Severn Trent Water meter

MikeR71

This is a similar issue to some others here but I didn't want to steal their thread so decided to open a new one. I appreciate some advice on this.

I have received a letter from Severn Trent Services stating that my water meter is broken and needs changing. They recently sent me a bill showing that I am £15 in credit and it seems that they have estimated this. I phoned them up and queried the letter and the lady explained that the last meter reading was unsuccessful because my meter is broken and needs replacing. I checked the water meter and when a tap is open it seems to run fast enough. It's a digital meter.

So I am naturally suspicious of this request. What if they replace my merer with one that runs faster? How can my meter become faulty all of a sudden? Can I ask them to leave me the old meter after they replace it so that I can have it checked independently for any faults? The lasy said if they don't replace the meter they will continue to estimate my bills which may mean I pay more than I should.

Has anyone else had this and should I be suspicious of them?

Cardew

Why suspicious?

Water Companies have nothing to gain, or lose, by you paying more, or less, for your water. Their revenue and hence profit is controlled on a 5 year plan by the Regulator. So if you and a thousand others paid nothing for your water, then they would still get the same revenue by slightly increasing prices to the other several million homes they supply.

It is no good speculating on the reasons why they consider it broken, although as it is digital it might be one of those read remotely and it it is the inability to read that is the problem.

However, it is their meter, and they are free to change it if they wish.

So to be honest I cannot see that your objections have any grounds.

MikeR71

I am just generally suspicious of these things particularly as I can see clearly that the meter is running when I run the water. But as you say, it could be the remote sensor that is the problem. Thanks.

Norman_Castle

My STW meter is/was read from a plastic disc on the outside of the house. Last week the meter reader needed to come into my home to read the meter as the sensor no longer worked. He said I could either ask for the meter to be changed or continue to let them in every six months.

Edit, just received a letter from stw asking me to make an appointment for replacement meter.