Torrent of complaints over high Littlehampton water bills

NEIGHBOURS have banded together to question some dubious leaps in their water bills.

Six families in Leeward Road, Littlehampton, were shocked to find that their bills for the last quarter were up to nine times higher than in previous years.

Mum-of-one Claire Smith has lived in the road for five years, and said that her metered bill showed that her family had used 100m3 more water than usual.

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"When we rang Southern Water, they told us to check the water meter, to see if there had been a leak.

"As me and my husband, Marc, were doing that, one of our neighbours asked what we were doing. It turns out that she had the same problem."

'How many more?'

On determining that there had been no leak, Claire leafleted her neighbours. Four more came forward and one, who preferred not to be named, saw her quarterly bill rocket from 96.45 to more than 800.

"There are six of us in the same road '” how many more can this be affecting?

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"I am not a rebel or a militant, I just don't want someone who is more vulnerable, an elderly person for example, to get a massive bill and just pay it if there is something wrong."

She added that she paid her bills monthly by direct debit, and was even refunded money and had the monthly payment amount dropped in November, because she was in credit.

"The reason I pay monthly is so that I do not get scary bills like this. I now owe Southern Water 260, money that we had not budgeted for."

Apology

Claire said that she had called Southern Water "on a number of occasions", and while everyone had been very polite, she was still no closer to a resolution.

"Everyone has told me something different," she said.

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A spokesman for Southern Water said that meter readings taken last year had been "erroneously low".

"However, the overall water consumption for 2008 and 2009 is correct. We are contacting the customers who have raised this issue to inform them that we shall be sending them amended bills.

"Meanwhile, we have put measures in place to prevent a reoccurrence and wish to apologise for the inconvenience caused."

He added that of customers had any difficulty paying the bills, that they should contact the company.

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