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| 5,000 water customers overcharged | 5,000 water customers overcharged |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 5,000 non-domestic customers have been overcharged by Northern Ireland Water, it has emerged. | More than 5,000 non-domestic customers have been overcharged by Northern Ireland Water, it has emerged. |
| Businesses, farms, schools, charities and churches have been overcharged by as much as £4,000. | Businesses, farms, schools, charities and churches have been overcharged by as much as £4,000. |
| About 5,400 non-domestic customers paid more than they should have, while a further 2,400 have not been charged enough. | About 5,400 non-domestic customers paid more than they should have, while a further 2,400 have not been charged enough. |
| "NI Water will be dealing with each individual customer to arrange a refund," said a spokesman. | "NI Water will be dealing with each individual customer to arrange a refund," said a spokesman. |
| The company has decided customers who paid too little will only have to pay back half of what they owe. | The company has decided customers who paid too little will only have to pay back half of what they owe. |
| This is expected to result in a loss of revenue of about £250,000. | This is expected to result in a loss of revenue of about £250,000. |
| Customers were overcharged between £11.70 and £4,206.88. The range of undercharge was £2.83 to £3,063.22 | |
| The problem began around the time Northern Ireland Water was formed in 2007 - incorrect data was passed from the old Water Division to the new publicly owned company. | The problem began around the time Northern Ireland Water was formed in 2007 - incorrect data was passed from the old Water Division to the new publicly owned company. |
| "The original data they got from the Water Division clearly wasn't robust enough - the managers in Northern Ireland Water should have known that," said Fred Cobain, chairman of the Regional Development Committee. | "The original data they got from the Water Division clearly wasn't robust enough - the managers in Northern Ireland Water should have known that," said Fred Cobain, chairman of the Regional Development Committee. |
| The whole Northern Ireland Water charging system is a complete disaster Tommy Gallagher, SDLP | The whole Northern Ireland Water charging system is a complete disaster Tommy Gallagher, SDLP |
| "All of these problems actually emanate from that and we've been discussing this with them for about a year and a half. | |
| "If water charging goes live for domestic customers and the data is the same, which it will be, we could again have significant problems with regards to bills, which would be horrendous." | "If water charging goes live for domestic customers and the data is the same, which it will be, we could again have significant problems with regards to bills, which would be horrendous." |
| The SDLP's Tommy Gallagher said: "The whole Northern Ireland Water charging system is a complete disaster. | The SDLP's Tommy Gallagher said: "The whole Northern Ireland Water charging system is a complete disaster. |
| "The present administration at Stormont went ahead and brought in charges for businesses and community facilities in 2008, without having any ideas who owned certain properties and who they needed to charge." | "The present administration at Stormont went ahead and brought in charges for businesses and community facilities in 2008, without having any ideas who owned certain properties and who they needed to charge." |
| Last year Northern Ireland Water underestimated its forecasted revenue by £20m. | Last year Northern Ireland Water underestimated its forecasted revenue by £20m. |
| The mistake, if left unchecked, would have resulted in every household facing £30 extra on their water bill. | The mistake, if left unchecked, would have resulted in every household facing £30 extra on their water bill. |
| The company's then chief executive, Katherine Bryan, subsequently resigned. | The company's then chief executive, Katherine Bryan, subsequently resigned. |
| Domestic water charges in Northern Ireland have been deferred by the Executive for another year. | Domestic water charges in Northern Ireland have been deferred by the Executive for another year. |