Anglian Water - 1st Bill

Lillys_mum

Hi, will just give you a brief history first.

Moved into new build house on 6th March 2008 - notified gas elec and water suppliers and set up direct debits online for all.

Never checked details (my mistake) and for some reason the one to Anglian water was never set up.

Last week recieved notification from Anglian water that we would recieve a bill in the next few days for our water from 25th Nov 08 to 25th Nov 09 (as they only charge for a years use - even if you haven't been billed before.

This afternoon the bill arrived.

Bill 1: dated 25th Nov 08 - 11th Dec 08
Bill amount £102.78

Bill 2: dated 12th Dec 08 - 26th May 09
Bill amount: £312.63

Bill 3: dated 27th May 09 - 23rd Nov 09
Bill amount: £299.62

Total owing for the year £715.03

Now I don't have a problem with paying what I owe (I have used it etc therefore I should pay) what I am a bit unsure about is ow they have worked out the bill, I mean for 17days of water £102.78? then it miraculously goes down over the next few months - is this just their way of clawing back some extra money for the months which they say they wont charge us for (due to anglian waters pricing policy)

I need to ring them up and make some arrangements to pay this over a while but just wanted peoples opinions on what I should say to them first.

Thanks xx

Lillys_mum

Just to make things clearer using m2 used rather than just costs.

Moved in March 08 - remain unbilled until Oct 08

Original meter reading 2

Billing period Nov 08-Nov09

Billing units estimate start rate 53 - end unit 300

So they are saying we used just 51 units between Mar & Oct (inclusive - 8mths) and 247 units in 13mths from Nov to Nov
Surely that cannot be right? I understand it is a privellidge to get the months from Mar to Oct free but there is no way the sums add up - obviously this is their way of reclaiming some of the bill which they say they do not charge for!!!

glider3560

247 units over 13 months is approx 0.63 units per day. How many people live there?

For comparison, I use 0.35 units per day in a one bedroom flat.

Is 53 an actual reading or an estimate? If it is an estimate then you could argue that your water usage has remained the same across the whole year/

Lillys_mum

3 bed house with 2 adults and 3 children

the bill is estimated.

glider3560

Is 300 estimated too? If so, read your meter asap!

Otherwise, for a house that size with that number of people, I'd say your usage is probably fairly low!

Lillys_mum

I have read it, it is 294

That bill is the equivilent of £60 per month though!!!!

glider3560

Based on their current tariff (it increased slightly in April), I've calculated your bill to be £736.46 per year (so their calculation is pretty much correct).

The only observation I've made is that their prices are very expensive (compared to other areas of the country):
Water: £27/yr plus £1.2864 per unit
Sewerage (90%): £75/yr plus £1.4235 per unit

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about their high prices

redjonmac

I'm having a right old carry on with Anglian Water. They've decided to change my billing to quarterly, instead of my usual 6 months. I didn't want to change, they say its a trial. Not all people in the anglia region are in this "trial". I've never been late on my bill. When i was on the phone to them, the stroppy woman said basically, thats its hard luck.

I've told them I'll happily pay 6 monthly, but won't be bullied into quarterly billing. At which point, she told me I will get red letters, and debt recovery action.

Basically, they have a monopoly, and can treat customers as badly as they like, with no fear of recriminations. I'm sick of being bullied by these big companies.

Gothicfairy

There is a view that quarterly billing is better as it shows problems and issues earlier. If the meter is read every quarter there is less likelihood of build up of arrears due to something like a leak.
It also makes it easier for people to pay the bills as they are not as high, much like the electric companies do.

Utility_Warrior

Oh Anglian Water. They haven't sent me a proper bill in 5 years even though I phone them up from time to time to get them to sort it. In the end they obtained a CCJ against me by writing to an address I haven't lived at for 7 years. They are an absolute nightmare!!! I have just applied to have the judgement set aside and they have set it aside. I just need to find out if the disarray they have caused me with registrering a CCJ and me trying to buy a house will mean I have some recompense? Anyone know?

deanos

redjonmac wrote: »

I'm having a right old carry on with Anglian Water. They've decided to change my billing to quarterly, instead of my usual 6 months. I didn't want to change, they say its a trial. Not all people in the anglia region are in this "trial". I've never been late on my bill. When i was on the phone to them, the stroppy woman said basically, thats its hard luck.
.

Its not a trial and everyone is the same , if you pay cash/cheque you are get a bill quartlery and the meter is read twice a year , if you pay on direct debit you get a bill every 6 months and the meter is read once a year.