Preparedness for when

Popperwell

I can understand you feeling that way Lyn. I only receive bad news or junk mail. So when I hear the letter box I take a deep breath especially if they are brown.

I think it's bad enough that gas and electric costs what it does and as I have said I am amazed that my bills go up at the end of March when I signed a duel deal to freeze my bills until the end of October...they are blaming the cost of delivering it and the new policies of the Government...

Now its water rates...the average rise is 3.5% but it appears they wanted to increase most by 10%:eek:I cannot install a water meter and pay approx £10 per week already. I hardly use any water, paying what I do I wish I could think of a reason to use much more:p

So you can do without that kind of marketing campaign for water softeners...

RAS

Lyn

Ring your local Trading Standards as this sounds like it is against the rules.

The other oens are the Government schemes to insulate house etc which are actually sale ploys referrign to the Government Schemes and all the PPI clima merchants etc.

fuddle

Popperwell wrote: »

I can understand you feeling that way Lyn. I only receive bad news or junk mail. So when I hear the letter box I take a deep breath especially if they are brown.

I think it's bad enough that gas and electric costs what it does and as I have said I am amazed that my bills go up at the end of March when I signed a duel deal to freeze my bills until the end of October...they are blaming the cost of delivering it and the new policies of the Government...

Now its water rates...the average rise is 3.5% but it appears they wanted to increase most by 10%:eek:I cannot install a water meter and pay approx £10 per week already. I hardly use any water, paying what I do I wish I could think of a reason to use much more:p

So you can do without that kind of marketing campaign for water softeners...

For anyone in the Northumbrian Water area have you ordered the free water saving kit? http://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/saving-water/water-saving-kit.aspx

Would be worth checking your own water company to see if they do a similar scheme.

If nwl can't fit you a meter you may be on the Assessed Charge in which case you could call them to inform them that the number of people in your house has fallen to just one and could they adjust the assessment accordingly

craigywv

just watched that clip about Greece and the farmers giving them food, i think its awfulmy heart went out to these poor people i hope something happens very quickly to resolve it. LYNN when do we set sail? 2T look out for the boat around September it will probally make your local news boat with men and women found off the coast of Cyprus adrift with various men and women and 2 dogs captaining the wheel well fed and watered through prepardness may i add xxx

[Deleted User]

Shall we wait for some slightly warmer weather CRAIGY, I wouldn't want the puppies to get frostbite of the ears by going to sea in February. We should be able to find her as long as one of us can count so we get the right mountain - otherwise we might be in for a long old trek when we get there!!!!!

pineapple

Popperwell wrote: »

I cannot install a water meter and pay approx £10 per week already. I hardly use any water, paying what I do I wish I could think of a reason to use much more:p

A friend applied for a water meter as she was living on her own and wanted to reduce costs. For various reasons they were unable to fit one so she was given a discount based on her estimated reduced use as a single person.
I looked into a discount for me, but was told that first you had to apply for a meter and then the discount was only granted if they were unable to fit one.:(
I would actually quite like a discount but I've heard that for owner occupiers, having a meter can actually devalue your home. Plus - as with the combi boiler in my old house - I have to run the water for an eternity till it gets hot. I then have to keep it running as I like to rinse in plain hot water and if I turn off the tap, it goes back to cold. :mad:

Popperwell

Thank you Fuddle,
It looks like I might be able to install a water meter which may half my bill(even with the increase announced)and as I use so little water that could be even more of a saving.

So I am having a serious think about it...It could save me a little or be used towards other bills even if it is only £5 a week...it all helps...if my HA won't allow it to be installed, if it can be installed on the public highway rather than in the property, they can't say no...

£5 or less per week is better than £10 per week.

maryb

I wouldn't worry too much about the water meter devaluing your house-
most houses will end up having them so it will become the norm.

They are pretty good at estimating how much a given house is likely to use so for an ordinary household the unmetered charge won't be that different to what you would use with a meter. That's what I found when I switched to a meter, anyway

And I think the same would apply for a single occupier ie you would save by applying for a meter as you would probably end up paying about the same with either a meter or an unmetered but discounted charge

Popperwell

pineapple wrote: »

A friend applied for a water meter as she was living on her own and wanted to reduce costs. For various reasons they were unable to fit one so she was given a discount based on her estimated reduced use as a single person.
I looked into a discount for me, but was told that first you had to apply for a meter and then the discount was only granted if they were unable to fit one.
I would actually quite like a discount but I've heard that for owner occupiers, having a meter can actually devalue your home. Plus - as with the combi boiler in my old house - I have to run the water for an eternity till it gets hot. I then have to keep it running as I like to rinse in plain hot water and if I turn off the tap, it goes back to cold. :mad:

Pineapple, They've noted that I have asked about a meter but taken no action and I told them not to yet...I was told that about the discount too.

And one day if//when they install a combi boiler as they will, if that means running the water any saving could be lost. Unlike rationing my electric and gas and this sounds awful maybe if I paying for water I should "Jolly well use it!" but in general I use so little...

3-4 mugs of tea/coffee daily. A shave every 4-5 days. A sponge down at the sink. Wash my few plates and mugs etc...doesn't take much being single. Use the washer perhaps onece a fortnight and that's it!

fuddle

LL/HA's have no say in whether you get a water meter. Our tenancy agreement in the old house said we weren't allowed to change the meter. I spoke nwl about it and they confirmed it was my right to ask the water company to alter their equipment. We did install the water meter and saved £25 per month in water.

For what it is worth the LL threatened to take both us and nwl to court. Sometimes though a tenancy agreement can state things that are above the rules and are unenforceable.

Go for it. You will save. £40 per month is what I spend on our meter - that is for a family of 4 and a washing machine going everyday. Ger yersel a meter

Edit: I wouldn't worry about the combi boiler. The new ones these days are pretty much instant heaters