Pensioners in Water Meter Battle

Thursday, 18 February 2010

Two Ainsdale pensioners have been involved in an ongoing battle with United Utilities after they were overcharged by hundreds of pounds on their water bills, facing four figure sum bills.

The pensioners moved to the new development of flats on Halifax Road, and were told when they moved in 2007 that having their meter read would be cheaper than paying set monthly rates.

However, since 2007 up until late 2009 the couple have been on the receiving end of successive bills totalling hundreds of pounds. The meter that they were having read was loated at the back of their garden and was a shared meter.

They spoke to United Utilities who rectified the bill amount, but they shortly after received another bill for £1535. Frustrated they contacted Dr Pugh's office who wrote several letters to the company to sort the problem out.

A new meter was fitted in the Sparke's home in October 2008. However, shortly after they were sent yet another bill totalling £2353. This large charge was due to the fact the meter had not been wired correctly, and readings were still being taken from the old meter. A new meter was finally installed in January this year.

Mr Sparke is glad the situation has finally been resolved. "I am relieved this saga has finally been sorted as it's been rumbling on since 2007. We would talk to people at United Utilities on an individual basis who were polite and helpful, but they didn't seem to have any power to make anything happen. Because we were paying by direct debit as well we were finding that large amounts of money were being taken out every month. Obviously that could have had an impact on our credit rating!  It took us involving the MP and getting him to bang heads together to get the meter removed."

The MP commented: 'This is a case of atrocious incompetence on the part of United Utilities. That there was such confusion with which houses were being serviced by the shared point meter is particularly unacceptable, and betrays a lack of basic co-ordination and communication within the company and with the Sparkes.