Severn Trent water metre

tashamac

We moved into a new build property on 27th November 2020, when we moved in the water metres hadn’t been fitted and we were told they would be fitted in January 2021, which eventually it was. We have since had an assessed bill from 14th December to 15th April for £135. I rang to query this as we had the meter fitted in January to be told no metre was registered on our account. Someone came out on the 11th may to check the metre and register it to our address. When he checked the metre it was at 26m3. Have again received another assessed bill from them today for a further £23 for water used between 15th April and 11th may. Has this happened to anyone else?? I’ve been on the phone all afternoon to them and am getting no where, as surely our water should’ve been metered from January and our assessed bill should just be 14th December to the date in January that it was fitted(can’t remember the day) the 26m3 is for around 18 weeks water and even Severn Trent have said its low usage for a family of 4, they are wanting to start the metered amount from 11th may as that’s when it was officially registered, even though it’s down to there negligence that it wasn’t registered properly 😭 

any help will be gratefully received thank you 😊

tashamac

JGB1955 said:

If the previous bill was 'so' low why are you moaning about it?  We're with Severn Trent - cost for a 4 bed, 2 people house (metered) is less than £30 per month. Bill for the last 6 months was for 40 square metres.

I’m not moaning about it being low, it’s high our direct debit is £42 a month and our predicted amount is £650 for the year which isn’t estimated based on the metre reading, the woman told me on the phone our metrered amount will be less going forward but they aren’t prepared to back date the metre reading to when it was fitted in January 

Cardew

I agree with you. If the meter was installed in January and on 11 May the reading was 26m3, then you should only pay for that consumption + standing charges; and be charged an assessed rate from the date of moving in to date of meter fitting. That assessed rate should be at the same daily consumption rate as for the 26m3.

They have absolutely no justification is assessing your consumption for an average family of 4 when they have an accurate record of your consumption over approx 4 months. That said 26m3 for 4 months for a family of 4 is extremely low - average would be 60-70m3

You don't have to pay by DD, you can pay on receipt of bill.

Contact the Consumer Council for Water https://www.ccwater.org.uk/make-a-complaint/