Thames Water and Homeserve Admit Error

11.03.47am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Feb 2007

Action by Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, has secured an apology from Homeserve a company used by Thames Water to provide insurance for Water Supply Pipe cover, for sending papers to Thames Water's customers claiming they were "entering into a contract of insurance".

Mr Brake took up the issue with Thames Water after a Carshalton resident contacted Mr Brake to complain about receiving a document which suggested he had entered into a contract when he had done no such thing.

In Thames Water's reply, Homeserve have acknowledged that suggesting a legal contract had been signed up to was not true in a legal sense and have promised to delete all such wording from future mailings.

Tom Brake said; "Thames Water putting their hands up and admitting the error on the behalf of their intermediary insurance company Homeserve is a big step forwards. They and the other utilities should be warned that local residents do not take kindly to being 'signed up' to contracts that they have not requested."

Mr Brake has urged other local residents in Carshalton and Wallington to contact him if they are sent documents by Homeserve or other companies which suggest that they have entered into an unsolicited contract.