Thames fit a water meter without consulting me!

al_bristol

You may end up paying less if you switch to a meter. This website claims to be able to tell you. http://www.uswitch.com/Water/Why-Switch.html

Woby_Tide

sassy2104 wrote: »

We recently moved house and had to have a meter fitted - we were informed beforehand but I think this method of fitting meters when there is a change of occupancy is totally wrong - I am not against water meters as such and can understand the need for them - what I object to is just because I moved house, I have to pay for every drop I use while my neighbours can freely wash the car, water the garden and generally waste as much water as they like while I am subsidizing them!! Surely it would be better (and easier for the water companies) to fit meters one area at a time rather than an odd house here and there, as people move house. When there are not many people living in a big house, they can request a meter - which works out cheaper for them but when there are lots of people living in a house, you can't request NOT to have a meter!!! Where's the justice in that ???!!! I have put my complaint in writing to both my water company and Ofwat and will be taking it further. Sorry to waffle on but it just makes me so cross.

It's probably easier for the water companies to do compulsory water meters as part of a change of ownership as if they did it area by area they'd have to deal with umpteen phone calls everyday from people declaring "Wheres the justic in that" and "Why can they(random other property that belongs to a relative in another area/town/country) use as much water as they want but I can't." (let alone the fact that half of those calling probably don't realise a meter would be cheaper anyway).

I've no real qualms about having people forced into having some responsibility to be honest. Whilst the companies themselves still have a way to go with regards to keeping their own house in order with regards to leaks, if compulsory meeting even gets 25% of the population to sit up and pay attention to how much water they are using and to modify their habits then I'm afraid there is very little sympathy to be had for anyone opposing that view. if people have genuine reasons(medical etc.) why metering would be bad then thats fair enough, they should remain un-metered. The rest, thats just responsibility. We pay for the gas/electric we use and modify our usage because of it. Why not with water

Cardew

sassy2104 wrote: »

We recently moved house and had to have a meter fitted - we were informed beforehand but I think this method of fitting meters when there is a change of occupancy is totally wrong - I am not against water meters as such and can understand the need for them - what I object to is just because I moved house, I have to pay for every drop I use while my neighbours can freely wash the car, water the garden and generally waste as much water as they like while I am subsidizing them!! Surely it would be better (and easier for the water companies) to fit meters one area at a time rather than an odd house here and there, as people move house. When there are not many people living in a big house, they can request a meter - which works out cheaper for them but when there are lots of people living in a house, you can't request NOT to have a meter!!! Where's the justice in that ???!!! I have put my complaint in writing to both my water company and Ofwat and will be taking it further. Sorry to waffle on but it just makes me so cross.

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

I have to say that I tend toward the views of Woby_Tide above.

It seems that you agree with the principle of metering, but don't like someone getting a better deal than yourself.

Actually in some areas, where there is a regular shortage of water, the Government have authorised compulsory fitting of water even to existing occupants. However apart from those areas the water companies have no power under the Goverment act which privatised the water industry to compel existing occupants to get a meter.

IMO the Government(ofwat) should have been increasing the unmetered water charges at a higher rate than metered charges over the past years to make a meter a more attractive proposition.

Complaining to the water company and ofwat will be a nugatory exercise I am afraid as they are bound by a Goverment Act.

That said I am not clear what you want to happen, people being able to opt for an unmetered tariff, or compulsory metering for all.