Water Bill. What is likely to happen

[tom73]

I have a good friend who is unfortunately always looking for loopholes to save himself money.
He moved into a studio flat around 12 years ago and when he received his first communication from the water company, he didn't open it. Instead he sent it back with a note on the envelope that the property was being renovated and there was nobody living there. He never heard from them again for the entire time he was living there.
He is disturbingly proud of his 12 years of free water, but I worry a little over what might happen when the new tenant of his former flat tries to sign up with the water company

 

[Bletchleyite]

The new tenant won't be liable for anything prior to his moving-in date - when you move in, you take meter readings and set up a new account. However, your friend might well find himself in a bit of bother when he gets chased for the back bills (or prosecuted for fraud) - what he's done is not a loophole but a very serious criminal offence of fraud.

 

[GB]

Theft is not a loophole.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Theft is not a loophole.

Point of order m'lud, it's not theft, it's fraud ("obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception" - i.e. lying for financial gain). Equally unacceptable, though, and if he is caught up with he could actually end up with time inside if he's unlucky, but certainly paying what is owed and a substantial fine on top.

 

[GB]

It is theft (as well a fraud to begin with). Its no different to connecting to a neighbours power supply or doing a runner after filling up with petrol...you are taking that which does not belong to you, though no reason why he cannot be prosecuted for both.

 

[tom73]

According to him, there was no meter involved.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Lying is fraud. The water company, if they find out, will pursue him for the money. And water companies are particularly litigious.

The new tenant won't have an issue though. Water can't be disconnected for non-payment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It is theft (as well a fraud to begin with)

Actually, I suppose it is indeed both - if you take water, someone else can't have it. I had electricity on the brain, which is a bit different.

It's the kind of thing you don't want on your record if you're ever going to get a job - who would employ someone like that?

 

[GB]

either way hope they catch up with him.

 

[AlterEgo]

The water company are idiots.

 

[Andrew S]

It seems oddly lax that the water company has accepted that the property has been under renovation for 12 years. If your friend has been paying council tax and energy bills for this time, that may be considered proof of occupation.

Now a new tenant has moved in, they may start to investigate more closely.....

 

[DarloRich]

I have a good friend who is unfortunately always looking for loopholes to save himself money.
He moved into a studio flat around 12 years ago and when he received his first communication from the water company, he didn't open it. Instead he sent it back with a note on the envelope that the property was being renovated and there was nobody living there. He never heard from them again for the entire time he was living there.
He is disturbingly proud of his 12 years of free water, but I worry a little over what might happen when the new tenant of his former flat tries to sign up with the water company

According to him, there was no meter involved.

meter or no meter he is in the clarts when the water board catch up with him, which they will. The water rates are due when the property is occupied. It is the responsibility of the occupier to inform the water board of any change in circumstances.

 

[Busaholic]

Contrary to what everyone is saying on here, and taking as gospel that the correspondence from the water company was as stated and, importantly, there has been no further communication from that company, I doubt very much that your friend will ever hear any more on the subject. It would be difficult/impossible to prove this far on that the property was/wasn't occupied, and if the water company originally accepted that as a reason for not billing then it was up to them to later review it. I won't say I can't believe that the CPS would ever agree for criminal charges to be preferred, given the parlous state of that organisation, but any half-decent defence lawyer should be able to get the case thrown out within five minutes on the basis 'no case to answer'.

 

[Iskra]

Lying is fraud. The water company, if they find out, will pursue him for the money. And water companies are particularly litigious.

The new tenant won't have an issue though. Water can't be disconnected for non-payment.

Moved in to a new build just over 2 years ago. Rang water company to arrange bills etc, gave them all the details. Forgot all about it. A year later I rang them as I'd noticed I'd not paid a bill in that time at all, I was expecting a big bill. They said don't worry about the bill, it's our fault we never sent anyone to install a meter, we'll send someone soon. I'm still waiting for someone to come. I like my water company.

 

[big all]

people have there own moral compass
not paying for goods and services you use
not paying taxes and required charges is not being clever its being dishonest
yes you can dress it up as "working the system" which we all do to some extent or other
but most will be fairly honest with deception being unacceptable to most where as lying about the water use sounds simmilar to trying to avoid buying a ticket to travel as being "loop hole"

 

[GusB]

I'm not familiar with how water companies operate in England, Wales or NI (water and sewerage charges are collected along with Council Tax in Scotland), but I've had a quick look at the OfWat website and, according to this page:

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/your-water-bill/problems-paying-your-bill/

Companies can ask you up to six years of unpaid water and sewerage charges.

Six years is a big kick in the wallet if they do decide to catch up. When I worked for an energy supplier, I had to deal with people who incorrectly assumed that they couldn't be billed for more than 12 months' worth, but had ignored letters asking for meter readings and/or denied requests for access by meter agents. The letters may well have been addressed to "The Occupier", rather than a specific individual, but there is still a "deemed contract" between the individual and the supplier when they move in. I've seen cases where reasonable attempts to determine someone's consumption have been made, the occupier of the property has resisted and they've then been correctly hit with a massive bill because they simply stuck their head in the sand. The water industry must have a similar policy

 

[big all]

not an expert but six years is limmit off statute where a supplier has failed to ask
but deceptoin is very different you can try to avoid but liable far outside the time line as being dishonnest

 

[Randomer]

I had electricity on the brain, which is a bit different.

I believe you can be prosecuted for theft of water as it is a property of the water supply company involved unlike electricity (seen as an intangible thing rather than an object) hence the specific offence, abstracting of electricity, in the theft act.

However, as posted above a pretty clear example of fraud if the water company involved chooses to pursue the owner for it. Even if he wasn't using the water supply if the sewerage was connected and operational he would still have charges to pay in that respect as well.

The owner would be liable as the water company attempted to contact him and he fraudulently misrepresented the situation to gain pecuniary advantage.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The owner would be liable as the water company attempted to contact him and he fraudulently misrepresented the situation to gain pecuniary advantage.

Point of order - tenant, not owner. If he was a homeowner that would be true, though.

Either way, the occupant is committing a very serious offence which could, once he's caught (and he may well be), even result in a custodial sentence.