Southern water - massive meter reading!

rachey2711

Morning all,

Wonder if anyone can help....

Yesterday we received our 6 month bill & statement from Southern Water.

They seem to think that between myself and my husband we have managed to use 110 cu/m in 6 months. We both work full time so the property is empty during the week.

I have checked the meter reading & serial number against the bill and they are both correct. Our last 6 month statement has a consumption of 71 cu/m - high, but we did have a friend staying for most of this time. Before that our usage was between 40 - 60 cu/m per 6 months.

I cannot fathom how they think we have used this amount!!! It equates to around 589 liters of water per day - over half a ton!!! I have six taps in our two bedroom flat - these would need to be running pretty much constantly to use this!!!

I took a reading this morning before work, and will take one when I get home to rule our a leak.

Southern water have been their usually un-helpful selves and said that there is no way the reading could be wrong. Un-heard of apparently.

To top if off, this is not the first time it has happened. 3 yrs ago our usage went from 42 cu/m in 6 months to 117cu/m the next 6 months. They refused to help me then - and to be honest I totally forgot about it until it was too late. (I know, I know, that is terrible, but three years ago I had more important things to be worried about) I let them get away with it then - they are NOT getting away with it this time. #

Advice?!?!?!?!?!??!!

HELP!!!!!! What do I do!! Who can help me?!?!?

Southern_Water_company_representative

Hi there, very sorry to hear you have not received a more detailed explanation about your meter reading.

If you can e-mail me a contact number or e-mail, I can get our team to follow up with you to progress things.

My e-mail is [EMAIL="joel.hufford@southernwater.co.uk"]joel.hufford@southernwater.co.uk[/EMAIL]

With best regards

Joel Hufford, Public Relations Manager (Metering), Southern Water.

Fidge_2

It wouldn't surprise me if you are being ripped off by southern water as they have been me for years over surface water charges it seems and has been the same for many other properties in the south. southern water will charge you for this service even if one of your neighbours has claimed the discount as not providing the service in the first place, they will not inform you and probably like they did with me fob me off when trying to claim the discount some years ago.

We are all having water meterers fitted at the moment apparently these are mandatory and agreed by state according to southern water but in fact is a bit fat lie, southern water are the only supplier of water in the south where these meters are being fitted and are actually illegally breaking your human rights as no alternative supplier exists. The fitting of meters has been carried out remarkably quickly as southern water may be aware that this is not being signed off until 15th September 2012 my advise to anyone who has not yet had one fitted to refuse it as at present it is your legal right to do so!

Mykidsmum

So from what you are saying, if my next door neighbour installs a soakaway and succesfully claims because no surface water is being treated by Severn Trent then they should automatically give me the same allowance even though I haven't installed a soakaway?

Cardew

Fidge wrote: »

It wouldn't surprise me if you are being ripped off by southern water as they have been me for years over surface water charges it seems and has been the same for many other properties in the south. southern water will charge you for this service even if one of your neighbours has claimed the discount as not providing the service in the first place, they will not inform you and probably like they did with me fob me off when trying to claim the discount some years ago.

We are all having water meterers fitted at the moment apparently these are mandatory and agreed by state according to southern water but in fact is a bit fat lie, southern water are the only supplier of water in the south where these meters are being fitted and are actually illegally breaking your human rights as no alternative supplier exists. The fitting of meters has been carried out remarkably quickly as southern water may be aware that this is not being signed off until 15th September 2012 my advise to anyone who has not yet had one fitted to refuse it as at present it is your legal right to do so!

The water companies have no option but to charge everyone for surface water drainage(SWD) as it was a provision of the Water Privatisation Act(of Parliament) that the 'default' position is to charge for SWD and account holders must claim relief from that charge if they qualify. Had you read the literature that comes with your bill you would have been aware of the position.

All water companies are also empowered under the same Act to fit meters if there has been a change of occupant.

Perhaps you can give a link to the relevant regulations that show the companies are 'illegally breaking your human rights as no alternative supplier exists.'

Presumably you contend that the Water Privatisation Act that set up single companies and a Regulator(ofwat) is illegal??

