Previous Owners SA Water Bill Passed On

[zebedee]

We purchased our house at the end of July, moved in start of September and had a few little woes with the real estate agent (long, boring story) but one thing is still on-going. SA Water sent us a bill after we moved in, in our names, with $106 worth of charges from before we owned the house plus a bit that we had used. I spoke to my conveyancer who said she would sort it. I paid the bit we used. A further bill arrived a month later for the outstanding amount, once again, spoke to the conveyancer and also SA Water who very good and extended the due date till today. I assumed that was the end of the matter and that our conveyancer would sort out the payment. Today, a red bill from SA Water has arrived and they clearly want their money. So I will contact the conveyancer (and the real estate agent) again tomorrow but I also find it unacceptable that SA Water can transfer a previous account over into our names - surely, as new owners, we are a fresh account. Blimin' cheek if you ask me.

 

So, tomorrow, it's all out war - strong phone call to the conveyancer and also a strong phone call to SA Water telling them we can prove we didn't own the house before hand and it's not our debt.

 

Just a moan really, but if this blows up further - does anyone know who I can turn too and also, if I tell SA Water to, er, go and stuff it, can they cut you off?

[Blossom]

Wow, I'd be most annoyed with sa water. What happened to meter reading when you move in and sending the old people a final bill? If they never sent it to them then why would they pay it. As far as I can see it (not knowing how it works there) that is sa waters problem!

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Evening!

 

Scan the outstanding bill, the copy of proof of when you took ownership of the house and email them with a email stating that you are sending proof that this is not your bill and you have repetedly informed them of the fact and if they continue to pursue you for the payment you will be seeking legal action to have the bill removed from your records and for compensation for inconveinience to yourselves.

[zebedee]

Thanks - I think you are right - sounds like the way to go - afterall, the conveyancer (who I assumed then talked to the estate agent) seemed to have failed miserably! I'll do that now.

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

Oh also no they cannot cut you water off, for starters that would be a breach of human rights, they could restrict the water by inserting an instument into the pipe but they would have to have very good reason to do that.

[Guest Guest75]

We had the same issue here ,nearly the same amount as well!!

 

Our conveyancer sorted it with the previous owner but I had spoken to SA Water and they did say they could not enforce the bill from the previous owner - as it was a previous owner and we had paperwork to prove it!!!

 

Go get em' Floyd!

[zebedee]

Hi, can you believe this is still not sorted?! Yeap, they are still adding the $100 to our bill. I am so 9155#D off with it you wouldn't believe. I will phone SA Water up and tell them they are not having it from me, but I have also asked my conveyancer to sort it otherwise I will seek third party legal advice....gonna play that card to SA Water too as advised above.

 

Jeez.....blickin IDIOTS!

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

i asked a friend, who is a conveyancer about this!....apparently in oz it should have been sorted before settlement by your conveyancer. They are supposed to find out how much all outstanding bills are and for example if you paid $500,000 or the house and there will be $1000 owed in bills then they make the adjustment on the final settlement and only release $499,000 to the sellers. I forget what he said you should do now but i'll check tomorrow as i'm catching up with them

Edited March 7, 2014 by Claire-n-tel

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

i asked a friend, who is a conveyancer about this!....apparently in oz it should have been sorted before settlement by your conveyancer. They are supposed to find out how much all outstanding bills are and for example if you paid $500,000 or the house and there will be $1000 owed in bills then they make the adjustment on the final settlement and only release $499,000 to the sellers. I forget what he said you should do now but i'll check tomorrow as i'm catching up with them

 

Nope sorry i told him water bill (my mistake!) in which case above would be true......however electric always goes with the person and if you have sent the papers to prove what you have told them then just ignore the portion of bill that is not yours

[zebedee]

No, you are right - it is water - yeah, I know - it clearly states on the bill that it's pre when we moved in......will phone SA Water on Tuesday and await the response from the conveyancer - it may be that I do owe it, but its confusing, I just want to know either way.