Loss of profit business claim
What to do if you've been affected by our street works.
Working in the road
A lot of the work we do involves working directly in the road. Sometimes, for the safety of our teams, this means we have to temporarily close the road or block access to people's property.
If this is the case, we normally make sure we do the following:
- Inform customers (including businesses) what the disruption will be and for how long - we'll send letters, hold public meetings and put up posters in the area
- We'll visit you face-to-face to assess exactly how the interruption will affect your business
- We'll inform your water-retailer about the work, and they may also be in contact with you about it
- We'll update you on the progress of the works, including any delays, in a timely manner
If we haven't met these expectations, or your business has made a loss as a result of the work, then you may be eligible to some compensation.
Claiming for loss of profits
We're very sorry that you've had a negative experience of working with us, and want to hear from you so we can improve our services.
If you're submitting a claim for loss of profits, we've produced a useful guide on what you need to do. This guide also includes a copy of the form if you would prefer to print and fill out a hardcopy to send us.
If you feel like your business has been negatively impacted by work we’ve carried out, and you’re entitled to compensation, please fill in the form below.
We'll get back to you soon.
You may, if you wish, employ an agent to submit the claim on your behalf, the reasonable costs of whom will be reimbursed by Bristol Water (in accordance with the fee scale referred to above) providing the claim is successful. Your claim will, however, be assessed in exactly the same way whether submitted directly or not.
Bristol Water – Professional Agents Fee Scale
|
Agreed compensation |
Maximum fee payable by Bristol Water (£) |
| £0 - £500 | £600 |
| £501 - £1,000 | £700 |
| £1,001 - £3,000 | £800 |
| £3,001 - £5,000 | £900 |
| £5,001 - £10,000 | £925 + 3% of settlement over £7,500 |
| >£10,000 | £1,725 capped |
We are not able to offer advice on the suitability of any particular agent. The information detailed in the section ‘Information required from you’ should be made available to your agent for forwarding to us.
However we would normally expect your accountants to be the best placed to assist you in this regard as they will be familiar with your business and will either hold or be able to advise on the relevant financial information to support your claim.
Bristol Water may also instruct a Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional to assess your claim if necessary.
In assessing your claim Bristol Water or its Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional may contact you directly in order to validate part or your entire claim. By submitting a ‘Claiming for loss of profits’ form you are authorising this communication between us.
We expect you to mitigate your losses as far as reasonably practicable. This includes continuing to trade during the period of our works. If you think there are specific measures that need to be taken to help maintain trade, you should discuss these with us in advance of incurring any costs. Please note that we cannot consider any extra costs incurred without prior approval.
Bristol Water will also deal with any matters relating to the actual works, including damage to property etc. In the first instance, please bring such issues to the attention of our Customer Liaison Officer (CLO) or the site agent who will be pleased to deal with these matters, wherever possible while we are in the area. The contact details of the CLO can be found in the Customer Care literature which you should have received.
Alternatively, please contact us.
VAT
Please note that we do not pay VAT on any payments made under this scheme. If you are registered for VAT, your agent will ask you to pay the VAT (if any) on their fees, which you may then recover from HM Customs and Excise.
- If you have been trading for less than three years, please declare this and provide as much information as possible. This will not prejudice your claim.
- Please note that accounts must either be audited or agreed with the Inland Revenue and certified by your accountant. Where accounts are not available, we may require further VAT returns.
- If the claim is significant, we may also require copies of the accounts, including balance sheets, for the year in which the works occurred before any final compensation is paid.
- If the claim is particularly difficult to assess, we may ask for further information (eg post-works sales figures, VAT returns and, and where accounts are not audited, the original figures submitted to the Inland Revenue).
- If in doubt, please provide any other information in support of your claim. Please remember that it is up to you to justify your claim. If the full information is not provided, this may affect the amount of any payment offered and/or delay payment of the same.
It is hoped that the degree of disruption will be such that claims can be assessed once the works are complete. However, in cases of genuine hardship Bristol Water will consider the payment of interim sums. Please note we require exactly the same information in support of interim claims.
On receipt of your fully supported claim, Bristol Water will endeavour to make a payment offer as soon as possible (or alternatively we will give our reasons for rejecting the claim). Before releasing any payment, we will need your written acceptance of the amount. If the claim is accepted by us, payment by cheque or BACS will normally follow within 28 working days of receipt of your written acceptance. Payment of compensation will be made directly to you unless a written and signed request is received from you to send the compensation to your agent.
You may, if you wish, employ an agent to submit the claim on your behalf, the reasonable costs of whom will be reimbursed by Bristol Water (in accordance with the fee scale referred to above) providing the claim is successful. Your claim will, however, be assessed in exactly the same way whether submitted directly or not.
Bristol Water – Professional Agents Fee Scale
|
Agreed compensation |
Maximum fee payable by Bristol Water (£) |
| £0 - £500 | £600 |
| £501 - £1,000 | £700 |
| £1,001 - £3,000 | £800 |
| £3,001 - £5,000 | £900 |
| £5,001 - £10,000 | £925 + 3% of settlement over £7,500 |
| >£10,000 | £1,725 capped |
We are not able to offer advice on the suitability of any particular agent. The information detailed in the section ‘Information required from you’ should be made available to your agent for forwarding to us.
However we would normally expect your accountants to be the best placed to assist you in this regard as they will be familiar with your business and will either hold or be able to advise on the relevant financial information to support your claim.
Bristol Water may also instruct a Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional to assess your claim if necessary.
In assessing your claim Bristol Water or its Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional may contact you directly in order to validate part or your entire claim. By submitting a ‘Claiming for loss of profits’ form you are authorising this communication between us.