I do hope you are correct;)

Gothicfairy

Human rights ? Oh for gods sake there is no human right to water on tap in your house and a meter has nothing at all to do with human rights at all.

I really hope you don't start your argument with them like that as it would remove any sense you might talk later on

kkpolobear

i would turn the water off at the stop clock and then leave it off for about 2 3 mins.
Then check the meter reading then again say in 5 mins i know you wont have any water but try that one to see if the meter still spins when water is off

another way is try by reading the meter before you leave then when you get back home to see if any of the reading as changed

Fidge_2

Mykidsmum wrote: »

So from what you are saying, if my next door neighbour installs a soakaway and succesfully claims because no surface water is being treated by Severn Trent then they should automatically give me the same allowance even though I haven't installed a soakaway?

No that's not what I'm saying, what I am saying is that they charge you even if the whole estate has been built with soakaways

Fidge_2

Cardew wrote: »

The water companies have no option but to charge everyone for surface water drainage(SWD) as it was a provision of the Water Privatisation Act(of Parliament) that the 'default' position is to charge for SWD and account holders must claim relief from that charge if they qualify. Had you read the literature that comes with your bill you would have been aware of the position.

All water companies are also empowered under the same Act to fit meters if there has been a change of occupant.

Perhaps you can give a link to the relevant regulations that show the companies are 'illegally breaking your human rights as no alternative supplier exists.'

Presumably you contend that the Water Privatisation Act that set up single companies and a Regulator(ofwat) is illegal??

I do hope you are correct;)

I understand what you are saying but I know many people that have tried claiming since the legislation in 2000 or there abouts can't remember exactly, but have been declined previously until perseverance has resulted in southern water accepting that their records were incorrect. Ofwat are a waste of tax payers money in my opinion.

We in Hampshire where I reside have been told the water meters are being fitted because of the drought (a joke in itself)and that we are at risk of water shortage in this area, the fact is that hampshire has never been at risk of water shortage only we have been grouped with areas such as Kent as a risk area, to subsidise these areas and as I say there is no option (at the moment) of alternative supplier.

I do know an individual who has refused the meter on human rights grounds at present and further action is pending so I will not discuss here as yet, if you do your research you will find this information out for yourself

Cardew

Fidge wrote: »

No that's not what I'm saying, what I am saying is that they charge you even if the whole estate has been built with soakaways

They have no option under the Water Privatisation Act but to charge everyone for SWD and the occupant must claim relief. It is THE LAW!!! All flats for example in a 30 storey block must pay if no soakaway.

Obviously it is a stupid law and the whole business of SWD is a mess.

The other thing that you don't seem to appreciate is that it doesn't matter to the water companies if people are charged for SWD or not.

The companies are allowed by the Regulator(ofwat) to raise £xxxmillion in revenue and make £yymillion profit and that is strictly enforced. If they collect, say, £1million less in SWD charges, they simply raise other charges by £1million to compensate.

The other point is that there are some 20 million dwellings in UK. Many owners don't know if they are liable for SWD and neither do the companies, and it is time consuming to find out the position. Are you suggesting that all 20 million properties should be inspected by the water companies - and how much would it cost.

All accounts are dealt with by 'The Computer'. Taking the point about your estate, do you expect the computer to realise that all houses on 'Tulip Avenue' are on the same estate as those on 'Primrose Drive'; and what about the other pre-war houses on those roads?

Fidge_2

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Human rights ? Oh for gods sake there is no human right to water on tap in your house and a meter has nothing at all to do with human rights at all.

I really hope you don't start your argument with them like that as it would remove any sense you might talk later on

My argument is if I'm being forced to metered charges I should be able to choose an alternative supplier to encourage competition and ensure I'm not being ripped off! There is a ceiling on profits that southern water can make by the regulator, but this is on profits only, which means any schemes for fitting meters, all carried out by contractors, might I add, could be appointed not at best value for the consumer as we would be ultimately paying for it.

Go ahead if you are quite willing to accept what is forced upon you with no alternative, I pity you if this is your way of life, or is it because you will be unaffected by metered charges? Are you on benefits or have 3 or more children under 19? If so you will be capped and will only be charged a certain amount no matter how much water you use, so everyne else pays for it! More proof that these meters have nothing to do with saving water!