Who do we pay for water to? 17 August 2005 at 10:36AM in Water bills 9 replies 1.2K views

trippy

Or should that be "To whom do we pay our water?"

We moved into our house 6 weeks ago and were told by the previous owners that we had a water meter. We've not been able to find it (nor were they) and we haven't had anything from a water company with regards to changing the name over, supplying a reading etc.

How do we find out a) where the meter is and b) who we should contact to start paying for it?

Thanks.

(I'm also starting another thread on how to make the water bill as low as possible.)

crossleydd42

You might find the information in your local phone directory under 'water'. Otherwise, ask a neighbour or ring the local library.
Once traced, I'm sure the water company can tell you if your water's metered. If so, finding the meter is quite another matter!

Rikki

This could be serious.
You need to locate your meter as soon as possible. You don't know what the reading was when you moved in so you could end up with a very large bill and some of it could be from the previous owners.

Woby_Tide

the household rarely reads the water metere(in fact I think a lot are digital with no actual physical display), just contact teh water company in the phone book and they will take the reading. Not sure how it will work with regards to who pays what as you've let 6 weeks slip by without contacting water company. No way to prove what the reading was when the last person left.

Rikki

I had my meter installed as a way of saving money. And it works.

Mine is in a small square drain outside the front of the property. Inside is a round tube with a lid, insde meter with digital display. I try to check mine each month so I know I don't have a leak.

rchddap1

Our is also in a drain type thing in the ground...problem is ours is so far down that we can't see it anyway. So finding the meter may not help you.

roger56

trippy wrote:

We moved into our house 6 weeks ago and were told by the previous owners that we had a water meter. We've not been able to find it (nor were they) and we haven't had anything from a water company with regards to changing the name over, supplying a reading etc.

How do we find out a) where the meter is and b) who we should contact to start paying for it?

Thanks.

You should sort this quickly and get the meter read. The previous occupant must have known who the supplier was to pay bills, otherwise it suggests they haven't been paying for water!!
I suggest you contact a local water company helpline, they should be able to tell you who supplies the water to your address.

Woby_Tide

Surely everyone has the same water company(within an area) so the old occupant and new occupant know exactly who the supplier is? I thought it was only gas and elec that was deregulated.

edit: (and I know you can ahve seperate companies for supply and sewerage but still they will be the only one providing the area)

lindens

ask your neighbours/post office you will all have the same water company. your water meter is usually in front of your property where the pipes come in, under a small metal cover-the stop tap is usually in the same box.

deanos

The water company will have the location of the meter on there system as long as the meter reader has put in a good location for it tho!

You need to locate ASAP and get the reading i get it all the time where houses come down as "void" so i ask for there details for billing and they havent read the meter, ask one of your neighbours who supplies the water and sewage as some border areas are supplied by 2 different water companys to 1 property (1 for water and another for sewage)