I may not read my meter!!!!

Mikeyorks

oldwiring wrote:

I know it might be difficult if one hasn;t a key to opend the cover in the road where it is located.

If it's in the road or on a public footpath - suspect that gives a clue to the water company stance? If there's an accident as a result of the cover being left off / open - they are potentially liable for damages if they are complicit by providing a key.
Mine is newly fitted in the kitchen. And I do read it, carefully. As it was fitted upside down by the expert - so we 'used' 85 years of water in the next couple of days as it happily went backwards

morlandbanks

My water meter is in the pavement in front of my house. I go out, pop the cover open with a flat head screwdriver, remove the foam cover and read the meter! No problem. Then I phone them up and tell them they've got the estimate wrong again - because they always do!!

Actually it's important to read your meter regularly to check for possible leakage. I'd phone and ask them how you're supposed to check that if you can't read the meter.

Good luck with that!

TOBRUK

I had a water meter installed last July (have until beginning july to decide whether to keep it) and with all the information leaflets that I received, I was encouraged to read the meter on a regular basis, mine is situated at the bottom of my drive. It is important to check every now and then according to the water board! -
1. To make my own meter reading, which you can always give them if you receive an estimate.
2. To check my useage
3. To check that it is clear and that there are no leaks.
I really don't think oldwiring, that the person who told you that you shouldn't read your meter had a clue what they were talking about.

As I am monitering it as it's my first year, I checked it after receiving an estimate after 4 months of having it installed, I checked it then on the exact date of the sixth month to give me an idea of useage for the whole year.
I pay by direct debit, so if I did not check the reading when I got a bill and theirs was a higher reading, they would up my direct debit, so ofcourse you can read your meter anytime you wish to do so.

xmaslolly76

My water meter is in the kitchen and they have fitted a scanner to the outside wall so they don't need to enter the property to read it they just zap it with there gadget and away they go.

It must depand on were you live and which company your with i suppose

I used to pay around £22 per month for my old house with 4 people in on rates i now pay £14 in the house im in now on a meter with the same 4 people in it

Ali-OK

An interesting thread!

When I had a meter installed (my choice) at my old property, they gave me the tool to open the lid (it was on the pavement) and also encouraged me to check readings regularly, as this may help detect leaks, etc.

I then moved to this house a few years back - the meter was already in situ and is in the front lawn! A different type of tool is required to open it - so I requested one and they delivered one!

Ken68

I got talking to the water meter man recently and he reckons the biggest wasters in my area were The Fens drainage boards, millions of gallons poured into the North Sea each day to keep the land dry.
So there is no water shortage, just nowhere to store it.

Kzlnd

Hmm interesting, if I complain about being billed on yet another estimated reading, I am told that I should go and read my own meter and call them with it! :rolleyes:

What you were told seems very silly.. Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent actively encourage you to take regular readings and monitor your consumption in case of leakages.
(If you enter a leakage allowance rebate, for example, you are asked to supply regular readings (not a requirement however but certainly helps you to obtain more of the money you're owed! if you have actual readings) so cannot understand why you were told not to )

rchddap1

Would love to take water meter readings....problem is the meter is so far down a hole in the pavement we can't manage to read the numbers.

oldwiring

All please read my post #11. I can now read the meter with thw key to open the box in the street. It would involve peering down a hole and with the old eyes etc, well!