Water Bills questions and comment

Cardew

HayHoSunshine wrote: »

We've twigged - and Thames Water have this week confirmed - that we've been charged/paying over £200 extra a year. £44 a month, over £500 a year for a 2-bed flat in London. In their own literature, they say the average max water bill is £300. We can't be metered as there's no stop tap in the flat.

When I asked for a rebate for the overpayments we've made since 2014 I was told no. The rates were set by the Land Registry in the 90s and Thames Water can only legally change them if the customer requests a change.

Is this true? By their own admission we've been paying too much through no fault of our own. And I think there's room to push back here.

Any sound advice, please?

Welcome to the forum.


Firstly Thames Water are absolutely correct, the only way they can charge by law is on your Rateable Value(RV) and indeed that RV could have been set as long ago as 1973, and certainly before 1990 when meters became mandatory.


So you have not been overcharged, Thames Water have charged correctly and have no discretion in the matter.


As for 'not your fault'. If you read the 'bumph' that comes with your bill, or on the website it will explain how to apply and get a meter. If you apply for a meter and it cannot be fitted, then you will be offered an assessed rate.


http://www.thameswater.co.uk/tw/common/downloads/literature-water-waste-water-charges/Our_Charges_2015-16_(web).pdf


Sorry if that is not the news you wanted.

matelodave

Every time a get a water bill I'm reminded that I can get a water meter and possibly save money - and I've already got one.

domhobdell

Hi everyone. 1st post here as I'm after some advice about our water bill. Me & the wife moved into a 2 bed apartment about 4 years ago. We're with Severn Trent.


Our monthly bill was about £29/month which I thought was reasonable and seemed to add up with what friends were paying in similar situations. 2 years ago our bills seemed to creep up and we were suddenly paying £45/month. Bit steep but I assumed it was to clear an outstanding debit in our account. 12 months later our water bill was moved up to 59/month!! Now this seems ridiculous and is more than double what we were paying originally.


Saw one of my neighbours the other day who said her & the guy she lives with are paying around £30/month and always have.


Is anyone else in a similar situation? All I can think is there's some leak going on somewhere. Any advice on what we can do next would be much appreciated!

Cardew

domhobdell wrote: »

Hi everyone. 1st post here as I'm after some advice about our water bill. Me & the wife moved into a 2 bed apartment about 4 years ago. We're with Severn Trent.


Our monthly bill was about £29/month which I thought was reasonable and seemed to add up with what friends were paying in similar situations. 2 years ago our bills seemed to creep up and we were suddenly paying £45/month. Bit steep but I assumed it was to clear an outstanding debit in our account. 12 months later our water bill was moved up to 59/month!! Now this seems ridiculous and is more than double what we were paying originally.


Saw one of my neighbours the other day who said her & the guy she lives with are paying around £30/month and always have.


Is anyone else in a similar situation? All I can think is there's some leak going on somewhere. Any advice on what we can do next would be much appreciated!

Welcome to the forum?


You haven't said if you have a meter or not; I suspect that you have a meter.


Unmetered charges are based on your Rateable Value(RV) and the RV cannot change. Water charges have not increased a great deal over the past couple of years and on RV charging the exact amount is known for the year ahead.


If you are metered there are two probable reasons for increases of the magnitude of your bills.


Firstly you are using more water; or have a leak. As you have a flat this leak is probably inside your flat and the usual cause is a toilet cistern is leaking(overflowing) and water is going back into the toilet bowl.


The second reason is they have been using under-estimated meter readings, which you haven't corrected. When they finally have the correct readings, they increase the Direct Debit to pay off your debit balance.


Read your bills and post back here with the information - and check your toilets!!

matelodave

First of all do you have a water meter, if so do you bother to read it and see how much you are using.

Regularly checking your meter can quickly identify if your consumption suddenly increases suggesting that you've got a leak. Also checking it will show you how much you are using and give you the opportunity to reduce your consumption.

Most water companies only read the meter once a year and if you are using more than your DD then come the end of the year you have to not only pay the current rate but pay back the arrears as well.

Checking yourself will tell you if your DD is covering your consumption - if it's not then either reduce your consumption or get your DD increased.

domhobdell

Hey guys thanks for the replies. We do have a water meter - unfortunately its in a locked room in the communal garages so not very easy to access!


Funnily enough we told our landlord and she sent someone round - all we could see was that the flush on one of our toilets had been changed so maybe there was a cistern problem!


I'll get the info from the bills and post here ASAP!

Apathy

Hi there, just a general question. We have a water meter installed but it's apparently just outside our drive. And we can't access it like a normal gas/electric meter as it needs a key opener underneath the ground. Now i'm sort of querying and disputing the bills and they've come very high recently although the usage has been pretty much the same across the last 6-7 years. How can they prove to me (Yorkshire water) if they're telling me the truth with these meter readings? Thanks.

Cardew

Get them to provide a key!

Sabina94

hello

I am from Bosnia and Hercegowina and here in some cities , paying bills for water is one of the most importnat bills , If you dont pay - then you can get a double bill and problem with court and with police .
I live at village and here we dont need to pay water, we have free water and this is only thing what is free , garbage - every month , payment is about 7 euros , depends about month or If you have some bills before that are not paid , then bill is larger.
Anyways , life here is very expensive and when you dont pay for water its one small plus

Sabina94

I am sorry to interrupt You , but where are You from ?
:eek::j