Ridiculous Bill - Need Advice

dunmol

Hello,
I moved into a 3 bed flat on 25th Nov and took a water meter reading of 944. It’s the first time I’ve had a water meter. I’m single, kids stay twice a week and I set up a direct debit of £30 a month. Yesterday I got a bill from Thames Water stating I’m £1234 in debt ! They had a meter reading of 1529 from 6May. 

I couldn’t believe this but went to the meter and it was reading 1533 so looked like their reading was correct.
My initial thinking was that my first reading must have been wrong but on speaking to Thames Water they stated they took a reading of 942 on 5th Nov. 

When I moved into the flat one toilet was gently constantly running, I got that fixed on 23rd March. If this was the problem it would explain why the latest 2 readings average 0.25m3 per day.
Would that toilet really use that much water though, seems completely excessive? Also it didn’t appear to be a problem in the readings in Nov when I moved in. Thames Water are currently stating i’m liable for the bill. I simply can’t afford it. Could I claim leak allowance ? 

Advice welcome !! 

Thanks 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

The toilet will almost certainly be the cause of the excessive use.

one toilet was gently constantly running

Literally pouring money down the toilet.

Keep an eye on readings for the next week or two to make sure they are more realistic, maybe equivalent to c100 units/year.

Is the bill based on usage to date or does it factor in expected future usage, on the assumption you will continue using a very large amount?

maisie_cat

I suspect a leak allowance would only apply if you were not aware that there was a leak. A running toilet is obvious and it wasn't fixed for months.
If it ever starts running again and you cannot fix it immediately,  take a screwdriver into the loo and turn the isolating valve off between flushes. 
You will have to make arrangements to pay if you cannot get them to reduce the bill as a goodwill gesture.

dunmol

The bill is based on units to date. The actual total bill is £1384 for six months. Even with the toilet, it just seems very, very high, but I’m no water usage expert. 

comeandgo

In effect you had a tap running non stop for 4 months, that is a lot of water.  Will you be able to suggest a payment plan with them?

dunmol

So £10 a day from a gentle toilet leak sounds about right ? I’m probably going to try for leak allowance. I’ve yet to tell Thames Water what the leak was. 

maisie_cat

A quick Google suggests 20 litres an hour running water from a loo, that 86 m3 for 180 days. That according to TW should result in a bill of circa £250 so yes your looks high with nearly 600 m3.
The other option are other leaks on your side of the meter or you are paying the entire block's bill.
What happens to the readings when you turn off the stopcock?
Is your flat new or a conversion? 

Hasbeen

dunmol said:

So £10 a day from a gentle toilet leak sounds about right ? I’m probably going to try for leak allowance. I’ve yet to tell Thames Water what the leak was. 

Info from Thames water

"Leak allowances – what you need to know
 1. Once you’ve found a leak, please repair it within three weeks and submit your claim within 90 days of the repair.

 2. If you’re eligible for a leak allowance, we’ll credit it to your account. Please continue paying your bill in the meantime.

3. You can only claim a leak allowance once for leaks inside your property. However, you can claim multiple times for leaks on
 your external water supply pipe.

 4. We’ll only apply the allowance for the period the leak occurred to a maximum of two years.

5. You won’t be eligible for a leak allowance if we had to repair the leak in relation to a waste of water enforcement notice.

 6. You won’t be eligible for a leak allowance if the leak was caused by negligence or if you knew, or should have known, there was a leak and failed to repair it.

 7. Please enclose proof of repair if a third party has fixed the leak for you (e.g. a plumber’s invoice or insurance documents)"

theoretica

Are your readings in cubic meters? Just running a few numbers, it does seem more like a tap running full on than a gentle dribble, but toilets can be deceptive and leak more water than they seem to be.

dunmol

Hasbeen said:

dunmol said:

So £10 a day from a gentle toilet leak sounds about right ? I’m probably going to try for leak allowance. I’ve yet to tell Thames Water what the leak was. 

Info from Thames water

"Leak allowances – what you need to know
 1. Once you’ve found a leak, please repair it within three weeks and submit your claim within 90 days of the repair.

 2. If you’re eligible for a leak allowance, we’ll credit it to your account. Please continue paying your bill in the meantime.

3. You can only claim a leak allowance once for leaks inside your property. However, you can claim multiple times for leaks on
 your external water supply pipe.

 4. We’ll only apply the allowance for the period the leak occurred to a maximum of two years.

5. You won’t be eligible for a leak allowance if we had to repair the leak in relation to a waste of water enforcement notice.

 6. You won’t be eligible for a leak allowance if the leak was caused by negligence or if you knew, or should have known, there was a leak and failed to repair it.

 7. Please enclose proof of repair if a third party has fixed the leak for you (e.g. a plumber’s invoice or insurance documents)"

But Thames Water don’t know what the leak was.... 

dunmol

maisie_cat said:

A quick Google suggests 20 litres an hour running water from a loo, that 86 m3 for 180 days. That according to TW should result in a bill of circa £250 so yes your looks high with nearly 600 m3.
The other option are other leaks on your side of the meter or you are paying the entire block's bill.
What happens to the readings when you turn off the stopcock?
Is your flat new or a conversion? 

The latest reading from 
6th May until 23rd May were 1529-1533, which suggests all is now ok. I’m going to checking these on a regular basis for next month or so. 

What is strange is the reading prior to moving in where Aldo ok. 942 -944 over 20 days in Nov. I’m wondering if that toilet hadn’t been used in a while and the leak started when I moved in and started using it.