charged for what hasn't been used yet?

Gti

hi im trying to help my friend who doesn't speak english he moved into his flat on the 17th of november and he's already been hit with 2 bills the first from anglian water (sewage) for £86.21 and the other from essex & suffolk for £46.95.

Both the bills are down as being from 17th of november to 31 march next year. If hes only been in there under a month how can they bill him already for what he hasn't used especially when they have nothing to base an estimate of his usage from?
And isn't the sewage a bit ridiculous for 4 months anyway?

thanks for any advice you can give

glider3560

Does he have a water meter? Doesn't sound like it to me.

He has two options: either pay these charges or have a water meter fitted.

What happens if you don't have a water meter is that you receive a bill up to the end of the year (31st March in the case of water rates) based on the property's rateable value. It is due immediately, but companies allow people to pay monthly over the course of the year (either by direct debit, payment book, etc.)