Massive water bill

melbury

I was moaning to Wessex Water about my water bills (as we are out all day) and asked if the meter could be faulty. They sent someone out and he fitted a new one there and then - no charge. Sadly it didn't make the water bills go down though!!

DrDoom1973

baby_frogmella wrote:

Hi Dr Doom

I had a similar sort of problem not too long ago. Basically Southern Water were charging me for my neighbours water and vice versa. I live on my own so i was surprised to see my bill £400 for 1 year...i checked the meter serial number on my bill against the meter itself and based on the readings, the idiots were billing me for the neighbours water!!! Obviously they gave me a refund straightaway, they didn't even bother sending someone around to check the meter readings again.

I don't know how easy or how difficult this could be but I really think you should cross check the meter serial number on your bill against the actual meter itself...you may be in for a surprise!!!

Hope this helps





*BG Comment.......Edited out advertising link*

Cheers for the advice. However I did check the meter number on the bill against the meter I looked at earlier, so thats not the problem.

Thanks, glad you got some luck with your problem anyway!

DrDoom1973

There is alot of pictures here maybe yours is listed ?
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=water+meter+picture&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-34,GGLJ:en&start=0&sa=N


Thanks for the tips.

As for the meter itslef, I cannot remember whether it has a dial in the middle, couldnt see much at all. It had KENT in big letters on it, if this means anything?

Its Dark now, I will have a proper look tommorrow and take a photo, see if it matches any of those pics.

Maybe a pic would show just how badly obscured the display is to three valleys if I emailed them it?

deanos

Its a Kent / ABB meter can you give me the first part of the serial number it will probably be 90m or 06M this is the year the meter was made , this will be on your bill it will help determin what style of meter it is.

DrDoom1973

deanos wrote:

Its a Kent / ABB meter can you give me the first part of the serial number it will probably be 90m or 06M this is the year the meter was made , this will be on your bill it will help determin what style of meter it is.

I have my bill in front of me, the serial no starts with 90.

Cheers

deanos

It sounds like a 1990 meter these have plastic tops and are prone to condensation they are also prone for the digits to go brown so its very hard to read, it could be that its been misread if the dials are brown and this has had a knock on effect with your estimated bill, you should have a good case to get it changed if you mention its unreadable because of this and due to its age and you cant read it as customer are meant to be able to read there own meters.


I would deffinately check for a leak on your supply

DrDoom1973

deanos wrote:

It sounds like a 1990 meter these have plastic tops and are prone to condensation they are also prone for the digits to go brown so its very hard to read, it could be that its been misread if the dials are brown and this has had a knock on effect with your estimated bill, you should have a good case to get it changed if you mention its unreadable because of this and due to its age and you cant read it as customer are meant to be able to read there own meters.


I would deffinately check for a leak on your supply

Once more, thanks for your help deanos, my meter does indeed sound the way you described it, I think I will ring 3 valleys water tommorrow and tell them what you have said, IE it is old and unreadable and demand a replacement. Do you think I will have any luck?(I will obviously also dispute the readings on my stupidly high bill, if I cant read it surely the meter reader couldnt either?)

Cheers

DrDoom

deanos

Its worth ringing and explaining the situation, i wouldnt demand a replacement as this could just get the call ops back up, just be polite and say its unreadable and its 16 years old and you should be able to read it yourself but you cant because of the condensation etc. and could it be exchanged, you should stand a good chance as it is so old.


Have you been in your flat long ? As if you have been in quite a while and the consumption has jumped alot then it could be a misread or leak or cross supply and the flat it supplies could have a new tenant and they use alot more than the old tenant which of caused the rise.

DrDoom1973

deanos wrote:

Its worth ringing and explaining the situation, i wouldnt demand a replacement as this could just get the call ops back up, just be polite and say its unreadable and its 16 years old and you should be able to read it yourself but you cant because of the condensation etc. and could it be exchanged, you should stand a good chance as it is so old.


Have you been in your flat long ? As if you have been in quite a while and the consumption has jumped alot then it could be a misread or leak or cross supply and the flat it supplies could have a new tenant and they use alot more than the old tenant which of caused the rise.

Only been in the flat since march 2005.

This is the prelude to the billing at the start of the thread

meter reading taken 29 april 2005 706 estimated
prev meter reading 12 march 2005 692

usage for this period 14 (m3)

billed total £66.98

Then

meter reading taken 12 october 2005 716
previous meter reading taken 29 april 2005 706 estimated
usage 10 (m3)

billed total £60.52

Psykicpup

DrDoom1973 wrote:

Thanks for the reply. I am unable to read the the meter due to condensation and scratching. Otherwise, I would take your advise and check on it whilst I am at work.

If there is a leak, which does sounds like a reasonable explanation, thenm who is liable to fix it and am I expected to pay for the lost water?

I should mention I am a tenant, not a homeowner, so would I need to contact my landlord, or is it the water boards duty to fix it (and pay)?

As your meter is 'condensated' then I would guess there is a high chance that you do infact have a leak - dont panic - most Co's give a leak allowance & if the take your wastewater too a 'non return to sewer' allowance in this type of case'
Who is liable to repair really depends on where the leak actually is - as a rule of thumb - if it is either the inlet or outlet of the meter itself them the Water Board pay - if its inlet side on the pipe that is also the Water Co's responsiblity however if its on the outlet side its down to the you/your landlord
(in your circumstance) BUT most Water co' will repair one leak on supply pipe per property per customer (check as this can vary -may be more) also they will usually quote to repair for you at much reduced costs if you dont qualify for a free repair.

Hope this helps!
Pup