Pensioner handed £16,000 water bill

Elaine Aoslin, of Saxonbury, was expecting a revised bill after suppliers Severn Trent had handed her a £300 bill for her two-bedroomed flat, around £250 more than her usual bill.

"It was a good job I didn't have a weak heart," she said.

The 68-year-old contacted the Journal after reading of Pamela Abbotts' battle with Severn Trent following an inflated water bill.

Mrs Aoslin's problems started in October when she was billed £301.84. After querying the problem with Severn Trent she was asked to check her meter reading.

She was unable to read the meter because of condensation - the same problem Mrs Abbotts had - and a meter reader had the same problem so a new meter was installed on October 14.

On October 25 Mrs Aoslin was sent a revised bill for £87.68, still more than she was expecting, and she noticed it gave a reading for the old meter of 1057.

Having seen the final reading was only 1007, Mrs Aoslin again rang Severn Trent.

With no response to her inquiry by the start of December Mrs Aoslin again rang the company and her reward was a monster bill of £16,196.55 the Wednesday before Christmas. All this despite the fact the new meter reading was 00008, up eight units since October.

Not surprisingly Mrs Aoslin rang Severn Trent immediately and on Wednesday, January 4 was given a fourth bill, this time for £56.96, payable within a week. But she noticed the old meter reading was given as 1068, 61 units too high.

"At least this bill was nearer what I usually pay," she said, "I don't think the reading is correct but I wanted to pay my bill and I was so fed up of the comings and goings I have paid it anyway.

"Then I had a phone call the same evening asking if I wanted to switch my gas and electricity to Severn Trent because they might be able to save me money!"

Severn Trent press officer Ben Smallman said: "The obscene bill Mrs Aoslin received was because someone attended and recorded a meter reading lower than the previous one. Because of that it was inputted as though it had gone around the clock and started again.

"We are ever so sorry for the problems caused by this bill. The latest bill sent out included an estimated reading which we accept is wrong. We have sent Mrs Aoslin a financial settlement in return for the distress caused as well as starting her bill from scratch from the start of this week."

Severn Trent say they have also cancelled Mrs Aoslin's October bill altogether and sent chocolates and flowers as a goodwill gesture.

Mrs Aoslin said this week she had received a call from Severn Trent confirming she was £2.50 in credit, with the promise of a cheque for £100 to compensate her for the worry the incorrect bill had caused.