Water charges

ditty1234

I haven't been on this forum long enough to have seen anything about water charges. But I am fuming. I just received a 5 month bill of £178, and this is based on 2 people with the lowest average usage. This leaves me with a monthly bill of £35, which will then be my highest individual bill after rent and council tax.
Out of that the standing charge is £50 so almost a third. So between council tax and standing charges I probably pay a good £30-£50 more a month as a single parent than a couple. And I dont really have 2 incomes to cover that.
So yes, I am absolutely fuming.

Exodi

So what's the question? From my understanding, you don't have a water meter (as you seem to suggest your bill is estimated) - just ask the water board to come out and fit a meter (they'll do this for free) if you believe you're paying for more water than you're using (though to most peoples surprise, it's often the other way round).

Regarding the standing charge, you're welcome to change utility providers but, at least for residential consumers, you'll find there's not that many options.

Lastly, with all due respect as I appreciate you're angry, you're a single parent (so there is two of you) and your bill has been based on 2 people with the lowest use - which part of this did you deem unjust? You compare yourself to a couple who have two incomes, but don't appreciate that this is one of the things child benefit is intended to alleviate.

EDIT: Regarding Council Tax - do you claim a reduction on this as you are the sole adult in the property? Council's usually give you 25% off your bill.

poppasmurf_bewdley

ditty1234 wrote: »

I haven't been on this forum long enough to have seen anything about water charges. But I am fuming. I just received a 5 month bill of £178, and this is based on 2 people with the lowest average usage. This leaves me with a monthly bill of £35, which will then be my highest individual bill after rent and council tax.
Out of that the standing charge is £50 so almost a third. So between council tax and standing charges I probably pay a good £30-£50 more a month as a single parent than a couple. And I dont really have 2 incomes to cover that.
So yes, I am absolutely fuming.

Actually, a monthly charge of £35 a month is pretty reasonable.

Ten years ago, I was paying more than that on a two bedroom flat which my son and I shared.

But I saw sense and had a meter installed, which saw a dramatic reduction in payments.

macman

Water bills aren’t based on the estimated number of occupants. They're either metered, in which case go back to them with an actual reading from the meter, or they are based on the RV, in which case the actual usage or number of occupants is irrelevant.
Get a meter fitted and then revert within 12m if it’s no cheaper. It’s a no brainer.

ditty1234

Actually, a monthly charge of £35 a month is pretty reasonable.

Ten years ago, I was paying more than that on a two bedroom flat which my son and I shared.

But I saw sense and had a meter installed, which saw a dramatic reduction in payments.

Poppa you think it i reasonable, but then you were able to cut the cost. ... I have already cut the cost as much I can without showering every other day, and the standing charge is about 30% of my bill on which I have no influence, so I still think the overall cost os just too high.

Hi I have a water meter and I get a 24% discount on council tax, I am frustrated about monthly utility charges, where I have no controle and no way of bringing them down, and I think it is an unfair additional tax/levy on a single income household, where I have already cut everything else to the bone. So yes I think £35 a month is a very high cost for water, and we are already matching the lowest average usage for 2 people.
And I don't think the child credits are meant to pay for council tax as this is putting money in one pocket to take it out of the other, which doesn't make any sense. Also I am in the middle bracket where I don't get much in terms of tax credits, but don't make a million either.

Exodi

ditty1234 wrote: »

Hi I have a water meter and I get a 24% discount on council tax, I am frustrated about monthly utility charges, where I have no controle and no way of bringing them down, and I think it is an unfair additional tax/levy on a single income household, where I have already cut everything else to the bone. So yes I think £35 a month is a very high cost for water, and we are already matching the lowest average usage for 2 people.

Hold up, so is there a question or is this just a rant about utility costs? If you want to vent, it's probably best placed here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=82

ditty1234 wrote: »

And I don't think the child credits are meant to pay for council tax

I referred to utility bills; Child Benefit is aimed at easing the additional costs of bringing up children (whether it's sufficient is up for debate of course).

If your financial circumstances are as bad as your anger over the utility standing charge suggests, I think you should head over to the DFW forums and post a statement of affairs so people can help suggest where cutbacks can be made.

Do you receive Child Maintenance from the dad?

macman

Ok, so you are metered. Is this bill actual, or estimated?
You can’t change water supplier, in England, but you can change all the other utility suppliers. Are you on the best gas and electricity tariffs? if on SVT you could be paying £300pa over the cheapest.
Water prices vary by as much as 250% between regions, with South West Water being by far the most expensive.
Your CT single person discount should be 25%.

sourcrates

Are you sure you don`t have any leaks anywere ?


Even a dripping tap will cost you over time.


Best way to check is to turn off all water usage in the house, then watch the meter, see if the dial moves, if it does, you have a leak, if it dosent, you dont.


Also get intouch with your supplier, sometimes they take estimated readings, i have a 1000 gallon pond in the garden, they took there estimate last year the same month i changed the water in it, so my last years payments have all been too high, its now righted itself again.

iolanthe07

This leaves me with a monthly bill of £35

£35 a month seems pretty reasonable to me. Just over a pound a day for a constant reliable supply of potable water, plus sewage and waste water disposal, is an absolute bargain when you think about it. Just be glad you don't live in Devon or Cornwall where water charges really are eye-watering.

ditty1234

I am partly venting but mainly trying to find what other people pay and what they think.
There was an interesting discussion about council tax on money box on r4 the other day and how random it is to give people a 25% discount on council tax, when it logically should be 50%, I did not make this up.
I am happy to pay for clean water, but I think the standing charges ia a very high percentage, and this does not encourage people to save water, and hence punishes small or frugal households. And yes it is metered.
And if it is more expensive in other areas, then yes that must be frustrating in particular as you don;t really have a choice of provider. Thanks for comments.
(And I'll have to see if I can locate that water meter!)

WhenIam64

Check to see if

a) This is water only or does it include sewerage bills. Some areas used to charge separately as they were separate companies but more often now, they make one collection for the two companies.

b) Check what special arrangements are in play for high use, low income, benefit claimants or any other arrangement the water companies have in place for those with problems in paying their bills.

Lastly don't get into arrears. They can't cut off your water (no alternative provider as you said) unlike the electricity companies but some of them like to wash their debts through the court system, turning a non-priority debt in a priority one with a CCJ.