French.

[Loz]

Then Thames Water price increases would be a case of "eau dear".

(I'll get me coat.)

[PeckhamRose]

Ours is Ten Pounds less than last year. Should I complain?