delays in getting a water meter fitted

khalio

hi there
apologises if the subject has already been brought up, I may have over looked a post..

I was just wondering if anyone has any information or past experience with delays in getting a water meter fitted?
My water rates are very high - over 500 pounds per year and as i live with only myself and my 9 yr old (and I like to think that we are environmentally aware and always try to keep our usage down for example we take showers rather than baths, do not have a garden- basically our consumption is really low)
I've worked out (using their online calculator) that if i had a meter i would be using less than 200 pounds worth of water a year so I am really being charged far too much.

Due to this i requested a water meter to be fitted.
However this was about four months ago and although i have been in correspondence with the water board still no one has yet called round to survey or fit a meter.

Does any body know if I am able to claim compensation for this time as obviously over the last four months I am still being charged the over the top rates.
I'm sure there must be some guidelines that they have to work to but I'm finding it difficult trying to find out my rights on this one.

Can anyone shed any light?
Thanks so much!!

catsneel

hi, i requested a water meter to be fitted and they came 2 weeks later, that was with the yorkshire water board who i found to be very efficient, i would give them a call. Hope you get one fitted soon.

Starb

You haven't mentioned which water company you are with but have a look on their website.

The water company I work for will compensate you £20 if there is a delay over 3 months.

kegs_2

We recently moved house, having had a water meter fitted in our previous house, we filled in the paperwork for a meter and sent as soon as we moved, knowing how much we would save.

We are based in the United Utilities area. It took four and half months for the water meter to be fitted, down to no shows on appointments from the contractors and not being able to find the right location to site the meter.

United Utilities state that a water meter should be fitted within 3 months of your application, after this you get £2 credit per week delay. However I also complained about the no shows on appointments and received a further £25 in compensation.

Obviously don't know if these rules stand for other water companies but generally they are on their web sites allbeit you have to search a bit to find them.

Hope the info. helps.

khalio

thanks very much for your replies.

I have since managed to get some further info through the water watchdog. (I am with wessex water) who kindly informed me that if they fail to install the water meter within 30 working days of receiving my application wessex water will stop my unmetered charges at the end of that period and start my meter charges from the date they fit the meter.

This apparently is their policy sounds great but I'm wondering how easily they can get round this and still make me liable to be hit with the higher charges.
I'll keep you informed!
If anyone else is in the same boat i advise to check if your water supplier also holds a similar policy!