Unfair bills

Fireflyaway

Thanks all. I have over £800 outstanding from my old house. I don't mind paying what is due, but I don't believe this amount. When I have telephoned several advisors have agreed the water useage looked high but nobody seems able / willing to look into it. I was told yesterday its too late to do anything now we moved out. Have been told to pay up or debt collectors will be instructed. The last bill was adjusted after answering questions about water useage. They refunded us £65. That was just off the last 3 months . All the bills before that one were estimates which I still maintain were too high. I feel Thames Water don't care because they know I can't leave! I even emailed the chief exec to no avail. All they say is pay up. Nobody wants to look into the figures.

matelodave

Have you got a leak - you'd be amazed how much water can get lost with a small leak.

We read our meter regularly and all of a sudden we had a big increase in consumption - £120 of water in a month. which was a leak in the outside pipe caused by a sharp stone which had slowly penetrated the PVC pipe - it had taken 25 years since the house was built to finally push through.

As I said, if you dont read the meter yourself and get an idea of your consumption then you don't have any reference information to know whether you are using too much, too little or theres a problem.

One random read a year (or even less) by the water company isn't enough - because you've already used it and therefore have to pay for it.

Cardew

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Thanks all. I have over £800 outstanding from my old house. I don't mind paying what is due, but I don't believe this amount. When I have telephoned several advisors have agreed the water useage looked high but nobody seems able / willing to look into it. I was told yesterday its too late to do anything now we moved out. Have been told to pay up or debt collectors will be instructed. The last bill was adjusted after answering questions about water useage. They refunded us £65. That was just off the last 3 months . All the bills before that one were estimates which I still maintain were too high. I feel Thames Water don't care because they know I can't leave! I even emailed the chief exec to no avail. All they say is pay up. Nobody wants to look into the figures.

Assuming it is high, what do you feel is the reason?

Fireflyaway

I'm not sure apart from they have simply estimated the bills far higher than what we actually used. I was unable to lift the cover to read the meter myself. It was also far from the house in a row of meters not helped by the fact all the houses were numbered consecutively, apart from the last 2 that were numbered back to front. That led to us always getting next doors post and not realising for years we had been billed for thier electric in error. I don't mind paying any arrears, its the amount that seems steep. I used the calculator on the water consumer website which estimated annual useage of around £280 so we are being asked for 3 years useage based on that.

Cardew

Fireflyaway wrote: »

I'm not sure apart from they have simply estimated the bills far higher than what we actually used. I was unable to lift the cover to read the meter myself. It was also far from the house in a row of meters not helped by the fact all the houses were numbered consecutively, apart from the last 2 that were numbered back to front. That led to us always getting next doors post and not realising for years we had been billed for thier electric in error. I don't mind paying any arrears, its the amount that seems steep. I used the calculator on the water consumer website which estimated annual useage of around £280 so we are being asked for 3 years useage based on that.

I am not sure I understand your point on this issue.

Whilst the estimated readings might be annoying, once the meter has been correctly read, the exact amount that you should be charged can be calculated.

If, as you claim, the estimated bills have been 'far higher than what we actually use' then you will get a rebate.

From what you have said, all you need is a bill based on actual readings.

matelodave

It's not really all that difficult - go and read the meter yourself, send the info into the water company and ask for a revised bill. Then you can ask them to revise your direct debit.

Hving a bit of a moan about your house numbering or location of the meter isn't really what I'd call trying to get it sorted out. You have to put some effort in yourself

macman

Lifting the cover normally requires nothing more technical than a long screwdriver or similar lever.

Fireflyaway

Thanks guys. I can't read the meter that's the point. Even the water people struggled to access it. I have now resigned myself to the fact I'm going to have to pay the bill as nobody at Thames water wants to investigate. Even the advisors commented that the bills looked high but they don't actually do anything.

Cardew

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Thanks guys. I can't read the meter that's the point. Even the water people struggled to access it. I have now resigned myself to the fact I'm going to have to pay the bill as nobody at Thames water wants to investigate. Even the advisors commented that the bills looked high but they don't actually do anything.

I am afraid your posts seem to contradict each other.

Your complaint is that you are having bills based on Estimated readings; and those Estimated readings are too high.

You also asked if you should 'phone through' your actual readings.

Yet you are now saying that 'the water people' struggled to read your meter(not couldn't read it)

There are ways of progressing your complaint, but it is not clear why the meter reading that the 'water people' obtained isn't being used on your bill.