Huge water bill what can I do?

lotte_pugh

I moved into a new property in June 2009, we received our first bill 3 months later which was £260. I queried the bill with Severn Trent, they came out and inspected the meter and it turned out it was faulty. They replaced it and the bill was recalculated. I have now received the amended bill which is £417 which is from June 2009 up until March 2010. I still think this is wrong because there are only 2 of us, we live in a terraced house, we each have a shower every day and use the washing machine 3 times a week. The meter does not move when everything is turned off. Severn Trent are saying we are using twice as much as a normal 2 person family. I have also noticed our garden is water logged in one area, I have told severn Trent this but they say its not their problem. I really cant understand it and as far as severn Trent are concerned there is no leak and we must be using this much water. They said to use that much water we must be having 15/20 showers per day and that a normal 2 person family uses £260 of water per year. I have checked with our neighbours and their bills are all relatively low.

I have phoned severn trent so many times and have written to them and now I am not sure what else I can do but I do not agree that we can use that much water.

Can anyone help?

Cardew

If the meter does not turn when the water is off, that rules out a leak.

When you say a 'new' property, do you mean a new build i.e. you were the first occupants?

Have you checked by reading the meter how much water you have used in, say, a week? For 2 people it should be just over 2 cubic metres for average consumption.

You are sure that they are reading the correct meter for your house - have you checked the serial number?

It does seem unlikely that you have had 2 faulty meters

lotte_pugh

Yes newly built property. We were the first occupants.

We are using approximately 18 units per month.

It used nearly 1 unit in the space of 24 hours and I had the washing machine on once, we have one shower each (no more than 10 minutes each shower) and about 8 toilet flushes. And washed up once.

Not checked serial number but will try that.

Many thanks

macman

Maybe it's time you investigated the damp patch in the garden?
If there is a leak on your side of the meter, then it is indeed your responsibility and nothing to do with Severn Trent.
Have you turned the water off to see if the meter still moves, as advised above?