hydroelectric lamps
Mr vitamin c and I used to live in west London, and had extortionate rent to pay for the privilege. We also had a ludicrous water bill one year. For a 1 bedroom flat, we got a bill of 600 quid for 6 months. Mr VitC was ready to pay it, but, being Scottish, and a student at the time, I got straight on the phone to Thames Water to query the bill.

The woman at the call centre was very helpful - she agreed that the bill was absurd, but told me that there was nothing they could do about it. As we didn't have a leak, or a dishwasher, I continued to press for a reason for the huge bill, and a reduction if possible.

The reason she gave me?
"Well, do you have any lamp posts outside your flat?"
Me "yes, there's one immediately out the front"
her "Yes, if you have a lampost nearby, that puts your water bill up. I'm sorry, it's company policy"

I had to hang up, so as to avoid giving the poor lady a torrent of abuse. And when I called back a wee while later, I got the bill reduced (they had us down as a 5 person household, rather than 2).

But I'm still not sure about the lamp posts - are they run by water power in west London (specifically Harrow Road area)?
( ascorbate, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 11:48, 7 replies)

What the hell
has lighting got to do with water?!
(berk, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 11:53, closed)

I still have no idea
what the fuck she was on about. But knowing Thames Water, it could well be real company policy.
( ascorbate, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 12:01, closed)

You don't live in West Acton, do you?
they did the same thing to me, only this was £1500 for a year and was more than 10 years ago. I complained, they said we were on a meter so must be correct. Turned out they thought the place was one giant house and were billing me for the ground floor and first floor flats as well, and the ground floor flat had a garden with a sprinkler system. Apparently the previous residents of my flat had paid the bill without query for 3 years. The mind boggles.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 12:18, closed)

no
we were nearer Westbourne Park - don't live there anymore, thankfully. The first year in the flat, they tried to charge us over a grand, for the same reasons you were given - they thought the property with 4 flats and a shop was actually 1 giant house. Soon corrected them on that one - not sure the neighbours were too impressed at finally having to pay bills though!
( ascorbate, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 12:21, closed)

haha, no, my downstairs neighbours got very stroppy.
God knows why.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 13:14, closed)

Just a theory...
That water rates are based on rateable value of the property (unless metered)
Does having a street light outside your house increase the rateable value?

If so, it will increase your water rates

Of course, I may just be fruitbats
(CheatingRabbit, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 13:19, closed)

The relationship to lamp posts
Lots of people have lampposts outside their homes, so it's pretty likely that you'll have one outside yours. Especially in a residential area.

So by giving that they're trying to confuse you and get off the phone as quickly as possible.
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Wed 9 Sep 2009, 15:35, closed)