[matty72]

Southern water say they have stopped my 'return to sewer allowance' i have just spent an hour on the phone to the manager of escalations department, he said since september there is a new policy which he read to me, it says southern water is stopping all allowances to window cleaners because they cant be sure where and how much waste water is being used, i explained you can not charge a service we do not recieve, round and round in circles we went, he said no you cant have it, you can write to head office to complain if you like. What should i do now.

[Johnny B]

Read your penultimate sentence. 

John

[matty72]

ok i have and your saying what mate

[Stephen.C]

Started getting big issues with them now you must stand your ground and insist you can not be charged for water you take with you to work that is not retuned to sewer  You must have a sub meter fitted mate.  Then tell them you will involve the ombudsman.

[matty72]

i will fit one mate and told him so but he said wont make any difference, you cant have the rebate, so im thinking do i go to ofwat next, so annoying cant trust them

[Perfect Windows]

i will fit one mate and told him so but he said wont make any difference, you cant have the rebate, so im thinking do i go to ofwat next, so annoying cant trust them

You have to write to them and state that you have a meter fitted and that you can prove your readings to them.

Then, if they reply saying that isn't satisfactory, you have to contact the Consumer Council for Water: http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

You must have tried to deal with Southern Water before the CCW will take on your complaint.

Vin

[matty72]

Okay vin thanks for that will go down that path and see what happens cheers

[Perfect Windows]

i will fit one mate and told him so but he said wont make any difference, you cant have the rebate, so im thinking do i go to ofwat next, so annoying cant trust them

The challenge you face is that if you fit a water meter now, there is no proof (or even suggestion of proof) of the amount you're claiming.  You will, however, be covered for the future.

Until then, I suggest that your letter to them states very clearly that you followed their procedure in applying for non return to sewer allowances and for them to make a blanket "no window cleaners" dismissal is unreasonable as they are obliged to take notice of your individual circumstances.  Be clear that you have been running "X" cubic meters onto your garden, so it is unreasonable for them not to give you a rebate.

Vin

[Stephen.C]

I must say you will get a allowance but you must have a sub meter fitted first. My issues are once  I have submitted my reading they just sit on the bill, it takes about 5 phone calls to sort.

[matty72]

Ive spoken to a manager, he says you can only now go to head office in writing, he said southern water give a 7% discount already to all customers for sewerage, window cleaners no longer can have any extra, so i will do what vin says and write to the ccw and see what happens

[PoleKing]

You almost definitely won't get any more reduction on what you've used.
That's wasting time and energy fighting I think mate.
Fitting the sub meter for future water use is where you should spend your time.

Keep us posted...

[matty72]

will do cheers for suggestions guys

[Perfect Windows]

You almost definitely won't get any more reduction on what you've used.
That's wasting time and energy fighting I think mate.
Fitting the sub meter for future water use is where you should spend your time.

Keep us posted...

You have the cost of two stamps (one to SW, one to the CCW) and a few minutes writing two brief letters stating facts in them as your stake.

You have £2 odd per cubic meter for all the water that didn't go down the sewer as your potential payoff.

Write to them.  Their return to sewer form says that you'll get the rebate from the date they receive the form, so don't back down.  You may well not win but the effort you need to expend is so minimal that it would be barmy to give up now.

Vin

[PoleKing]

You almost definitely won't get any more reduction on what you've used.
That's wasting time and energy fighting I think mate.
Fitting the sub meter for future water use is where you should spend your time.

Keep us posted...

You have the cost of two stamps (one to SW, one to the CCW) and a few minutes writing two brief letters stating facts in them as your stake.

You have £2 odd per cubic meter for all the water that didn't go down the sewer as your potential payoff.

Write to them.  Their return to sewer form says that you'll get the rebate from the date they receive the form, so don't back down.  You may well not win but the effort you need to expend is so minimal that it would be barmy to give up now.

Vin

The problem is that there is no proof of what was used for work.
It would be a guess. A good guess perhaps but a guess.
Anglian water wouldn't wear it with me a few years back.
The guys I spoke to were very reasonable to be honest.
We agreed, after much talking, to only have the sewerage rebate on future, metered, water use.

[matty72]

i used to get the rebate but now they stopped it that what bugs me, i've just ordered a meter on ebay for outside tap, will write the letters that vin said about next week and see what happens cheers for ya help will let you know what happens.

[Perfect Windows]

The problem is that there is no proof of what was used for work.
It would be a guess. A good guess perhaps but a guess.
Anglian water wouldn't wear it with me a few years back.
The guys I spoke to were very reasonable to be honest.
We agreed, after much talking, to only have the sewerage rebate on future, metered, water use.

I think Southern Water have a unique system, hence the confusion. I certainly hope it's unique, as it's abominable.

SW send out a form that specifically asks for an estimate.  It asks how much you expect to use in the coming year.  There is no mention of metering (and no space anywhere on their poxy, photocopied form to detail that you have a meter).

So, specifically to ask for an estimate, then just to say "we're not prepared to accept an estimate so we're assuming NO water went to ground" is something the CCW will almost certainly consider to be unacceptable.  It's certainly worth appealing.

Vin

[Johnny B]

ok i have and your saying what mate

Write to head office and explain in detail what you are unhappy about.

John

[Window Lickers]

You could always pi$$ in the sewers that'd show 'em 

[PoleKing]

The problem is that there is no proof of what was used for work.
It would be a guess. A good guess perhaps but a guess.
Anglian water wouldn't wear it with me a few years back.
The guys I spoke to were very reasonable to be honest.
We agreed, after much talking, to only have the sewerage rebate on future, metered, water use.

I think Southern Water have a unique system, hence the confusion. I certainly hope it's unique, as it's abominable.

SW send out a form that specifically asks for an estimate.  It asks how much you expect to use in the coming year.  There is no mention of metering (and no space anywhere on their poxy, photocopied form to detail that you have a meter).

So, specifically to ask for an estimate, then just to say "we're not prepared to accept an estimate so we're assuming NO water went to ground" is something the CCW will almost certainly consider to be unacceptable.  It's certainly worth appealing.

Vin

Apologies, I didn't know that.
Might be worth going to court over. Seriously.
Book your time @x£p/h.
Then go for some compo too.

[Dave Willis]

They should know the average figures for a property of your size with the same number of occupants. They should be able to see very quickly how much extra water you are using for your business. The problem is proving how much you waste and how much you use.

The discount on the water you reject is limited anyway. You'll get no discount on the water you use for your business - just the water you chuck away and then you might have to prove it doesn't go down the drain.