Bought some land in the NE of Thailand some 2 years ago, the Mrs has been using the neighbours water supply and paying overs for the right to do so, the previous owner of the land has taken the original water meter (belonging to the local water authority) with them and refuses to give it back unless we pay them. The local water authority seems to be telling us that it is up to us to somehow get the meter back from the previous owner.  Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences and can suggest any solutions. Do not want to get a solicitor involved but may be necessary.  Realise it was silly to purchase the land without first ensuring the water meter was there. Thanks for any constructive comments.

Report it stolen to the Police

Just pay the water authority for a new meter. Cannot cost very much. Not worth all the stress and hassle with the old owner. In the scheme of things, this will be a minor cost compared to everything else you're going to spend on the property.

 

4 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Just pay the water authority for a new meter. Cannot cost very much. Not worth all the stress and hassle with the old owner. In the scheme of things, this will be a minor cost compared to everything else you're going to spend on the property.

 

 

Quite happy to do that but they will not provide one apparently, they have asked for the original meter back.

7 minutes ago, Jaunty said:

 

Quite happy to do that but they will not provide one apparently, they have asked for the original meter back.

 

That's crazy. How much does the previous owner want for the water meter?

2 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

That's crazy. How much does the previous owner want for the water meter?

 

5k.

Report it stolen to the police and go with the report to the water company and apply for a new one.

https://www.mwa.co.th/en/services/request-for-water/request-water-meter/

4 hours ago, Jaunty said:

 

5k.

 

5k.

Just pay it.

It's a very small amount.

Then pay what is owed to the water company.

Or

Get  the cops and lawyers involved.

That will cost you a lot more in the long run.

TIT.

 

Ps, Also waiting two years to sort this out , was just stupid. 

 

 

Op, You could agree to pay the 5K

But insist you first need a photo of the meter number and reading.

That way you can go to the water company, confirm the meter number is correct for the land.

and also you can find out what is owed on the meter.

It could just be a small amount.

5K plus xxx, job done.

Cops is the last resort, it will cost you.

 

 

Report stolen, take police report to water company, they will issue a new water meter. 

 

These meters are not expensive 

report it stolen,  then shoot the guy who won't give it back. 

If the op bought the land with out the water meter, where is the crime ?

The original land owner just removed his own water meter. ( he could be in trouble for doing that , but not sure)

Unless there is some law about water and water accesses and water meter, in the title to the land.

I cant see why the police would issue a report of a water meter theft from two years ago.

on land that was not owned by the op at the time of when the water meter went missing.

 

I have a feeling the naughty Somchai knows this.

 

Be interesting to see what the cops say, if he goes this root.

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, quake said:

If the op bought the land with out the water meter, where is the crime ?

The original land owner just removed his own water meter. ( he could be in trouble for doing that , but not sure)

Unless there is some law about water and water accesses and water meter, in the title to the land.

I cant see why the police would issue a report of a water meter theft from two years ago.

on land that was not owned by the op at the time of when the water meter went missing.

 

I have a feeling the naughty Somchai knows this.

 

Be interesting to see what the cops say, if he goes this root.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its not his. Its the property of the PWA. He stole it. Report to the police. Give the police the sellers information and pay them to to visit the guy

Simply go to the police and report the meter stolen.  Get a copy of, and present to PWA.   

 

No need to mention who has it.  Let PWA sort it out, if they know who took it.  You have land/house that had water service, someone took the meter and you want a new one.

 

Ask for higher up, until someone stops with the BS.

10 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

Its not his. Its the property of the PWA. He stole it. Report to the police. Give the police the sellers information and pay them to to visit the guy

 

Pay the cops to visit the guy. ( the gravy train rolls out the station )

5K for return of the old meter, sounds like a better deal to me. 

 

Interesting that the water company never told him to just go get a police report.

and come back ?

 

 

 

The op has given us very little information and has also taken two years to 

get the ball rolling, that says a lot.

 

Going to the cops may not be the best move, straight off the bat.

Does the original land owner have more land adjacent to the op's land.

is the water supply going across his land ?

does any electric cross his or his family land.

there are many reasons not to involve the cops.

if you want a peaceful life here.

 

Happy water. 

