why is my water bill £410 for the year

I don't know what area you live in but our water supplier is Southern water, last year we lived in a 3 bed, 1 bath semi and no meter and paid £380, we move last summer and now live in a 4 bed, 3 bath with a water meter and pay £45 per month D/Debit over 10 months. On the last bill they owed us £230.00 and neither properties has a soak away. I would call them again and see if you can force the issue about a meter and how much your paying.

I know it dosn't solve your problem but hopfully my figures will help with your quiry and don't give up keep pushing until you get the help you need .

Good Luck

CC

If you haven't got a meter your bill will be based upon the Rateable Value of your house. You can find this by looking at your bill.

How do you know you have got soakaways? Do you mean you have pipes from the gutters of your house. If so it is where the water from the gutters goes to that is important. If it finishes in the sewers you are liable for Surface Water drainage - but this is only a small element of your overall water charges.

New houses built in the last 20 years or so will generally have soakaways(these are pits buried under your garden when the house was built)

You could possibly save money with a meter, and if it isn't cheaper you can change back to your current charging method.

Think yourself lucky! Just take a look at my post a couple of days ago. I live in a tiny tiny 1 bed converted outhouse and i get a bill for £460 due to the stupid assessed charges being based on property type (ie they're seeing this as a detached), and a meter 'cant' be fitted apparantly which i'm querying. i know for a fact, that last year, metered, at another address i used less than half that (£210 to be exact). It varies from company to company as to what they base these charges on. Logically, some use the number of people in a household or the number of rooms. Being based on the type of building is rediculous but unfortunatly there's nothing we can do! I've even appealed to CCWater who regulate these disagreements and try to resolve these disputes but sadly i dont think there's much they can do - In some circumstances this just feels like a great big con that they can get away with. It makes me angry to think that if this property was 40 miles south and in a different water company range then i would be paying half that amount.

cozza wrote: »

Hi are any of you financial hardship cases as if so try applying to see if you are entitled to a grant ?

I must admit this is new to me but this giant water bill combined with my working tax credits being reduced alot this month have pushed my outgoings over my incomings so im starting to think of applying to the National Debt Helpline for advice. Before these 2 things I was certainly just managing. I'll take a look into this, thanks Cozza.

My water bill is £547 for the year so that's £54 a month as they charge over 10 months. My supplier is Southern Water and we live in a two bed bungalow. I phoned Southern Water and have asked for a water meter to be installed, I suggest you do the same as one neighbour (on a meter) pays only £300 a year and another pays £400 and they are forever watering their garden with sprinklers! I told SW the price was ridiculous and they said it is all down to the rateable value and to apply for a meter.