New Build - Severn Trent waited 18 months to produce first bill - £1.4k?!

lyle1993

We moved into our new build home 18 months ago. Over this time I’ve consistently asked Severn Trent what’s going on with our water bill, still haven’t had one produced etc. 

They’ve finally produced it and say we owe £1.4k! I know there are payment plans available etc but surely this is their fault it’s taken so long to set up and there’s something I could do to get this amount down?

Robin9

You will have a meter -  maybe in your home but more likely in the footpath.  Are you able to read it ? Lift the plastic circular top and then remove the lump of polystyrene  Give us that reading please.

Does your bill from ST give readings  - any comment that they may be estimated ?


Sounds high but 18 months would be perhaps £800/900  and if ST are billing through to end March 2026 then £1400 is quite possible.

lyle1993

Robin9 said:

You will have a meter -  maybe in your home but more likely in the footpath.  Are you able to read it ?

Does your bill from ST give readings  - any comment that they may be estimated ?

Yep - they’ve only JUST taken their first actual reading!
I was hoping maybe I could get them to discount a period of that time seen as they’ve taken so long on their own accord. A few neighbours mentioned ‘they don’t charge until they set your account up’ but not sure if that’s true. 

Robin9

Is that bill broken down by financial years -  the charges changed every year.

I am also metered (by ST) but use less than 100 units a year. (yours is nearer 300)

badmemory

I would be querying the start reading, even with a new build the builders will have used some.

lyle1993

Robin9 said:

Is that bill broken down by financial years -  the charges changed every year.

I am also metered (by ST) but use less than 100 units a year. (yours is nearer 300)

We cannot be using 300 a year then, as we are just a couple in a 2 bed semi!! 

Robin9

@lyle1193 Please read your meter ASAP  - then read it again in 24hrs and again in a week.

If it is possible can you turn off the stop c**k in your house and see if the meter continues to run - you may have to keep the water switched off for some hours to see movement. If there is its  indicative of a leaking pipe (your side of the meter) and your responsibility.

Possible high  usage  is a continually running WC where the water flows down the back of the pan or long showers.

MattMattMattUK

Did you read the meter when you moved in?
Have you been putting money aside every month to cover the bill when it did arrive?

freesha

You've been putting money aside each month for when the bill eventually came though, right?

lyle1993

MattMattMattUK said:

Did you read the meter when you moved in?
Have you been putting money aside every month to cover the bill when it did arrive?

We’ve been putting away £30 a month. So have £600. Not £1400 unfortunately 😂  

MattMattMattUK

lyle1993 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Did you read the meter when you moved in?
Have you been putting money aside every month to cover the bill when it did arrive?

We’ve been putting away £30 a month. So have £600. Not £1400 unfortunately 😂  

Did you read the meter when you moved in?