AT THE end of June I received a metered water bill that was more than twice my previous one.

It took me over two weeks to convince Thames Water that there was a leak at my property.

They eventually agreed and arranged for a “free repair” of my supply pipe to take place.

The total length involved from my water meter to my house wall was four feet.

Two workmen duly arrived and dug a trench to expose the supply pipe to find that the last eight to 10 inches of the pipe was covered in concrete.

They consulted their supervisor who told them to replace what copper pipe they could see and refill the trench, even though the leak was in the area covered by the concrete.

They left frustrated, embarrassed and highly apologetic that they had been prevented from carrying out the repair.

I am therefore still left with a leak, the volume of which has increased due to the pipework being disturbed.

I have lodged a dispute with Thames Water that they say they will answer within the next two weeks.

Yet they still insist that we report leaks to get them repaired quickly and that we in Oxfordshire are in a water-critical area.

So be wary of what you are offered because Thames Water interpret their conditions to suit themselves, show no flexibility in their workings and, it appears, little concern for their customers.

I fully expect that in the end it will all be my fault.

Is this what you get when dealing with a company in a monopoly situation?

ALAN BUNCE
Otmoor View, Merton, Bicester