Some may recall several weeks ago I was told I had a leak on my service pipe. It was not visible , just extremely audible. Well I called SWW .
SWW said that they did " one hours free leak detection" and would " repair a leak on a service pipe free of charge providing this was a first leak noted at the property"
This information is also on their web site by the way.
So SWW: a) sent out a man to detect the leak ( this took about a week) b) a week later they sent another man to detect the leak.
Both men , using a wooden pole as a listening device put the leak in roughly the same place. This place was also the same place as my own plumber put it.
c) they then sent a man from Brent services - to detect the leak. The man from Brent put a big blue "X" where he thought the leak was - the same place as the others had suggested. This took him exactly one hour.
Three weeks and four men later,
d) Brent send in two men to dig up where "X" marks the spot. It took them 20 mins.
e) man from Brent said
1) the leak isnt where the X is. Thats all we do. The problem is yours now. You have to get someone to find the leak and repair it.Long silence I said - and how do I do that then? If four water men cant find it. how do I find it?
Long silence he said
2) If you ring SWW they will give you a list of contractors who will come and do the job for you. You will have to pay them.3) Its galvanised pipe .
I said and that means ( referring to the galvanised pipe)
Long silence, he said it means you have to sort it out.
I said and the galvanised pipe means?
Long silence ....
4) Its old.Well the pipe isn't as old as me actually - so I am now officially old!
But undeterred , I said so, its old means....
5) we cant repair it, it will probably have to be replaced.You will have to pay for it. You have to ring SWW for a list of contractors to do that.
They left.
I rang SWW. They have given me 14 days to sort it out and then they will turn off my water supply. No help. No contractors list. Nothing.
SWW are in my opinion cr*p. A pile of useless and unhelpful, untreated sh*te deeper than that which they process.
Just left with it - no explanation. No help. nothing. What if I had been an old dear of 80? I'd probably have a heart attack with the worry from SWW.
Rant over.
By the way - any suggestions as to what to do now would be helpful.
I am ringing insurance company to see if they can help.