Water Bills questions and comment

Venusflytrap

I'm in a similar position as JoeN.

My husband and I rent a one bedroom flat in a block of flats in west London. The water (provided by Thames Water) is metered centrally and distributed amongst all the properties, so there is no way for us to tell what our actual usage is. Our annual bill is currently £350.00 but i'm now wondering if this could be less if we (had) installed our own water meter. Mind you we have been on this central meter for over five years - ouch!

What do you all think?

checkthisout

Hi I have a question to anybody with any advice for me, me and partner have just bought and moved in to first home, rang severn trent water to set up water, and was told we have to have a water meter fitted as it is 'the law now'....?
This isnt a new build property, and I thought it was the homeowners choice to have it?
Have spoken to our finiancial advisor and he says hes never heard of a new 'law' coming in?

Any thoughts as to why we dont have a choice to have it or not?
Thanks

Cardew

checkthisout wrote: »

Hi I have a question to anybody with any advice for me, me and partner have just bought and moved in to first home, rang severn trent water to set up water, and was told we have to have a water meter fitted as it is 'the law now'....?
This isnt a new build property, and I thought it was the homeowners choice to have it?
Have spoken to our finiancial advisor and he says hes never heard of a new 'law' coming in?

Any thoughts as to why we dont have a choice to have it or not?
Thanks

Welcome to the forum.

Asking the same question in different threads causes confusion; you started a separate thread and the answer to your question is there.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4159125

Damien_lennox

Hi moneysavingexpert my name is Damien and I'm 30 from Northamptonshire I have been living with my partner Stacey in our 2 bed room flat for 2 years now and our water company is charging us £66 a month for water in a 2 bed room flat. Now there is only us 2 in the flat that use the water and when I have asked other friends and family they say that's too much how do we go about sorting this out?

Gothicfairy

Well Damien, before anyone here can help you we need more info.

Are you billed on RV or a meter ?
Are you in arrears ?
Do you have a failed payment plan?
Do you have a leak ?
Is it to actual meter readings ( if you have one ) ?

Help us to help you..

Scully38

I'm a single person and I've just moved into a new property and rang up United Utilities, who advised me there is an outstanding balance of £270 and that because of that my direct debit payments will be £49 per month. I explained to them that I had only been in the property for 2 days and that bill is not mine. They told me it doesn't matter as that is the bill that is owing and I have to pay it, but it may be refunded in 3 months time once I get a meter fitted. I explained how will I know how much i've used since then and why am I being penalised for this, when it is not my bill and they should contact the previous owner.

They told me that is their company policy, and I don't have any alternative. When I said I will look elsewhere for the supplier, I was told that I couldn't as there are no other companies around that supply the water only United Utilities. I can't believe that they are allowed to get away with this.

Has anyone else had the same problem with United Utilities?

Mykidsmum

Hi Scully, sounds like the customer service agent has not explained the situation very clearly. Although the property may be new to you, sounds like it was built prior to 1990 and you are being charged based on the rateable value of the property rather than a water meter.(All properties built after 1990 had to have a water meter) Every year all propertys charged on the rateable value of the property (RV) are sent a bill for the period 1/4/12 to 31/3/13. This can be paid in full, or on a payment plan. You have moved into the property part way through this financial year so your charges are from the date that you moved in up to 31/3/12. As you are a single occupier you are likely to benefit from a water meter. It can take upto 3 months from receipt of application for a water meter for the meter to be fitted although it is much, much quicker than this. Once the water meter has been fitted your charges are changed from RV (charged in advance) to meter readings (after you have used the water). If your account is in credit at this point because you decided to pay the RV charges in full to the end of the financial year you can ask for this to be refunded back to you or it can sit on your account ready for your first metered bill. The reason you cannot move water companies as to do with the Government and not the water companies. Hope this helps.

Cardew

You are liable for the bill from the date you owned or the rental agreement was in your name.

If that was two days ago then you are liable for the period from 06 Sep to 31/03/2013 and indeed the bill is payable in advance.

Scully38

Thanks for the help Mykidsmom, this must be what it is, I don't remember ever being in this position before and with money being very tight it made me angry to think I was paying for someone else. As long as I know why it's happening and just wait for the meter, at least I know half way down the line i'll either get a refund or my bill will be paid. So thanks for the explanation. It's wrong of the government to tell me who I can and can't go with. I wonder why it's like this with water and not with everything else? Very strange. So, do I just take it up with United Utilities if I qualify for a refund? And yes you were right about the age of my house. Thanks again.

Scully38

Cardew wrote: »

You are liable for the bill from the date you owned or the rental agreement was in your name.

If that was two days ago then you are liable for the period from 06 Sep to 31/03/2013 and indeed the bill is payable in advance.

For some reason I can't thank you as the button isn't there for your post for some reason. But thanks for the reply.