My water supplier STWA - need more regulation.

macabethiel · 19-02-2020, 22:39

Yesterday I had an e-mail from S.T.W.A. to advise me that my annual statement of account was ready to view. for my metered water use.

I have been on a water meter for almost 3 years. Before I went onto metered Water I was paying about £730 a year water rates as our house is in the Derby City Limits and when it was built it was rated from new at a higher price as it had Central Heating, a Fitted Kitchen & a Brick Garage - back in 1968 that increased the rateable value of the property.

The rules then moved away from Rateable Value for Poll Tax & now Council Tax but Water Rates still use the old Rateable Value to calculate your water rates. I tried to appeal my Rateable Value but gave up when I realised I would have to pay the costs if I lost my appeal.

There are about 25 houses identical to ours on the estate where we live but ours had the highest rateable value even though several others have had substantial extensions.

For the year end my annual statement of account was £36 in credit after all charges such as surface water etc, I pay £42 pcm water rates.

I then saw that my Direct Debit was automatically increased to £47.87 even though my account was in credit, really it should have gone down to £39 pcm to use up my credit.

I decided to go onto the live chat Bot where I had a live chat with someone in accounts. I asked them why my Direct Debit had increased by 13.97% when I had £36 credit from the previous year.

I was advised that in the previous year my account was £39 in credit so I was now using more water - hence the increase in direct debit that is calculated by "The Accounting System". I replied that on that basis out of the 4 million or so of STWA customers if they all had £30 in credit then STWA had £120 million of customers money on which no interest was given so they had a massive bank balance by holding customers overpayment through the year.

I was then advised my Direct Debit would be returned to £42 ! I should have asked for it to be £39 to use up my credit but didn't want to push it.

A very small victory -- Rant Over.

terranosaurusdoug · 19-02-2020, 23:36

I would imagine your increase in water usage was temporary too, the builders and plasterers and other tradesmen will have used plenty doing the repairs

solarman216 · 20-02-2020, 11:52

The direct debit system for utilities has always been biased to the supplier, as you say they have millions of customers money in the bank, Rick

don simon · 20-02-2020, 15:08

I had this with Scottish Power, they increased it, I challenged and they reduced the DD.... for one month. And they lost a customer. All they want is those millions in the bank to earn money from it. You should ask for the interest even if it is 0.001p, it'll cost them to process it and makes the victory slightly sweeter.

macabethiel · 20-02-2020, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by don simon

I had this with Scottish Power, they increased it, I challenged and they reduced the DD.... for one month. And they lost a customer. All they want is those millions in the bank to earn money from it. You should ask for the interest even if it is 0.001p, it'll cost them to process it and makes the victory slightly sweeter.

I used to have my Gas & Electric with OVO they give you 5% APR interest applied monthly as a reduction on your bill - better rate that the Bank !

don simon · 21-02-2020, 07:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by macabethiel

I used to have my Gas & Electric with OVO they give you 5% APR interest applied monthly as a reduction on your bill - better rate that the Bank !

Sacked them off once I found out the boss was pro Brexit.

They were slightly more exprensive and I can get green leccy from other sources.

macabethiel · 21-02-2020, 09:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by don simon

Sacked them off once I found out the boss was pro Brexit.

They were slightly more exprensive and I can get green leccy from other sources.

I left to go for cheaper Electricity as I am a high energy user - now with Greenerenergy but it's not particularly green just cheaper per KWh.

don simon · 21-02-2020, 12:09

Eon, cheap and 100% green.

19-02-2020, 22:39	#1
macabethiel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Derby Vehicle: Freelander & Jeep GC 3.0 Posts: 4,416	My water supplier STWA - need more regulation. Yesterday I had an e-mail from S.T.W.A. to advise me that my annual statement of account was ready to view. for my metered water use. I have been on a water meter for almost 3 years. Before I went onto metered Water I was paying about £730 a year water rates as our house is in the Derby City Limits and when it was built it was rated from new at a higher price as it had Central Heating, a Fitted Kitchen & a Brick Garage - back in 1968 that increased the rateable value of the property. The rules then moved away from Rateable Value for Poll Tax & now Council Tax but Water Rates still use the old Rateable Value to calculate your water rates. I tried to appeal my Rateable Value but gave up when I realised I would have to pay the costs if I lost my appeal. There are about 25 houses identical to ours on the estate where we live but ours had the highest rateable value even though several others have had substantial extensions. For the year end my annual statement of account was £36 in credit after all charges such as surface water etc, I pay £42 pcm water rates. I then saw that my Direct Debit was automatically increased to £47.87 even though my account was in credit, really it should have gone down to £39 pcm to use up my credit. I decided to go onto the live chat Bot where I had a live chat with someone in accounts. I asked them why my Direct Debit had increased by 13.97% when I had £36 credit from the previous year. I was advised that in the previous year my account was £39 in credit so I was now using more water - hence the increase in direct debit that is calculated by "The Accounting System". I replied that on that basis out of the 4 million or so of STWA customers if they all had £30 in credit then STWA had £120 million of customers money on which no interest was given so they had a massive bank balance by holding customers overpayment through the year. I was then advised my Direct Debit would be returned to £42 ! I should have asked for it to be £39 to use up my credit but didn't want to push it. A very small victory -- Rant Over.

20-02-2020, 11:52	#3
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,431	The direct debit system for utilities has always been biased to the supplier, as you say they have millions of customers money in the bank, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

19-02-2020, 23:36	#2
terranosaurusdoug Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Yorkshire, J33 M62 Vehicle: 2000 Terrano lwb 2.7TDI Posts: 5,500	I would imagine your increase in water usage was temporary too, the builders and plasterers and other tradesmen will have used plenty doing the repairs

20-02-2020, 15:08	#4
don simon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Gone. Vehicle: Terrano ii Posts: 2,215	I had this with Scottish Power, they increased it, I challenged and they reduced the DD.... for one month. And they lost a customer. All they want is those millions in the bank to earn money from it. You should ask for the interest even if it is 0.001p, it'll cost them to process it and makes the victory slightly sweeter.

21-02-2020, 12:09	#8
don simon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Gone. Vehicle: Terrano ii Posts: 2,215	Eon, cheap and 100% green.