Water Meter imposed and installation cost charged to customer 30 November 2022 at 2:47PM in Water bills 6 replies 397 views

Albion_Inmate

Hi all,
United Utilities have installed Water Meters on the standpipes outside properties in our area, we do not believe we were advised of this prior to the work being done and had no option to refuse, we were advised that work would be carried out on a specific date, and that water supply would not be switched off. In the event water supply was switched off and back on again within an hour or two. The fall and resumption of water pressure caused a leak on the mains inlet to our property (on a pipe join before the mains stop-!!!!!!), an issue we had to pay a plumber to resolve ourselves as it's on the property-side of the stand-pipe. Our latest bill advises us that we will 'benefit from our Lowest Bill Guarantee for the next two years' whereby we will pay the lowest of the two figures: the existing flat-rate or the metered bill. However, UU have also charged us £208 for the installation of a meter which we cannot see, read or check; are they legally allowed to pass on the cost to the customer in this way when they have imposed the change upon us?
Thankyou in advance for your thoughts and consideration, Chris

macman

Why are you unable to see, read or check the meter?
Water meters are fitted free of charge, so I don't understand what this charge is for?
What 'standpipes 'are you referring to? Meters are normally fitted on the supply pipe just outside the boundary of the property, so on the pavement or street.
You don't have the option to refuse a meter, nor can you prevent them fitting it on the public street. 
You said that you were advised that the work would be done on date x, and then that you were not advised prior to the work being done, so which is it?

Robin9

There seems to be several issues here

1) A planned job - when the supply was restored resulted in a leak..   Not UU's fault really - your pipes and joints should be able to cope with that situation.

2) Standpipes can be used in case of emergency/planned  but  I've never heard of them being metered. If they are erected outside your property on public land why should the consult you.  Quite confusing.

3) A metered supply- which gives you the option to revert back to bills based on Council Tax can be a good deal. I cut my water bill by a third

4) Where is the meter ?  Often in the footpath -  you lift a lid, remove a chunk of polystyrene and read the meter

5) Could you post a copy of the bill/letter (blanking out the personal info) please ?   Hopefully that will explain what the charge is for. As @macman has said meters are fitted free.

Albion_Inmate

Issue has been satisfactorily resolved, some of which was due to a misunderstanding on my part, apologies for posting incomplete or incorrect information, Chris

Robin9

Thank you for coming back to us.

Out of interest what was the £208 for ?    My guess - an estimate of the annual bill.

freesha

Robin9 said:

3) A metered supply- which gives you the option to revert back to bills based on Council Tax can be a good deal. I cut my water bill by a third

Bills are not based on CT.

And while you can revert, you need to check how long your company will allow this - some say 12 months, others say 24, so always best to check

macman

Unmetered bills are based on the RV.