Annual Water Bill

simont485

Hi

I am with Anglian Water and pay a monthly Direct Debit but I am only billed Annually. So the credit builds up over time. I asked to be billed monthly and I was told that is not possible as they do not employ enough meter readers. 

Every Anglian Water Customer is giving them money monthly which is only being used annually once a year. What do they do with this credit? and why not provide monthly bills even if they are estimated. 

These points have been raised with them by myself and I will update here whnn I get a reply.

Does anyone else think this in wrong?

Simon

subjecttocontract

I think the system works very well as it is. I pay Angian Water monthly. I'm billed every 6 months. I have a water meter. I pay by direct debit and I find it's pretty accurate.

MattMattMattUK

simont485 said:

Hi

I am with Anglian Water and pay a monthly Direct Debit but I am only billed Annually. So the credit builds up over time. I asked to be billed monthly and I was told that is not possible as they do not employ enough meter readers. 

That is a reasonable position, would you want your bills to increase because they had employed thousands of extra water meters so that they could produce monthly bills from meter readings?

simont485 said:

Every Anglian Water Customer is giving them money monthly which is only being used annually once a year. What do they do with this credit?

They use the credit to pay the workers wages, to pay for chlorine for the water supply, to buy equipment, maintain vehicles etc. It is not only being "used" annually, the annual bill and reconciling that against credit annually is just an accounting process. 

simont485 said:

and why not provide monthly bills even if they are estimated. 

Likely several factors, more work for starters, limited demand, limited if any benefit to themselves and being entirely estimated little to no benefit to customers either. Also likely to generate complaints (my estimate was wrong type complaints).

simont485 said:

These points have been raised with them by myself and I will update here whnn I get a reply.

Does anyone else think this in wrong?

Simon

I do not think it is "wrong", I cannot really see the issue, estimated bills offer no benefit whatsoever as things need to be be corrected when an accurate bill based on readings is submitted anyway, so they are pointless. Your monthly payment will be at 1/12th of your estimated usage, with things made accurate on the annual meter reading and bill, but I fail to see how them generating a bit of paper/PDF with "Estimated bill" on it changes anything. 

Alternatively you can submit a reading yourself, which may or may not generate an accurate bill. 
https://www.anglianwater.co.uk/account-and-bill/provide-a-meter-reading/
https://faq.anglianwater.co.uk/article/qed4321/how-do-i-provide-a-meter-reading

MikeJXE

I'm with Severn Trent and pay DD, they bill me every 6 months.

 If I am in credit/debit they adjust the DD accordingly 

 What's not to like 

DE_612183

I'm with Dwr Cymru - I know what they estimate I'll use in a year, and check every month ( same time as I do other utilities ) what the reading is and if it's in line.

They bill every 6 months - so far ( after 4 years ) it hasn't been far off.

born_again

Must be a Anglian thing.

We have a meter (Yorkshire water) & pay monthly (been like this for years), meter gets read once a year, when van drives past.

Works the same way as Gas & Electric..

simont485

Thank you for your comments......

All I want to do is have my direct debit used to pay the bill for that month. It seems that the money accruing over a 12month period is for the benefit of the Water Company, If I cant have my bill paid monthly then I would rather keep the money in my own account and pay annually.

Why should I just give them my money, Id rather pay for what I use when I use it. If it just an accountancy issue then just account monthly!

My Electricity bill is paid monthly with or with out meter readings so why not the water bill...just seems inconsistent. 

If 1million customers have £100 credit that is £100million in that companies bank and not in the customers.......i understand that not all customers have that credit or all pay at the same time but it just feels wrong to me.

Do other water companies provide monthly billing?

simont485

Anglian Water have now said it is because I dont have a smart water meter......so I cant be billed monthly....????

DE_612183

simont485 said:

Thank you for your comments......

All I want to do is have my direct debit used to pay the bill for that month. It seems that the money accruing over a 12month period is for the benefit of the Water Company, If I cant have my bill paid monthly then I would rather keep the money in my own account and pay annually.

Why should I just give them my money, Id rather pay for what I use when I use it. If it just an accountancy issue then just account monthly!

My Electricity bill is paid monthly with or with out meter readings so why not the water bill...just seems inconsistent. 

If 1million customers have £100 credit that is £100million in that companies bank and not in the customers.......i understand that not all customers have that credit or all pay at the same time but it just feels wrong to me.

Do other water companies provide monthly billing?

But the money isn't accruing - they are using it on a daily basis to pay for the services you receive on a daily basis.

The fact that you get a "statement" every year is neither here nor there - they do not get to keep the money and pay peoples wages once a year!

Mcfadden64

Hi I’m with Seven Trent water and my bill has gone up to £523.16 for 24/25. Have been trying since yesterday to get through and actually speak to someone.  No luck yesterday, but managed today after my second call.  I live in a very small two bed terraced home and there are two adults in the home.  We did a water meter comparison- showering everyday and washing clothes twice a week, I was only £1.00 better off.  Not happy with my bill as this is a third of my wage.

DE_612183

Mcfadden64 said:

Hi I’m with Seven Trent water and my bill has gone up to £523.16 for 24/25. Have been trying since yesterday to get through and actually speak to someone.  No luck yesterday, but managed today after my second call.  I live in a very small two bed terraced home and there are two adults in the home.  We did a water meter comparison- showering everyday and washing clothes twice a week, I was only £1.00 better off.  Not happy with my bill as this is a third of my wage.

Is it £523 a month?