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Help with latest egregious water bill - £1650 for 6 months?!

Hi all,

Need some advice on what to do with my latest water bill from Thames Water. I've been billed for the last 175 days at nearly £1650. Keeping in mind it is only myself my partner living here in  small 2 bedroom flat without a garden it's pretty much inconceivable that we've used this much water - 519m3 they've said. We live in a block of 16 flats and we're on the top floor.

We moved here in early April and at the end of May we received our first bill for around £55 which seems more or less right for 6 weeks I thought. Wind it forward 6 months and they've asked us for £1650?!

I've contacted Thames Water and was told they'd arrange for someone to contact me within 10 working days to arrange an appointment for an engineer to visit. In the mean time I've notified the owner of the building, not sure what they can do to be honest but thought it best. I want to try and read the meter myself to see if it's been done right it's under this heavy concrete slab cover outside I don't have the tools to open it so I'm not really sure what I can do in the meantime.

It's slightly worrying prospect of being in debt for £1650 and more concerned about how long and how difficult this might be to get resolved.

If any has any advice or support I'd be very grateful. Thank you.


Comments

  • I should add we have no leaks in the property that we can see. Pretty sure we'd notice 519 cubic metres of water leaking out!
  • DE_612183
    DE_612183 Posts: 3,072 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Have you been able to check the readings ( perhaps they have used the wrong reading from a different meter ) either for your start reading or the current one..
  • Our opening meter reading was 895m3. It is now 1429m3. We moved in at April 2024. 

    I am unable to get to the meter as it is under a heavy concrete slab.
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,139 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    You need to lift that slab.
  • That’s a lot of water. It works out roughly at 3,000 litres per day. 

    1. You need to check the meter. Get someone to help you access the meter. Take a photo of the meter and compare the meter number with the meter number on your bill. Check the reading. Is it consistent with Thames Waters reading? Does the bill say it’s an actual reading rather than an estimate? If it’s an estimate ask them to update your bill based on your reading. 

    2. While you have access to the meter do a leak check. Make sure you are not using any water in your flat and take meter readings an hour apart. I would try to do this when the other flats might be occupied and possibly when they are less likely to be using water. It sounds like you might be being charged for the whole block of flats consumption. If there is no movement you shouldn’t have a leak. If there is movement either you have a leak or the supply is to more than your flat.

    3. Once you know a bit more tell Thames Water. If they don’t help complain in writing until you get through their complaints procedure and then you can take it to the Consumer Council for Water. It’s an external complaints process. It should be taken more seriously by their complaints team. You could try complaining to the CEO but I am not sure how good they are. 
  • HampshireH
    HampshireH Posts: 4,755 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    japortre said:
    Our opening meter reading was 895m3. It is now 1429m3. We moved in at April 2024. 

    I am unable to get to the meter as it is under a heavy concrete slab.
    As fat belly said you need to lift the slab. They aren't inaccessible and it's exactly what the waterboard will need to do.

    Chances are you will see that clock spinning when your water is off
  • Update:

    TW sent me a revised bill this morning for £182.75 for 194 days of usage. Seems they've been out and re-read the meter as it's now dated up until 03/12/2. Not really sure what happened as they didn't tell me anything but guess this is a positive result. Had someone coming over later today to help me read the meter, think I'll still do that to be sure but all in all a good in the end.

    Thanks for all the advice.
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