50% Increase in Thames Water Bill

debitcardmayhem

galed001 said:

tizerbelle said:

You do realise that Ofwat approved the price increases?

 I acknowledge that Ofwat has approved these increases, but this does not address my concerns as a paying customer.

While regulatory approval may allow for such price adjustments, it does not automatically justify them, particularly given the ongoing issues with Thames Water’s service levels, infrastructure maintenance, and customer satisfaction. Many households are already facing significant financial pressures, and an increase in water charges—especially without a noticeable improvement in service quality—is deeply concerning.

How can they improve your service, taps deliver potable water ✅ does the messy stuff flow away ✅
Now i agree that doesn’t happen everywhere, but they also were allowed to arrange an emergency funding, not ideal but if they go under then every taxpayer will foot the bill 

MattMattMattUK

galed001 said:

tizerbelle said:

You do realise that Ofwat approved the price increases?

 I acknowledge that Ofwat has approved these increases, but this does not address my concerns as a paying customer.

While regulatory approval may allow for such price adjustments, it does not automatically justify them, particularly given the ongoing issues with Thames Water’s service levels, infrastructure maintenance, and customer satisfaction. Many households are already facing significant financial pressures, and an increase in water charges—especially without a noticeable improvement in service quality—is deeply concerning.

Water is and has been too cheap for decades, chronic underinvestment in the sector, prices need to rise to correct that. Now sure, the current business model has not helped, but the reality is that is only causing a small part of the rise, most if it is down to lack of investment and having kept costs down historically. 

Tucosalamanca

People have been paying £1 per day for water, they're now complaining that it will now cost closer to £2 per day.

Cost of everything, value of nothing springs to mind....

sarahmad

My water bill has just increased by over 100% which is outrageous for a 3 person house on a water meter. Monthly payments increased for £37 to £78er month. TW say they have had a 40% increase OK’d over 5 years but they are applying the increases all in the first year.
How can they get away with this? 

QrizB

sarahmad said:

How can they get away with this? 

It's all been agreed with Ofwat.

Jayd30

I feel everyone's pain on this and although the regulatory bodies approved these increases, it is to me totally unjustified that complete mismanagement of an essential service is met by everyone having to stump up more money each month. 

I have just come off of a call with Thames Water myself whereby they wrote to us recently saying that as of this April our monthly payment would need to go from £43 to £72, this is because they estimated an increase in our water usage (even though our water usage compared to the previous period dropped 3%) we had apparently underpaid so a week or so ago I made a £100 payment over the phone and was told that our revised monthly payment would be £64. Then when the gentleman tried to set this up on the phone he said it was coming out higher at £78 per month which he himself didn't understand. 

I have just had a call back and he said that his payments team had told him that this is correct, I am livid (so same as most people I assume). How can it be that I make a payment to clear our deficit which should in fact reduce our payments each month, only for it to come out at a 81.4%  increase to our monthly payments!

He's just admitted he himself does not understand how this can be and cannot explain it. Seems to me that Thames feel that they can get away with daylight robbery and guess they feel they can do this unchallenged. It is disgraceful, unlike other utilities companies they are not interchangeable we are stuck with them and no way to switch. 

freesha

galed001 said:

tizerbelle said:

You do realise that Ofwat approved the price increases?

  Thames Water’s service levels, infrastructure maintenance, 

TBF, this is what a lot of the increases are going towards - improving and upgrading the (Victorian still, in some cases) infrastructure.

curtis122

I've just got this lovely letter from Thames Water today, although I knew it had been agreed they could raise their prices, it was still a shock to see they were increasing by £16 a month! This is off the back of having an email telling me about the increase in Energy prices come April also. 

Fortunately I can afford the increases although both will still make a good enough dent each month and I will be making reductions elsewhere to try and counter act it.

It seems more and more its the case companies (and councils) get rewarded by given more money for bad management, maintenance and running and we pay the price. 

I have no idea how anyone who's finances are tighter can factor these kind of increases in easily. Although when you look at it over a year it does not look as much but when you look at everything else you have going out a month and then add these on top it must be really hard for some. I still can't believe it £16 a month!! 

MaximumFish

How are you guys getting away with a mere £16/month rise? We pay £20/month for our metered supply and I guess we must sip water because we've managed to build up a £30 credit over the last 2 years.

Despite this they've deemed fit to hit us with a 150% rise to £50/month! It's insane.

Veteransaver

There's generally no discount whatsoever in paying by direct debit, so I don't have a direct debit and just have a quarterly bill.
Generally I only pay this after I've had several  threatening letters.
It doesn't save me anything but it makes me feel better knowing that in some small way I'm messing up their cash flow and reducing their profits.