Thames water meter saying I’ve refused because I don’t want kitchen cupboards ruined

Creamcarpet

After borderline harassment by TW and them putting up the direct debit I decided to book for a meter.  The main stopcock out the front is shared by several houses. We wanted a meter out the front.  They said they couldn’t do that.  We then reluctantly said ok how about inside.  The engineer located the internal stopcock but said to instal the meter they would have to cut out the back of the kitchen cupboard.  I said no.  He then said if we wanted one out the front we would have to pay for the pavement to be dug up! They have now put me down as a refusal. Anyone else had a similar issue? It’s my daughters house, she lives alone, and I feel the bill is way too high- but why should she have to have cupboards ruined to have it installed- or pay for one on the pavement?  Anyone else has similar? Not sure what to do next, and whether they will reduce the dd based on this?

subjecttocontract

Where do you expect them to put it ? The pipe is probably located 3 feet underground, so they can dig up the pavement to gain access or fit it where the pipe surfaces in the kitchen. seems there aren't any other options.

XzavierWalnut

Just had the same with Northumbrian Water last week. Told me it would be £400 to dig up the pavement outside the house boundary. Or to rip off the wallpapered wood that boxes the pipes in next to the stopcock.
They also said the metre would stick out the wall a few inches in the kitchen.
I told them to cancel my request.

Creamcarpet

Don’t know how to respond to individuals as I’m new- but I expect them to put it out in the street with no cost to me seeing as they are harassing me to have one BUT the outside stopcock is serving several houses.
I don’t expect the kitchen to be ruined for them to install one either.

TadleyBaggie

Having to cut into the back of a cupboard (under the sink?) hardly sounds like a ruined kitchen.

Creamcarpet

TadleyBaggie said:

Having to cut into the back of a cupboard (under the sink?) hardly sounds like a ruined kitchen.

It’s not under the sink.  It’s a cupboard next to where the sink is, and the back of it will have to be cut away, in my opinion is ruining the kitchen. Would you have the backs of your cupboards cut away?

TadleyBaggie

So presumably nothing will be visible if the doors are shut? If so it wouldn’t bother me one bit.

QrizB

Creamcarpet said:

I said no. ... They have now put me down as a refusal.

You refused, they recorded your refusal. Seems fair.

Creamcarpet said:

t’s my daughters house, she lives alone

Why are you refusing a water meter in your daughter's house? Surely that's her decision not yours?

What does your daughter think? Is she happy to continue paying 2-3x as much for her water indefinitely because her parent thinks a meter would look untidy?

Why are you even involved?

Emmia

Creamcarpet said:

TadleyBaggie said:

Having to cut into the back of a cupboard (under the sink?) hardly sounds like a ruined kitchen.

It’s not under the sink.  It’s a cupboard next to where the sink is, and the back of it will have to be cut away, in my opinion is ruining the kitchen. Would you have the backs of your cupboards cut away?

The cupboard under the sink in my kitchen only has a half height back to allow easy access to pipework and stopcocks - I don't see how having part of the cupboard back removed ruins the kitchen??

mmmmikey

Creamcarpet said:

TadleyBaggie said:

Having to cut into the back of a cupboard (under the sink?) hardly sounds like a ruined kitchen.

It’s not under the sink.  It’s a cupboard next to where the sink is, and the back of it will have to be cut away, in my opinion is ruining the kitchen. Would you have the backs of your cupboards cut away?

Yes, a few of my (still fairly new) kitchen cupboards have sections of the back cut away for access to various bits of plumbing. It's a normal thing to do - and not something that is visible unless you empty the cupboard, open the door and get down on your hands and knees. Is there a particular reason this matters to you?

Spikeygran

I dont think I'd want one in a kitchen cupboard either, purely from losing the cupboard space.  I would expect some condension in the winter and maybe some noise from the water flow.  

There may be an advantage.  Generally you are responsible for all pipework your side of the meter, which is often several meters across your property.  If that follows with one fitted at the stop !!!!!! that could save some money eventually.

How about talking to some of the neigbours who share the stopcock, maybe if others also want a meter fitted, it will reduce the cost of fitting per customer, and enable them to be fitted outside, maybe just inside the garden boundary which would be cheaper than the pavement hopefully?  I checked our supplier , and having a meter connected to a single use stopcock generates what is called a standard survey fee, plus costs to fit the meter.