Can they just re-estimate my bill?

staceysteve

Hi,
We moved into a new house in November last year and got a water bill in February for November 09 to March 2010 of just under £30 which was lovely. So that was paid and then I've just another one for the same period for another £49.
Now that's fine but to me it just seems unfair to estimate it once and I pay it and then they just decide to estimate it again, on what grounds?
Can they do this?

May seem like a silly question I'm sure but it's all just estimations as the meter isn't accessible.

Cardew

An 'estimate' is just that - a guess at what water you will have used.

Had they over-estimated they would have given you a refund.

To adopt your idea of an estimate being binding on the company, your water bill in February might have been, say, £1,000!!!

staceysteve

No what I'm saying is that if they estimate it wrong is that not their fault - tough luck?
This is my first home, never paid these bills before so I'm a newbie to all this.
If I thought it had been over-estimated then I would of course dispute it becuase again that would be their fault.

macman

Can you explain how/why the meter is not accessible?

PinkPig

They give you an estimate because they haven't had your meter reading. When they do get your meter reading, they can give you an accurate bill, which obviously might be higher or lower.

You're suggesting that the 'estimate' they give you ought to be the upper limit on what they can charge you - i.e. you can reduce it but they can't increase it. Sorry, but that's obviously ridiculous. If the water company had to give an upper limit on what you could possibly have used they would have to give everyone water bills costing £1000s and then reduce them when they eventually got a reading.

How are they possibly supposed to know without checking how much water you've used?

staceysteve

I really don't know like I said I've never paid bills before so I have no idea.
But it seems stange to give me one esitmate then once I've paid that to re-estimate that I owe more.
I don't know why they can't access it. that's what they said not me.

macman

Why don't you go and look at the meter yourself then?-it may be accessible to you but not to them. Then you can take your own reading and see if it's over-estimated or not.
They can't have fitted a meter that they themselves then can't access-what has changed?

Cardew

staceysteve wrote: »

No what I'm saying is that if they estimate it wrong is that not their fault - tough luck?
This is my first home, never paid these bills before so I'm a newbie to all this.
If I thought it had been over-estimated then I would of course dispute it becuase again that would be their fault.

I really cannot understand your logic here.

Surely you understand the definition of 'estimate'???

They don't have any idea of how much water you use, so they just make a guess; why are they 'at fault'?

If you have the ability to dispute an over-estimate, why do you not have the ability to realise they have under-estimated?