Contacting STW regards water meter

Elmer_BeFuddled

Hi there, recently moved into new (to us) bungalow property and STW have estimated my meter reading for the 7th April as being 1503 as below.


However our(?) water meter, next to our front door path, in the grass verge and pretty much in line with our interior stopcock looks like this

(image taken from old flat meter for an example image only) and that meter reading on 7th April shows 00383.

Because the bungalow only has 4 black digits on the accounts website, whereas it is 5 black digits in our front 'garden', I could only enter the reading as 0383.

This hasn't been accepted it appears.

Who should I speak to? Would billing be able to sort it out.

TIA

Rodders53

Water meters have serial numbers on them. 
That number should (will) match up with the meter number on your Bill(s) for this address.

To prove the meter you think is yours have someone run water while you watch the meter and/or use the meter key/stop valve to turn off your home and prove it stops the flow from your pipework.

Take a photo of the meter and its reading immediately, and you should have done so on the day you moved in!

https://www.stwater.co.uk/help-and-contact/how-do-i-make-a-complaint/ 

Unfortunately without that initial moving in reading...

Elmer_BeFuddled

Initial reading from new property taken on the 7th April was 00383.

Sadly with my eyesight I can't see a meter number! Will have to get a meter key and/or watch the meter with taps running.

Thanks for your help and the link you provided.

Rodders53

DO try to photograph the meter ... you may then be able to see the serial on it better.

If you can read the meter numbers then the serial is usually on the casting above/around the window and a similar size (though much poorer contrast) Example here https://www.stwater.co.uk/my-account/my-water-meter/find-and-read-your-meter/.

That meter serial starts 11MAxx/xxx

Elmer_BeFuddled

Managed to get a picture and that meter number is nothing like the one showing on my account.

Time to be on to STW methinks.

Thanks again for your help

Elmer_BeFuddled

A final update. Our water meter had got "buried" in the grass/front garden. I was actually reading our neighbours meter ("OI!! HAVE IT IN YOUR OWN FRONT GARDEN!!").

STW came out, checked and condemned the meter due to "condensation/unreadable" issues in May, so had a new meter fitted and had 7 days 'free' use as meters/readings were changed over.

Everything now Hunky Dory.

Happy days!!