Water bill doesn't make sense

[Anonymousemouses]

We got a water meter a couple of years ago, as we were paying £45 a month, which seemed high for our usage.

I was told it would be read six monthly, but it has never been read.

I've been too scared to read it, as it was put in a new place in our back garden, that Thames Water put in when someone along our road had a water leak, and they laid new pipes. I'm sure they said that the stop cock (not our internal stop cock), controlled our neighbour's water and if we turned it off there supply would stop. So I've been worried we've been paying for our neighbour's too.

I've been paying £55 a month, due to their estimation.

DH checked it last night and it was far lower than the estimation.

I put in the actual reading and have been sent a new bill.

The new bill says I still have to pay £55 a month and the reading doesn't affect that. But I'm £290 in credit.

The whole idea of the meter was to reduce our costs, but despite being in credit I'm paying far more.

Have you tried phoning them to ask for the credit to be refunded?
We pay £53 a month for water on a water meter. Have short showers, dishwasher on every couple of days, washing machine on maybe 4/5 loads a week. Water butt to water plants etc. I’m not sure how we can possibly get it any lower. 3 bed detached, 3 adults out of the house a lot.

I am billed (and meter is read) every 6 months in March and September and my DD payments accrue as credit between those dates. So currently my account shows as £203 in credit and that will continue to accrue til September when the new bill will wipe it out. Don't know if all the water companies work the same (I'm with South Staffs Water) but it stands a good chance. Yours does sound a bit high though, we pay £33 a month for a small 3 bed house with 3 of us living here so worth checking whether you're left with any credit after your next bill goes out.

We were going to be charged £118 pm for a family of 4 since the meter went in. This was based on an estimate one yr old and they suspected a leak. There was a leak and it's been fixed since but they were still basing it on that estimate! Neighbours, same size family are paying £30pm!
I spoke them and we have stopped the direct debit and will send a reading in every month. That was all they could do!! Rather annoying but tbh I am not sure I trust the estimates.

I presume your neighbour also has their own meter, I would hope you're not paying for them too!