We expect you to mitigate your losses as far as reasonably practicable. This includes continuing to trade during the period of our works. If you think there are specific measures that need to be taken to help maintain trade, you should discuss these with us in advance of incurring any costs. Please note that we cannot consider any extra costs incurred without prior approval.
Bristol Water will also deal with any matters relating to the actual works, including damage to property etc. In the first instance, please bring such issues to the attention of our Customer Liaison Officer (CLO) or the site agent who will be pleased to deal with these matters, wherever possible while we are in the area. The contact details of the CLO can be found in the Customer Care literature which you should have received.
Alternatively, please contact us.
VAT
Please note that we do not pay VAT on any payments made under this scheme. If you are registered for VAT, your agent will ask you to pay the VAT (if any) on their fees, which you may then recover from HM Customs and Excise.
- If you have been trading for less than three years, please declare this and provide as much information as possible. This will not prejudice your claim.
- Please note that accounts must either be audited or agreed with the Inland Revenue and certified by your accountant. Where accounts are not available, we may require further VAT returns.
- If the claim is significant, we may also require copies of the accounts, including balance sheets, for the year in which the works occurred before any final compensation is paid.
- If the claim is particularly difficult to assess, we may ask for further information (eg post-works sales figures, VAT returns and, and where accounts are not audited, the original figures submitted to the Inland Revenue).
- If in doubt, please provide any other information in support of your claim. Please remember that it is up to you to justify your claim. If the full information is not provided, this may affect the amount of any payment offered and/or delay payment of the same.
It is hoped that the degree of disruption will be such that claims can be assessed once the works are complete. However, in cases of genuine hardship Bristol Water will consider the payment of interim sums. Please note we require exactly the same information in support of interim claims.
On receipt of your fully supported claim, Bristol Water will endeavour to make a payment offer as soon as possible (or alternatively we will give our reasons for rejecting the claim). Before releasing any payment, we will need your written acceptance of the amount. If the claim is accepted by us, payment by cheque or BACS will normally follow within 28 working days of receipt of your written acceptance. Payment of compensation will be made directly to you unless a written and signed request is received from you to send the compensation to your agent.
You may, if you wish, employ an agent to submit the claim on your behalf, the reasonable costs of whom will be reimbursed by Bristol Water (in accordance with the fee scale referred to above) providing the claim is successful. Your claim will, however, be assessed in exactly the same way whether submitted directly or not.
Bristol Water – Professional Agents Fee Scale
|
Agreed compensation |
Maximum fee payable by Bristol Water (£) |
| £0 - £500 | £600 |
| £501 - £1,000 | £700 |
| £1,001 - £3,000 | £800 |
| £3,001 - £5,000 | £900 |
| £5,001 - £10,000 | £925 + 3% of settlement over £7,500 |
| >£10,000 | £1,725 capped |
We are not able to offer advice on the suitability of any particular agent. The information detailed in the section ‘Information required from you’ should be made available to your agent for forwarding to us.
However we would normally expect your accountants to be the best placed to assist you in this regard as they will be familiar with your business and will either hold or be able to advise on the relevant financial information to support your claim.
Bristol Water may also instruct a Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional to assess your claim if necessary.
In assessing your claim Bristol Water or its Loss Adjuster, Accountant or other professional may contact you directly in order to validate part or your entire claim. By submitting a ‘Claiming for loss of profits’ form you are authorising this communication between us.
We expect you to mitigate your losses as far as reasonably practicable. This includes continuing to trade during the period of our works. If you think there are specific measures that need to be taken to help maintain trade, you should discuss these with us in advance of incurring any costs. Please note that we cannot consider any extra costs incurred without prior approval.
Bristol Water will also deal with any matters relating to the actual works, including damage to property etc. In the first instance, please bring such issues to the attention of our Customer Liaison Officer (CLO) or the site agent who will be pleased to deal with these matters, wherever possible while we are in the area. The contact details of the CLO can be found in the Customer Care literature which you should have received.
Alternatively, please contact us.
VAT
Please note that we do not pay VAT on any payments made under this scheme. If you are registered for VAT, your agent will ask you to pay the VAT (if any) on their fees, which you may then recover from HM Customs and Excise.
- If you have been trading for less than three years, please declare this and provide as much information as possible. This will not prejudice your claim.
- Please note that accounts must either be audited or agreed with the Inland Revenue and certified by your accountant. Where accounts are not available, we may require further VAT returns.
- If the claim is significant, we may also require copies of the accounts, including balance sheets, for the year in which the works occurred before any final compensation is paid.
- If the claim is particularly difficult to assess, we may ask for further information (eg post-works sales figures, VAT returns and, and where accounts are not audited, the original figures submitted to the Inland Revenue).
- If in doubt, please provide any other information in support of your claim. Please remember that it is up to you to justify your claim. If the full information is not provided, this may affect the amount of any payment offered and/or delay payment of the same.
It is hoped that the degree of disruption will be such that claims can be assessed once the works are complete. However, in cases of genuine hardship Bristol Water will consider the payment of interim sums. Please note we require exactly the same information in support of interim claims.
On receipt of your fully supported claim, Bristol Water will endeavour to make a payment offer as soon as possible (or alternatively we will give our reasons for rejecting the claim). Before releasing any payment, we will need your written acceptance of the amount. If the claim is accepted by us, payment by cheque or BACS will normally follow within 28 working days of receipt of your written acceptance. Payment of compensation will be made directly to you unless a written and signed request is received from you to send the compensation to your agent.