Yorkshire Water - is my bill too high?`

mrobbo

Hi,

I live in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, hence Yorkshire Water. I moved from a 2 bed semi to a 3 bed semi round the corner on 29/04/12 (a bigger house, but still modest nonetheless).

Where my DD was for just over £50 per month in my old house, my bill for 2012/13 has just come through - and it's for £84.40 (payments from May through to November).

Surely this is way too high?! I nearly dropped my cuppa when I opened the letter. Or is this about typical for a 3 bed property?

We are a family of four, but I'm thinking even on a meter, it wouldn't come to this much...

Any advice/justification for bill greatly received.

Breakdown is as follows :

Rateable value = 202
Standing charge = £38.69
202 - 127.10p = £237.05

Total water charge = £275.74

Surface water and standing charge = £40.86
202 - 147.00p = £274.16

Total used water and sewerage charge = £315.02

Total charges this period (0.0% VAT) = £590.76

korky69

I'm not sure how YW work out their repayment methods,
We live not too far away from you and ours is I think spread over 9 months and my dads 100 yards away is over 8, and there is a slight difference in cost.
how many months was your last homes bill spread over?
your bill is still effectively about £53 p/m over 11 months.

Horseunderwater

mrobbo wrote: »

Hi,

I live in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, hence Yorkshire Water. I moved from a 2 bed semi to a 3 bed semi round the corner on 29/04/12 (a bigger house, but still modest nonetheless).

Where my DD was for just over £50 per month in my old house, my bill for 2012/13 has just come through - and it's for £84.40 (payments from May through to November).

Surely this is way too high?! I nearly dropped my cuppa when I opened the letter. Or is this about typical for a 3 bed property?

We are a family of four, but I'm thinking even on a meter, it wouldn't come to this much...

Any advice/justification for bill greatly received.

Breakdown is as follows :

Rateable value = 202
Standing charge = £38.69
202 - 127.10p = £237.05

Total water charge = £275.74

Surface water and standing charge = £40.86
202 - 147.00p = £274.16

Total used water and sewerage charge = £315.02

Total charges this period (0.0% VAT) = £590.76

You could try asking a neighbour who lives in same road/type of house as you to compare. Would think that they'd be willing to share that one. Of course lots will depend on 1991 rateable value - so if that is different to any neighbour of similar property, that could be where your problem is.

macman

Since you can't challenge the RV, what you see on the bill is what you have to pay. Get a meter and revert to RV billing within 12m if you don't save. You can't lose.

flashg67

I'd say you may be better on a meter? Mine is a 3 bed semi with 4 people same as you. Our metered monthly payment is £42 - (United Utilities in Lancashire) which has gome up recently due to teenage girls starting to take flipping ages in the shower!
As above, I understand you can swap back if a meter doesn't work out for you?

mrobbo

Thanks for the responses

@korky Sorry, I should have said. £50 per month vs £84 per month, both comparable as these are payments spread over 8 months.

@Horseunderwater I'll definitely ask a neighbour. Hey, anything to break the ice EDIT - I've just spotted the guy from two doors down. He was a little hazy on the details, but he's on a meter and reckons he only pays £84 A QUARTER lol

@macman, flashg67 Yup, I'm definitely going to go for a meter