Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Business Stream

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201405103 Sector Water Category policy/administration Decided 01 January 2016

Full decision

Summary

Mr C was unhappy with Business Stream's handling of surface water drainage charges for his property. He received notification of the charges in 2013, backdated to 2008. Mr C said that he had informed the water wholesaler from January 2005 onwards about his occupation of the property and, as such, Business Stream were unfairly backdating the water charges from 2008.

Business Stream confirmed that the property was liable for the charges that had been billed on the account. They stated that it is the responsibility of the owner/occupier to advise them of when a property was being used. They said that they could not find any record of information being sent to them confirming that the property was occupied. The property had been identified as being occupied following a routine audit in December 2013.

During our investigation we found no objective evidence that Business Stream had been notified that the property was occupied and, as such, we did not uphold the complaint that they unfairly charged the surface water drainage charges. We were satisfied that, in response to Mr C's complaint, Business Stream explained why they were satisfied that the charges applied to the account were correct, due and payable.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201405103 as a PDF (11.12 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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