can this be right - surely NOT!! HELP HELP!

lynzpower

Just came home to find our first bill from Thames water

Does not make pleasant reading at all. :eek:

19th January- 31st March ( 438 days)

Water 175@53.45 - supply charge 110.61 fixed charge 29.73 total 140.34
wastewater 175@ 28.65 59.48 fixed charge 38.11 total 97.59


grand total 237.93!!! for not even 10 weeks - surely this isnt right is it! 103 pcm- I tohught most people paid about 40-50!!! whats going on here!!

We did ask if we could have a water meter, but they said no as we are on a private road even tho the council collect our bins, we pay C tax etc.

Anyone got any ideas if there is anything we can do!!!

Psykicpup

If you dont have a water meter I guess you are on RV which is charged in advance for the year - so what you have there is the bill until March 31 2008
if you set a plan to start June & run until March thats 10 pymts so £23.80 (roughly) a month.......

lynzpower

OMG- thanks so much- you are right!!!

That'll teach me to read properly- I saw the figure and then came to pure red mist!

thanks a lot

lapat

lynzpower wrote: »

OMG- thanks so much- you are right!!!

That'll teach me to read properly- I saw the figure and then came to pure red mist!

thanks a lot

thats a cheap bill is your property council tax band A

olly300

lapat wrote: »

thats a cheap bill is your property council tax band A

Nope bills are based on rateable value.

So if in 1990 your property was classed as not that desirable you get cheaper water rates. :j

I've lived in a large 3 bedroom house and a 2 bedroom flat. The 2 bedroom flat's water rates where approximately £170 higher even though now the 3 bedroom house is more expensive and is in a higher council tax band. Most people who lived in that block of flats where on water meters because of this.

olly300

lynzpower wrote: »

Just came home to find our first bill from Thames water

We did ask if we could have a water meter, but they said no as we are on a private road even tho the council collect our bins, we pay C tax etc.

Anyone got any ideas if there is anything we can do!!!

A private road should have nothing to do with it as a meter can be placed inside your house i.e. on the kitchen stopclock. Write to Thames Water CustomerServices@thameswater.co.uk and get a reply in writing of why they refuse to give you a water meter. In your email include your account number and make it clear that you want to comply with their policy of getting everyone on a water meter and know that water meters can be place either inside or outside the property.


Then if their reply doesn't doesn't make sense complain to http://www.ccwater.org.uk/

Thames water have annoyed me greatly in the past 4 months and strangely everytime I've threatened to take the matter further they have suddenly sorted things out.

Also you can pay your bill in installments either phone them up or write to them and demand you pay by installments.

lynzpower

Im fairly sure in thinking about it that a water meter would cost us more than this , as I have sensitive skin and have to do a lot of washing. - machines on almost twice a day.

I will pay in installments, as we will probably be moving after the 6 month break clause.

cheers again

scheming_gypsy

lynzpower wrote: »

OMG- thanks so much- you are right!!!

That'll teach me to read properly- I saw the figure and then came to pure red mist!

thanks a lot

you even typed out 438 days as well and didn't spot it

lapat

olly300 wrote: »

Nope bills are based on rateable value.

So if in 1990 your property was classed as not that desirable you get cheaper water rates. :j

I've lived in a large 3 bedroom house and a 2 bedroom flat. The 2 bedroom flat's water rates where approximately £170 higher even though now the 3 bedroom house is more expensive and is in a higher council tax band. Most people who lived in that block of flats where on water meters because of this.

really think you got away with that one lightly as well.

lapat

lynzpower wrote: »

Im fairly sure in thinking about it that a water meter would cost us more than this , as I have sensitive skin and have to do a lot of washing. - machines on almost twice a day.

I will pay in installments, as we will probably be moving after the 6 month break clause.

cheers again

you can actually have a water meter installed on a trial basis
i.e you can get the first six month bill if you dont like it then you can ask to go back on to rateable value.

but you have to inform them before month 13 or the metered bills stay
if you do decide to go onto the meter and then decide before the 13 months is up that you want to come of it the meter will stay in on your property and the next tenant will have to go onto the meter......

Snow_Dog

If you're moving out after 6 months on a break clause then I presume you are renting, in which case I guess you would have to clear the meter fitting with the landlord anyway.

Also, just checked 19th January 2007 to 31st March 2008 is 438 days according to Excel, enter the two dates then subtract one from the other and format the cell as a number, gives 437.