 

 

Buy a new water meter off Lazada. Just looked and there are hundreds of them for less than 500 baht.

 

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

report it stolen,  then shoot the guy who won't give it back. 

 

What with one of these.

Well hard.

 

Please do not listen to @quake. That´s just bunch of rubbish that have no substance in reality. The only thing you need to do is following:
 

1. Report the meter stolen at the local police station.
2. Take a copy of the police report, and visit water company. Tell them that you need a new meter as the previous owner stole the old one.
3. If they refuse, you just call head office of water company in Bangkok. We have done that, only for things as they turn off water for full days without giving message of ongoing repairs. They fix thing quickly.

The facts are they own the meter, and they are responsible to replace when theft happens. The readings on the old meter, is nothing you should pay. That the is the water company´s job to track down previous owner and collect payment. If you inform Bangkok of that as well, they will solve the problem.

5 hours ago, quake said:

 

5k.

Just pay it.

It's a very small amount.

Then pay what is owed to the water company.

Or

Get  the cops and lawyers involved.

That will cost you a lot more in the long run.

TIT.

 

Ps, Also waiting two years to sort this out , was just stupid. 

 

 

Nonsens!!! A police report costs NOTHING!!!

7 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Please do not listen to @quake. That´s just bunch of rubbish that have no substance in reality. The only thing you need to do is following:
 

1. Report the meter stolen at the local police station.
2. Take a copy of the police report, and visit water company. Tell them that you need a new meter as the previous owner stole the old one.
3. If they refuse, you just call head office of water company in Bangkok. We have done that, only for things as they turn off water for full days without giving message of ongoing repairs. They fix thing quickly.

The facts are they own the meter, and they are responsible to replace when theft happens. The readings on the old meter, is nothing you should pay. That the is the water company´s job to track down previous owner and collect payment. If you inform Bangkok of that as well, they will solve the problem.

 

No worries mate. 

Good luck to all.

Happy water.

 

 

2 minutes ago, snowgard said:

Nonsens!!! A police report costs NOTHING!!!

 

Its a 100 baht at most cop shops.

But no worries

happy water

Bye.

6 hours ago, quake said:

, Also waiting two years to sort this out , was just stupid. 

Could have been sorted within a day already. Make a deal🤗

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Could have been sorted within a day already. Make a deal🤗

 

yes, it smells a bit.

why did the wife not get straight on the case two year ago.

 

 

2 minutes ago, quake said:

 

yes, it smells a bit.

why did the wife not get straight on the case two year ago.

 

 

Something wrong there what she didn't tell her husband obviously 

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Something wrong there what she didn't tell her husband obviously 

 

Nail on the head.

When you buy or lease land, it should be noted on the agreement that service is provided with municipal water (meter number) and electricity (meter number) and when closing the deal, reading of the meters should be done in order to bill the previous landlord and start the subscriptions for the new landlord or leasee.

We had in our contract a time frame to settle all these obligations by the seller.

Also money should be put aside on a trust account until all bills and taxes are paid by the previous owner.

Past this date money set aside would return to the buyer or lessee and the seller would still owe the money plus interest.

Thailand is no different from other countries in those matters.

Lawyer did not provide a professional service.

15 hours ago, Jaunty said:

Bought some land in the NE of Thailand some 2 years ago, the Mrs has been using the neighbours water supply and paying overs for the right to do so, the previous owner of the land has taken the original water meter (belonging to the local water authority) with them and refuses to give it back unless we pay them. The local water authority seems to be telling us that it is up to us to somehow get the meter back from the previous owner.  Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences and can suggest any solutions. Do not want to get a solicitor involved but may be necessary.  Realise it was silly to purchase the land without first ensuring the water meter was there. Thanks for any constructive comments.

There's no such thing as a water authority. You get the meter from the village or the district the just go to the village head and talk with them. Or just ask them took up another PVC pipe that runs 5 km from the water source. Go dig your own well for 10,000

14 hours ago, Jaunty said:

 

Quite happy to do that but they will not provide one apparently, they have asked for the original meter back.

Go steal one       

Or offer someone in the water dept a tidy backhander to supply one

 

get your wife to sort it out, she's thai, she knows how things work here.