Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Business Stream

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201203839 Sector Water Category policy/administration Decided 01 June 2013

Full decision

Summary

Mr C has a commercial workshop in his garden. After he fitted a toilet in the workshop, Business Stream issued him with invoices for water and water services. As the premises concerned were not metered, they based the charges on rateable value. Mr C was unhappy with this, and disconnected the water to the toilet. He complained that Business Stream continued to invoice him for water services only, which he considered unreasonable.

Our investigation took all the relevant information into account, including the complaints correspondence and details of Mr C's account, as well as Business Stream's internal computerised records and investigations with Scottish Water. This confirmed the situation as described by Mr C but the investigation also showed that, in terms of the relevant legislation, Business Stream were obliged to charge non-domestic premises on the basis of their rateable value, whether there was a connection or not. Business Stream were not charging for either waste water or drainage. They had, however, recognised Mr C's concerns and provided a number of options to resolve his problem. They also allowed him to pay money outstanding over a fifteen month period.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201203839 as a PDF (11.24 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

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Other decisions involving Business Stream

Reference Date Summary Outcome
202101632 01 Mar 2023 C complained about Business Stream's communication regarding their account. There was also disagreement between C and Business Stream over the … Resolved / Early Resolution
202103298 01 Nov 2022 C runs a small business and was unhappy with the way Business Stream managed their account. In particular, C was … Upheld
201900738 01 Dec 2021 C complained that Business Stream had not billed their business accurately. C said that they had been told by an … Not Upheld
201806006 01 Jul 2021 C purchased a former business premises for conversion to domestic property. At the time of the original purchase the business … Resolved / Early Resolution
201808488 01 Nov 2020 Mr C complained that Business Stream incorrectly arranged for a meter to be installed at a vacant property belonging to … Not Upheld
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