Water Bill - Rateable value 290 !! = £500+ per year

Neemi

I lived in a flat by myself and it is not a huge flat though it is not a box either!! i have just moved out but I hhave been disputing the bill there with united utilities since I moved in. i know I could have gone onto a meter but the point is I didn't as they kept messing me around.

My question is really could there be a mistake with what United Utilities says is the rateable value of the flat. of which the bill was based on cause I was not on a meter? I thought that there could be a mistake originally but was told the rateble value is 290. which was much higher then people I know who live in better area's and in houses. I am now left with about £900 bill to pay them for the water bill for the almost 2 yrs I was at the flat.


I am convince it is wrong but don't know how I can prove (or even disprove) this with official records of rateable values of properties.

They tell me it is not how much the property was worth but the rateble value is different to this and to the council tax. Just because the council tax is low doesn't mean the rateable value for the water will be low!!!

I started thinking this again adue to the recent council tax band prob as described on one of the articles on this site.

Advice appreciated.

please help.

sammyjammy

Where do you live? If you're in the South West, Devon/Cornwall it sounds about right! If on the cheap side.
Sam

Debt_Free_Chick

Ofwat explain how the rateable value is calculated.

HTH

prudryden

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Ofwat explain how the rateable value is calculated.

HTH

In addition to the above, if your property is such that the water company is unable to install a water meter e.g. a converted house where the incoming water flows into a central loft tank, then you will be charged on the average water usage for that companies area. The set rate for Thames Water is £245/annual.

Cardew

Rateable values were a complete nonsense.

You could have a huge, but old, mansion with a lower RV than a modest, but new, 2 bedroom semi in the same area.

Neemi

I live in Manchester and think it is really high!!!
Does anyone know where I can get the official rateable values which were listed for water bills...

i want to prove them wrong that they have made a big !!!! up as every time I phone up they are so incompetant! One guy there even told me the bill was probably high becasue i live in a flat and the water has to be pumped up to a higher floor!!!!!!!!!#####!!!!!!!

Cardew

Neemi wrote:

I live in Manchester and think it is really high!!!
Does anyone know where I can get the official rateable values which were listed for water bills...

i want to prove them wrong that they have made a big !!!! up as every time I phone up they are so incompetant! One guy there even told me the bill was probably high becasue i live in a flat and the water has to be pumped up to a higher floor!!!!!!!!!#####!!!!!!!

There was another thread here about exactly the same problem:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=290438&highlight=RV+Rateable+value

He couldn't find out either.

Debt_Free_Chick

Neemi wrote:

I live in Manchester and think it is really high!!!
Does anyone know where I can get the official rateable values which were listed for water bills...

See the earlier link to Ofwat

i want to prove them wrong that they have made a big !!!! up as every time I phone up they are so incompetant! One guy there even told me the bill was probably high becasue i live in a flat and the water has to be pumped up to a higher floor!!!!!!!!!#####!!!!!!!

From that link

How can I make sure that my bill is based on the correct rateable value?
In 1973 local authorities compiled a list of rateable values for all properties in their area. Amendments and new additions to the list up to 31 March 1990 were sent to the water authorities to update their records. You can ask your water company to check its record of your rateable value.

Can I appeal if I think my rateable value is too high?
No. Rateable value assessments have not been made since 31 March 1990. Since that date there has been no appeal mechanism for existing rateable values.

What happens if my property has been structurally altered since its rateable value was assessed?
You should contact your water company. If your property has changed in size or in use from domestic to commercial purposes or vice versa - it may mean that the rateable value is no longer valid. In some circumstances the company might insist that a meter is fitted or apply a new fixed charge.

Neemi

Just found out that an idetical flat to mine is the same propety has a rv of 194 whereas mine id 290. thats a diff of over 100 pound a year in bills!!!!

Loki_2

I wokr for a water company, the RV that was taken in the 70's is not like council tax. its not banded in any way. Your neighbours flat may have been occupied by 1-2 people in the 70's but yours may have had 3+ so your flat will always be higher than theres.
Loads of other factors can be taken into account such as if there is a bus stop outside your house your water rates are going to be higher that your neighbours.
A joke really but that is rateble value for you!