Thousands identified as amnesty continues

Thames Water has identified almost 7,000 potentially unbilled customers as part of an audit of its customer base

ALMOST 7,000 people have been identified as potentially unbilled customers in the first three weeks of the Thames Water amnesty.

On January 20, the water company launched a six-week amnesty calling for unbilled customers to come forward voluntarily to avoid hefty back-charges and accept to be billed for their water usage from now on.

In the first three weeks of the amnesty, 2,465 people have called the amnesty line, leading to checks on 949 possibly unbilled properties, while 6,009 addresses have been identified as possibly unbilled properties in an audit of the entire Thames Water customer base, which covers around three million properties across London and the Thames Valley.

Thames Water customer services director, Mike Tempest, said: “We're at the halfway point of our amnesty and so far there are far more people who could face a nasty shock - in the form of six years of bills in one go - than there are people who have come forward to take advantage of our amnesty.

“People who call our amnesty line have nothing to worry about. If we confirm them as unbilled, any back-charges will be waived provided they agree to pay from now on, which is great news for them.

“So, if you are receiving water from us but are not being billed for it, please call us on 0800 072 3628.”

The amnesty period closes on March 3.