Wat-er way to treat valued customers

11:41am Friday 23rd May 2008

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I have just read the article (Citizen, May 15) regarding water compensation and I thought I was the only one having problems in receiving my money.

While everyone was receiving their cheques for the compensation and I hadn't, I thought mine would be taken off my bill as we were originally told.

When I finally received my bill there was no credit, so I telephoned United Utilities and asked why this had happened only to be told that I would receive my cheque in the post in a few days.

I waited and waited only to receive a letter saying that I did not qualify for the compensation as I did not meet the criteria of either being without water for more than 12 continuous hours or I didn't have more than one interruption and the total time being greater than 12 hours without water.

I disagreed with this and decided to send a letter asking when my water was off and when was it on. When I received the letter the times were totally incorrect, but on the letter it said that I could call them if I would like to discuss the reply, which I did.

But they said that their information was accurate and there was nothing else they could do for me.

I asked to speak to a supervisor and she just backed up her employee, so I then asked which water tower my water came from, as I know which one it is, and I know that other people from that water tower received their compensation, no problem. I was wondering if they could divert the water to some houses and not others!

I decided to take the matter a step further and wrote to the consumer council for water. I enclosed all the letters I had, only to receive a letter back stating that as my complaint had not been through both stages of United Utilities' complaints procedure they had sent a copy of my letter to them and they only had 10 working days to reply to my letter (this time is not up yet!).

I just feel like nobody is interested but if I decided not to pay my water bill I know they would just switch my water off.

As I can't choose where to get my water from my hands are tied. This is outrageous and nobody wants to know or help.

The day after my water came back on my electricity went off for the morning. My water is now cloudy and I would not like to drink it, even though the water board says it is drinkable. It is the principle of the matter and in my last letter I even stated that if I receive the compensation it will be going to charity and I do not want it. How can this company get away with this?

Paula Stone Beaufort Avenue Bispham Blackpool