Water Bills questions and comment

anniecave

see other thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1556379

this may help!

Angie100

I think you are right then - the problem is definately when people have modernised houses since the RV was assessed so in the case of say my neighbour who built a massive garage since then, his RV would have been based on a property with no garage whereas our house has a very old bolted together garage which has probably been there for many years.

Much more accurate to base it on council tax surely???

Re - a meter this would make it even more expensive for our house as there are 4 of us here!! I think we looked into that a few years back.

Thanks for your help/comments!

Cardew

Angie100 wrote: »

I think you are right then - the problem is definately when people have modernised houses since the RV was assessed so in the case of say my neighbour who built a massive garage since then, his RV would have been based on a property with no garage whereas our house has a very old bolted together garage which has probably been there for many years.

Much more accurate to base it on council tax surely???

Re - a meter this would make it even more expensive for our house as there are 4 of us here!! I think we looked into that a few years back.

Thanks for your help/comments!

Well of course it makes absolutely no sense to base charges for a Utility (i.e. Water) on the sale or rental value of a house - any more than it would be to base your gas and electricity charges on the property value.

Why would it be any more 'accurate' for a single person in a Band G house to be paying more for water than six people living in a Band B house?

I think the way to look at the issue is that you are luckier than many people to be living in a property where you can use unlimited water and pay less than those who have no option but be on a meter and have to be careful with water.

Your neighbour is even luckier than you!!!

Angie100

Cardew wrote: »

Well of course it makes absolutely no sense to base charges for a Utility (i.e. Water) on the sale or rental value of a house - any more than it would be to base your gas and electricity charges on the property value.

Why would it be any more 'accurate' for a single person in a Band G house to be paying more for water than six people living in a Band B house?

I think the way to look at the issue is that you are luckier than many people to be living in a property where you can use unlimited water and pay less than those who have no option but be on a meter and have to be careful with water.

Your neighbour is even luckier than you!!!

With council tax though there are reductions for single person occupancy so if it was based on that then a single person would also receive a reduction for water as they would not be expected to use so much.

My neighbours certainly are lucky and seem to have been 'lucky' for many years.

I am only saying that it is about time a more accurate way of assessing water for everyone is used. So many people have improved their properties with extra rooms, double garages etc that it is not a fair system.

I came on here for advice not to be shot down and told to think myself 'lucky.' If you can't help without being condescending then don't bother to reply to people who are genuinely trying to get advice.

Thanks to the people who do reply in a decent manner and are helpful.

Cardew

Angie100 wrote: »

With council tax though there are reductions for single person occupancy so if it was based on that then a single person would also receive a reduction for water as they would not be expected to use so much.

My neighbours certainly are lucky and seem to have been 'lucky' for many years.

I am only saying that it is about time a more accurate way of assessing water for everyone is used. So many people have improved their properties with extra rooms, double garages etc that it is not a fair system.

I came on here for advice not to be shot down and told to think myself 'lucky.' If you can't help without being condescending then don't bother to reply to people who are genuinely trying to get advice.

Thanks to the people who do reply in a decent manner and are helpful.

There was no attempt to be condescending or 'shoot you down'; and you were given advice that there is no mechanism to change the RV.

You suggested it would be fairer to base water charges on Council Tax banding and I disagree with that suggestion.

The RV system is patently unfair - it always was.

In fact if you look at all the small print in the water companies' brochures, any substantial alterations to a property 'officially' should be declared.

Household properties that have been substantially altered, making the rateable value invalid will be charged on an assessed volume charge banded according to the property.

The problem being that people are unlikely to declare such alterations - even if they were aware of the requirement to do so; and there is no mechanism for the companies to check.

I most certainly agree with you that "it is about time a more accurate way of assessing water for everyone is used"

Fortunately that 'fair' system has been available for the past 20 years i.e. metering.

Unfortunately some water companies have chosen not to implement that system.

derek.keefe

I am most worried at the pressure being put on consumers to have water meters. The Environment Agency are telling us that having water meters will cut out shortages. How!!! The only way having everybody on water meters can possibly cut consumption, is if like gas and electricity the unit cost is pushed so high we will actually be afraid to use what is after all a natural resource and once again the poorer people in our society will suffer most.

deanos

derek.keefe wrote: »

I am most worried at the pressure being put on consumers to have water meters. The Environment Agency are telling us that having water meters will cut out shortages. How!!! The only way having everybody on water meters can possibly cut consumption, is if like gas and electricity the unit cost is pushed so high we will actually be afraid to use what is after all a natural resource and once again the poorer people in our society will suffer most.

Simple it will make people think, for example turning off the tap when brushing your teeth.

Water is the most precious resource we have and allot of people just waste it, metering is a good step in reducing consumption and saving water

Prices are kept under control by OFWAT so none of the price hikes like gas and electric.

hmc

hi
there is myself and a child in a 2 bed house on a meter.they have just increased my dd to £27 from £20 a month.has water gone up?
does this sound about right, im in lincolnshire
thankyou

deanos

hmc wrote: »

hi
there is myself and a child in a 2 bed house on a meter.they have just increased my dd to £27 from £20 a month.has water gone up?
does this sound about right, im in lincolnshire
thankyou

Well it depends on how much water you use, you may not have been paying enough and the icrease may have been to pay off what you owe and to cover future usage.

howardtog

We moved house two years ago and overpaid two DDs.water company sent us a final bill which said account was in credit by one DD.After this bill was printed second DD went through .We did not receive a refund but in moving house did not follow up . Today whilst sorting out papers we found the final bill.Rang the water company who looked it up and said 'Yes there is a refund due (£80) which we will take from your current bill and credit your account for the balance.Helpful lady went on to say the water company does not automatically send a refund you have to ask.Even though in this case we are still supplied by the same water company.
Nice move by the water compaNY IF IT CAN GET AWAY WITH IT It Will.