Water Bill

[Chris38]

Just had my half-yearly bill for metered water etc from United Utilities. Nothing wrong with the bill but they are once again trying to flog a Homeserve insurance policy to cover damage to the supply pipe from the meter to the house. This cover is surely unnecessary as the water companies have, since about 1997, undertaken to meet the cost of any repairs. In any event, accidental damage would most likely be covered by household insurance. None of this is explained by the literature sent by United Utilities nor do they reveal that Homeserve is an independent organisation which pays them commission. This is, at the least, sharp practice and verges on attempted fraud. Cannot it be stopped?

[Old_Geezer]

I believe they managed to move the boundary they are responsible for, many years ago, from entry into your house (or thereabouts) to the border of your garden. So if there is a problem with their pipe that you have kindly allowed them to lay in your garden so they can sell you water, you are stuck with the bill. That applies to metered or unmetered "agreements".

[hc4361]

This is the situation with United Utilities

"The water supply pipe is the pipe which brings water into your home from our main in the street. You are responsible for the maintenance of this pipe however, if you find a leak on this pipe we may be able to repair it under the terms of our private leak investigation scheme...."

http://www.unitedutilities.com/pipes-what-am-i-responsible-for.aspx

[woofgang]

yes, as I understand it, the pipe on your property is your responsibility....I don’t see it as any sharper practice that those comparison websites who add in quotes that do not meet one’s search criteria and who are paid by the companies who are listed on their website.

[Chris38]

Sorry folks but I am quite sure you have got it wrong. United Utilities do maintain that the supply pipe is the householder`s responsibility but then grudgingly agree to repair it free of charge (as they agreed with the Government they would do years ago). They have in fact carried out such a repair to my supply pipe fairly recently but admittedly the leak was caused by their defective workman ship in installing the water meter.
The fact remains that their literature about the necessity for insurance is highly misleading and is nothing more or less than an attempted ripoff- something which I believe they have been censured for in the past.

[Old_Geezer]

If they have a special agreement then maybe write and complain ?

[Old_Geezer]

hc's link suggests you haven't the full description of who is responsible for what.

"What am I responsible for?

We are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the water mains, which carry huge amounts of water from our treatment works and storage reservoirs to your street.

The responsibility for maintaining and repairing water pipes that carry the water from our mains to your house is split between us and the home owner.
The pipe from the road to your property boundary (the 'communication pipe')

This part of the pipe is our responsibility and runs from our water main to the boundary of your property. We are responsible for looking after this. If you see a leak on the pavement or in the road please contact us.
The pipe from your property boundary into your home (the 'supply pipe')

The water supply pipe is the pipe which brings water into your home from our main in the street. You are responsible for the maintenance of this pipe however, if you find a leak on this pipe we may be able to repair it under the terms of our private leak investigation scheme. "

"May be able" is probably important. It suggests there will be times when you are to pay.

[4candles]

Severn Trent make it quite plain on their website that it's down to me if the service pipe fails -

Your responsibility

By law, the owner is responsible for maintaining the pipes running under their property, garden or driveway that supply their property. They are also responsible for the pipes within their property. This means that if there is a leak from any pipes within the property boundary, the responsibility for making a repair falls to the property owner. In some circumstances, responsibility may extend beyond the property boundary.
Our responsibility

We are responsible for maintaining the pipes which run outside your property boundary...

I don't know why this should be; why is it so different to other utilities -phone, electric and gas?

[Mamyalynne]

A useful diagram here to reinforce what has been said above.


https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/saving-water/water-leaks/

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Some will carry out a one off free repair..however few will tell their customers.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes the Citizens Advice link above points that bit out too.