Company use estimation to charge you. Is your water bill fair?

aptgirl

My water supplier is Northumbria water.

Due to frequent travel, I am hardly home (maybe two days a week in average); whenever I am home I would go to gym and shower there ( I don't feel like walking on the street all sweaty). Therefore it can be said that most of my water is used on drinking, light washing ( I don't usually cook at home either), and watering my plants ( and I have a lot of them).

I was reviewing my water bill few months ago, and realized that I was charged quit substantial amount for sewage discharge. So I called up the company and inquire on their sewage charge and ask if the meter was correctly installed. I was then told that there was no meter for sewage discharge. The company simply give you an estimated number. I then asked them how valid their estimation is, and there was no clear answer on that.

Personally I did not feel it was fair for a company to ask its customer to pay for something it cannot justify. I want to know what do you guys think about it?

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

I think you have misunderstood the position.

If you are metered the sewerage charge is based on the amount of water you use(they allow between 5% and 10%) for water that does not enter a sewer.

So if you use, say, 50 cubic metres of water in a year, your sewerage charges will be based on that consumption. If your water consumption is estimated, it follows that your sewerage will be estimated. However once a meter reading is taken the charges will be adjusted to actual consumption.

If you have no meter, your water and sewerage charges will be based on the Rateable Value of your property and are not estimated. However you have a meter.

Edit.
If you can prove that a higher percentage( than the 5% or 10%) of supplied water enters a sewer you can claim relief.

footyguy

aptgirl wrote: »

My water supplier is Northumbria water.

Due to frequent travel, I am hardly home (maybe two days a week in average); whenever I am home I would go to gym and shower there ( I don't feel like walking on the street all sweaty). Therefore it can be said that most of my water is used on drinking, light washing ( I don't usually cook at home either), and watering my plants ( and I have a lot of them).

I was reviewing my water bill few months ago, and realized that I was charged quit substantial amount for sewage discharge. So I called up the company and inquire on their sewage charge and ask if the meter was correctly installed. I was then told that there was no meter for sewage discharge. The company simply give you an estimated number. I then asked them how valid their estimation is, and there was no clear answer on that.

Personally I did not feel it was fair for a company to ask its customer to pay for something it cannot justify. I want to know what do you guys think about it?

Sorry I don't understand.

If you are on a water meter, you will have a meter that records how much water you use.
If that reading is estimated, check it against the current meter reading (or an error will be corrected nectxt time they have an actual meter reading)

Your sewage will be the same units as the used water, charged at the appropriate sewage rate. (That's how Nortumbria Water do it - other suppliers may do it differently)

For both supply & sewage, the price is made up of a fixed charge (like a standing charge) and the metered amount


If you are un-metered, then the price is based on the rateable value of the property (plus a fixed charge)

Current tariffs/charges are shown here:
https://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-account/tariffs-and-charges.aspx

An explanation of a bill is given here:
https://www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-account/your-bill.aspx