Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Business Stream Ltd

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201102249 Sector Water Category charging method; calculation Decided 01 May 2012

Full decision

Summary

Mr C complained that Business Stream's bills for his business premises were inaccurate. He did not have a water meter in the business premises he rented and the original bills were calculated on what Business Stream considered to be the rateable value of the property.

Mr C queried the bills he received and Business Stream referred the matter to Scottish Water for reassessment. Scottish Water told Business Stream that a water meter could not be installed in the property, as Mr C had a shared water supply with another business. However, Scottish Water agreed that he could move to a system of charging based on the estimated consumption at the premises from the date Mr C had written to Business Stream to query the bill. Business Stream also amended the account to reflect the correct rateable value of the property when Mr C informed them that he was only on one floor of the building. This further reduced the bill.

The bills issued by Business Stream correctly reflected the information they held at that time and were in line with the appropriate legislation/guidance. We did not uphold the complaint. However, in view of Mr C's complaint and a previous agreement between him and Business Stream that the account would be put on hold, we asked Business Stream if they would remove a recovery charge of £90 that they had added to the account. Business Stream told us that they are willing to do this.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201102249 as a PDF (17.16 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

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Other decisions involving Business Stream Ltd

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201104142 01 Feb 2013 Mr C complained that Business Stream failed to read his meter between April 2011 and January 2012. He said that, … Partly Upheld
201201210 01 Feb 2013 Mr C complained on behalf of a golf club about Business Stream. He complained that Business Stream had sent the … Partly Upheld
201202733 01 Feb 2013 There was a leak in a pipe which fed a field trough. This was not detected and Ms C was … Partly Upheld
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