2 Water meters does anyone have the same problem please please read this

salfordman1

My wife and I recently challenged our water company concerning the amount of the water bill,
The reason for this is, after receiving a water bill in November i suggested to my wife we check the meter on the side of the house just like the electric and gas.
After checking it we discovered the reading was much less than the amount shown on the water bill. So to help us with the challenge to the water company "United Utilities" my wife telephoned age concern. We arranged a meeting at home with them, and a young lady came to see us.
This was the best thing we ever done, the lady arranged for our meter to read, when the meter reader came, they are not employed by the water company but private.
To our surprise he did'nt read the meter on the side of the house, he read a meter located in the floor on the outside path.
After I challenged him about this he told us they have been told to read these meters instead of the meters on the side of the house, unless they cannot see the meter in the hole then they have to read the meter on the side of the house, I hope i have not confused you with this. I demanded he read the meter on the side of the house and give us both readings he wasn't happy doing this but he did.
Anyway the meter he read in the path was a higher reading than the meter on the side of the house.
We are still in dispute with the water company and I think they are doing a class rip off. Especially for their investors.
So if you are having any problems with your water bill I suggest you challenge them about it, but please bare in mind water meters were only installed in new houses around 1980's when thatcher was in power please don't correct me on this. By the way we are being overcharged £280. Please let me know if you are having the same problem.
Tony

moneysaver09

Hi

I work for water company so what you are describing sounds like an out reader on the property, which I believe were installed quite a while ago so the customer was able to take the read but the main meter would be in the ground.

The reading on the wall meter should be the same as the one in the ground but most of the time is not the case as they did not work.

Did you check the serial numbers on the meters?

If the serial numbers are different I would call UU and and ask for a supply check to be done. If not, the meter in ground will be corrrect but if bills seem high it may be a leak

Hope this helps :rolleyes:

Headsabovewater

I think the main question you need to get answered is why the second meter was fitted.
Call the water company and ask.

If it is an out reader on the wall it is so you the customer can track how much water you are using and not for the water company to bill you to.
i.e:
Meter in groung was reading 1234 and is now 1244 so 10 units used,
Meter on wall was reading 0234 now reading 0244 so same 10 units used.

This does not mean you have been over billed 1,000 units. The meter in the ground will have a different and higher reading than the one on the wall as it was fitted and in use before the one on the wall.

deanos

It could be you have 2 supplies to your property,

Around here its very common especialy on old council and terraced houses with outside toilet to have 2 meters as they have 2 supplies entering the property.

As for outreaders they are on the walls for the water co to bill you as it saves meter readers entering the property that is there purpose, however alot of them can have different readings, the internal meter is always correct tho so anyone with an outreader should always check they both read the same every so often.

Ive never ever heard of a outreader being fitted to an external meter in the ground as its pointless, and the costs involved laying cables would cost no end.