Advice pleas - billed by 2 water co's for sewerage

Tixy

Hello I'm hoping someone can give me some advice please.

I am in an unusual area of the country (NE midands) where one water firm (anglian) provide the water supply and another (SevernT) provide the sewerage. I have always paid both companies seperately for their part.

A few months ago I changed to a water meter, which Anglian came and installed. I phoned and told SevernT about this.

Last week I had my first bill from Anglian Water, they have charged me approx £10 for water supply and £5 for sewerage (on the bill it says SevernT next to the sewerage bit). I assumed that they were collecting on behalf on ST and would pay it over to them. However today I have also had a bill from SevernT for the sewerage costs around £5.

Has anyone else had this happen? To anyone who lives in the same area who should I be paying my sewerage cost to?

Thanks

deanos

If you have changed to a meter then Anglian should bill you for both and thats who you pay , they then pass on the sewage part to ST.

Seems like either AW hasnt told ST yet or ST havent updated there system, i would ring ST up and explain the situation.

Headsabovewater

Are you sure the second bill from STW was for sewerage and not for Surface water drainage.
Deanos is right if Anglian supply the water and fit a meter they also take over the Sewerage charges but not allways the surface water drainage.
Call STW to ask.

Tixy

Thanks for the help guys.

The ST bill does just say measured drainage but the bill period does not tie in to the dates on the Anglian bill (anglian 28 Jan to 19 March, ST 6March to 1April) and there is no detail as to the measured amount on the ST bill. I will call to find out what is going on.

Tixy

Just spoken to ST.

They have confirmed that the will invoice me for drainage seperately but this is not a correct bill and my account on their system is conflicting. So I should get a new bill. I hope it will cost me less than the £5 they were charging me for just 25days.

So thanks again

deanos

Dont forget if you have soakaways you wont have to pay the drainage part

nikkimaclean

Just a further point to add make sure you are being billed on the correct drainage banding. Approx £5 for 25 days is based on band 3 a detached property.

Tixy

It said on the bill Band 03. They asked on the phone today what sort of house and I told them its a semi. Is a semi less than a detached or would all band 3s be the same?
Also the banding is similar to council tax rates isn't it? I ask because I'm a band B in council tax but originally the house was a C back in 1991 (?). The previous owners got it re-banded around 96. I think I've read that the water banding won't/can't be reduced in the same way, anyone know if this is correct?

-because I think £5 for 25 days is way too expensive personally!

nikkimaclean

Council tax bandings have no bearing on your drainage charges or indeed any water charges.

Basically Severn Trent bill drainage based on the type of property you occupy, so band 1 is a flat or terraced property and is £28.10 for the year, band 2 is a semi and is £56.33 and band 3 detached, £84.42.

For a semi you are looking at 3.85 for 25 days, so a little cheaper

You will get 2 bills a year from Severn Trent, April and October, and this drainage bill is totally independent from your Anglian Water bill so will not follow the same dates etc.

Tixy

Thanks again Nikki

One final question -2 bills April & October - billed in advance or behind? I.e might I have already paid up to April on my last bill (from before having the meter). I suppose I can live with £56 a year!!

nikkimaclean

The drainage bills are in arrears, so April will be for from the meter fit date to 1 April.

However, before the meter you were being billed in advance so as you say, you may well have already paid enough to cover this drainage bill.

I would see what your new bill says when it arrives hopefully it will be a bit clearer