Being billed by wessex water, meter query.

aardvarkuk

I have recently moved house and was with wessex water for water and sewerage and was paying buy book @ £23.00 per month and this was without water meter.

Now I have moved into a newer house with a water meter (weesex water sewerage and water) but I wanted to pay by book but this amount has now gone up to £34.00, and I have only been in the property a week and they have sent me a new book with the new amount and want this paid by the 1st of Feb, exactly 1 month after the date that I moved in.

How can they come to this amount already when the meter has not been read (or whatever they do) and what is the point of a meter if its a set charge? I mean I could go on holiday for 2weeks and yet I pay the same amount, could I get the meter removed and go back to the cheaper payment system

Thanks :beer:

whatatwit

Aardvarkuk, this amount is probably based upon what the previous occupier was paying.
I am on a meter and it works the same as any meter, that you are billed for what you use, my bills are 6 monthly.
Did you take a water meter reading when you moved in, if so, maybe try taking another reading when you have been at the house for a couple of weeks and phone Wessex water with the reading and ask if based on that they will re-calculate your payments.
The only other option would be to save the money yourself each month and pay the bill as it arrives.

I'm pretty sure you can't have the meter removed. If you request a meter, you have up to 12 months to change your mind, but newer properties were built with meters and you can't have them out.

aardvarkuk

whatatwit wrote: »

Aardvarkuk, this amount is probably based upon what the previous occupier was paying.
I am on a meter and it works the same as any meter, that you are billed for what you use, my bills are 6 monthly.
Did you take a water meter reading when you moved in, if so, maybe try taking another reading when you have been at the house for a couple of weeks and phone Wessex water with the reading and ask if based on that they will re-calculate your payments.
The only other option would be to save the money yourself each month and pay the bill as it arrives.

I'm pretty sure you can't have the meter removed. If you request a meter, you have up to 12 months to change your mind, but newer properties were built with meters and you can't have them out.

Hi

Our bills are monthly and by payment book and I cant find a water meter anywhere, so how can they calculate my charges based on someone elses usage.

I am however getting a visit by the water board to do a recalculation, but no date has been set, Im still trying to track down this ruddy meter

Rikki

The meter is normally out on the street. Its just a small round iron lid in the pavement.
I am on a meter and as the previous poster pay my bill every six months based on the meter reading. This way you are only paying for what you have used after you've used it.

The water board will show you where it is when they visit.

You should have taken a reading on the date you moved in!

whatatwit

Presumably as you wanted to make payments to them, they had to get a figure from somewhere....it was either what the previous lot were using or pluck one from thin air.:think: that was probably the case.

My meter is under the footpath, it's covered by a little circular black lid, about the size of a side plate.

As with any utility company, they will want you to paying as much up front as they possibly can get you to pay.

Can you have a word with a neighbour, their meter may well gice some clue as to where your little blighter is hidden.

aardvarkuk

Rikki wrote: »

You should have taken a reading on the date you moved in!

If I knew where the thing was :rolleyes: the point is though thats being missed is how can they charge £34 per month on a payment book from £23 a month still on payment book, is it £11 for the priveledge of having a meter?

ta :T

aardvarkuk

I gotta dash now as work is calling me in, will check back with any meter knowledge.

deanos

As this is the first time you are on a meter they have to estimate the consumpton you are going to use as they have no previous history to go on , after your first bill they will either lower/raise your payments.

They usually over estimate to start with , if you are not happy just give them a ring and they should lower the amount.

The water co. will have a location of the meter on there system (as long as the meter reader has updated the location !) , its hard to say where the meter is located , it could be under the sink, in the back yard, garden or footpath

And no you cant have the meter removed

Cardew

If you don't want to pay monthly you can revert to paying a bill every 6 months if you wish.

Or, negotiate a lower monthly payment for now. However if your 6 monthly bill turns out to be more than you have paid in monthly payments, you will have to pay the difference.

Your metered bill has 4 or 5 different parts:

Measured water - in cubic metres

Measured sewerage - in cubic metres

Standing charge for water

Standing charge for sewerage

Surface water drainage if applicable - to check if you need to pay this - do a search on MSE

The average consumption is approx 60 cubic metres per year per person.

So 3 people in the house = 180 cubic metres

aardvarkuk

Thanks for the replies, Hopefully they will come out soon, I will ofcourse make another phone call, its either that of wash in a rain butt