My water bill must be too high right??! :( 24 May 2005 at 10:29PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Water Bills 11 replies 5.2K views

brisck1

Hi everyone,
I just moved into a new flat a couple of weeks ago and have been trying to sort out all my bills and stuff over that time and have finally got one left to sort out - WATER!

After ringing the Southwest Water company (Devon) I was quoted a huge bill which worked out at £48 per month over 8 months - I knew water rates were high down here but I wasnt expecting that much!

Im currently trying to get a meter fitted but I just want to make sure if this is right and if not what can I do about it?

Thanks in advance
Rob

deanos

Ask a neighbour and ask what they are paying.

Seems waer is always the last bill to be sorted in my experience everyone seems to forget it !

Murtle

Water is based on the rateable value of your property, and I understand costal areas have higher prices (cause you're on the coast?!). Ask a neighbour as mentioned what theirs is. If it's incorrect then contact the water board and explain, they should re-issue a new bill.

Good luck

brisck1

Well I had a chat with my brother earlier and he was pretty shocked lol. He lives in a two bedroom house and pays £15-20 a month!! He's in the same town and higher value property! Im only in a rented small one bed flat, the only difference is he has a meter and I dont...

deanos

Did you own another property with the same water co, you might be still paying some off on the old bill ?

brisck1

nah this is the first time i've moved out on my own

Norma_Desmond

I live on the coast - 4 bed, 2 bath house and *only* pay around £27 per month - yours does sound excessive brisck!

gatita

NOTHING would surprise me with Southwest Water, in any other country they would be had up for theft! I live in Devon, one person, small property and have to try and find £35 each month. What I find iniquitous is the sewerage charge! my last bill was £41 for sewerage and £20 for water........... it just beggars belief.

withabix

Unfortunately it isn't your water company who are to blame, it is OFWAT and the government.

How do you think the water companies are supposed to pay for OFWAT-imposed water and sewer system and treatment upgrades other than by charging their customers???

Anyway, a good point for the future: 2 or less occupants of a property - GET A METER FITTED (it's free - you ask your water company to fit one)!!!

Paul_Varjak

OK, £48/month for eight months, but it is probably pays for one year, so you pay nothing from December-March. In effect, that is really £32/month.

But a water meter will, almost certainly, be cheaper. Get a meter fitted for free and you have one year to decide if it is better for you. If it is not, just tell the Water Authority that you want to revert to Rateable Value.

However, as you are in a flat, there may be problems fitting a meter - your water supply may not be separate from neighbours, or there may be difficulties in finding a suitable location for the meter.

gatita

Iankirk, I AM on a meter.............. the Lord only knows what it would be if I were not, and I still think it is dreadfully unfair that the people of Devon and Cornwall have to pay ALL the costs of cleaning our beaches. The water companies should NEVER have been privatised, but now the mess has been made, the government should subsidise these astronomical charges