High water bill

charlz87

Hello
This is my first post on this forum so please bear with me.
I have just had a new water rates statement through and the total charge is £1157 for a year up to september 2013 which is £97 a month direct debit. My previous bills in the same property since 2007 have been around £30 per month for myself and my husband.
We dont have a dishwasher or hosepipe, we have 1 shower each every other day and the shower is electric, our central heating uses a gas bolier and there is 1 load of washing up every day.
Is this correct? Have bills really gone up this much? Only pay £61 per month for gas and electric combined.
I really cant afford this payment as we are both on low wages and scrimp together as it is.
Please can someone give me some advice as United Utilities have been no help as we are not in receipt of any benefits etc. Could their estimate be incorrect or is this the going rate?
I am really worried.
Thanks

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly charges have only increased by around 5% this year.

You are presumably on a meter! So it sounds very much like the £30 a month you were paying was insufficient and based on under-estimated meter readings.

If that is the case they will have increased the monthly amount you pay to cover their estimate of future usage, AND to pay back the debit balance you have built up.

You can phone the water company and check if that is the case, or if you post all the details on your bill we will be able to see if that is the position.

blindman

charlz87 wrote: »

Hello
This is my first post on this forum so please bear with me.
I have just had a new water rates statement through and the total charge is £1157 for a year up to september 2013 which is £97 a month direct debit. My previous bills in the same property since 2007 have been around £30 per month for myself and my husband.
We dont have a dishwasher or hosepipe, we have 1 shower each every other day and the shower is electric, our central heating uses a gas bolier and there is 1 load of washing up every day.
Is this correct? Have bills really gone up this much? Only pay £61 per month for gas and electric combined.
I really cant afford this payment as we are both on low wages and scrimp together as it is.
Please can someone give me some advice as United Utilities have been no help as we are not in receipt of any benefits etc. Could their estimate be incorrect or is this the going rate?
I am really worried.
Thanks

Get on the blower now to them, this is most possibly a mistake.

As a couple with dishwasher, two showers and water butts in the garden (+ the Mrs like to have bath) our water bills are approx £30 per month (our Gas\Elec is £64-not relevant to water charges )

Sounds like they've misread the water meter. UNLESS there's a HUGE leak either in your house (Think you may have spotted it) or after the water meter and leading up to your house.
Possible.

If either case you can claim a leakage allowance to cover this.