Water Meter Fitted without my Permission

strokebow1

Hi all,
I first wrote on this, here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3874685

I never continued with correspondence but neither did they. Turns out United Utilities just fitted a water meter in the street and started charging me.

interestingly, they never ever informed me of the work nor of the actual change over. Just picked up my end of year bill and I've been on a water meter (without my knowledge) for a fair few months.

How can this be right? Any advice is - as ever - greatly appreciated.

cheers

Norman_Castle

http://www.unitedutilities.com/documents/UUW_Limited_-_Household_charges_scheme_2015-2016.pdf

3.4.1
Categories of premises
We will usually require the following categories of premises to be
2015/2016 Household charges scheme
Page 25
of
60

compulsorily
metered:
metered
•
new premises built on or after 1 April 1990, including flats
(which should normally be separately metered) and including
premises which were previously non
-
household premises and
which have been converted to household premises on or after
1 April 1990;
•
premises which have been split or merged into a different
number of premises or substantially altered (except premises
where the occupier has previously received an unmeasured
bill for those premises (see section 144B of the Act);

strokebow1

Thanks for your comment.

So the bully boy monopolising water company that is United Utilities... wins again!

When o when will we be given a choice with Water suppliers!!!!

lstar337

They are bullying you by asking to pay for what you use rather than having a near unlimited supply for a fixed fee?

I don't understand.

bluewire

When o when will we be given the choice to go back off a meter with my gas and elec. I hate the fact that I am being bullied in to paying for what I use.

GingerBob_3

lstar337 wrote: »

They are bullying you by asking to pay for what you use rather than having a near unlimited supply for a fixed fee?

I don't understand.

It's quite straightforward. He didn't want a water meter, for whatever reason, but the unaccountable low-lifes at UU forced him to have one, and then didn't tell him about it.


UU operate in north-west England, where it p1sses down for most of the year. There's no shortage of water in that area, so no real need for water meters.

Cardew

GingerBob wrote: »

UU operate in north-west England, where it p1sses down for most of the year. There's no shortage of water in that area, so no real need for water meters.

So is he fed this copious supply of rainwater without treatment?


Similarly is his sewerage untreated?

lstar337

GingerBob wrote: »

It's quite straightforward. He didn't want a water meter, for whatever reason, but the unaccountable low-lifes at UU forced him to have one, and then didn't tell him about it.

Interesting.

Has he also informed his gas and electric suppliers that he doesn't want a meter for them either?

I guess fuel stations must be real chore too, as they are metered.

Heaven forbid he actually consider his usage!

It seems to me the only reason for him to object to a meter is so that he can continue to pi55 water down the drain without paying any extra for it.

GingerBob_3

Cardew wrote: »

So is he fed this copious supply of rainwater without treatment?


Similarly is his sewerage untreated?

No. I'm sure they pump all sorts of chemicals into it (e.g. fluoride) that he might not want.


Not sure about his sewerage. Maybe he has a septic tank. In any event, sewerage and rainwater drainage isn't metered.

GingerBob_3

lstar337 wrote: »

Interesting.

Has he also informed his gas and electric suppliers that he doesn't want a meter for them either?

I guess fuel stations must be real chore too, as they are metered.

Heaven forbid he actually consider his usage!

It seems to me the only reason for him to object to a meter is so that he can continue to pi55 water down the drain without paying any extra for it.

I detect a note of envy here. Admit it. You've got a meter and you don't like it that others haven't. You'd rather be without one, wouldn't you?


Anyway, I suspect most people without a meter pay more than they would if they had a meter. As such, they are subsidising those with a meter and they're happy to do so! That's a so-called "win-win" isn't it?

lstar337

GingerBob wrote: »

I detect a note of envy here. Admit it. You've got a meter and you don't like it that others haven't. You'd rather be without one, wouldn't you?

I don't know about envy. I would rather it were a level playing field. Either we all have one, or nobody has one.

GingerBob wrote: »

Anyway, I suspect most people without a meter pay more than they would if they had a meter. As such, they are subsidising those with a meter and they're happy to do so! That's a so-called "win-win" isn't it?

Or water wasters who don't have a meter are pushing up the bills of those of us who are careful with their usage. Could look at it either way.