Can you help me with my water bill?!

[thenarnianna]

I have found out that my water bill will be almost doubling. Can anyone help me with this?

Two years ago I paid about £22 for just myself in a small terrace house. Then United Utilities installed a water meter outside my house and I went on that and continued to pay a very similar amount.

Then a month ago they contacted me to say the water meter trial(?) was over and if I didn't contact them then I would go back to the fixed rate. Seeing as I paid pretty much the same for both, I didn't bother getting in touch.

Got my bill for this month. £40. What!!! How can a non-metered bill go up so suddenly in two years? I literally paid £22 two years ago and use the exact same amount of water as I always did.

Has this happened to anyone else? I guess I'll ask to go back on the meter and hope that sorts it but... What on earth!

The cost of water has jumped loads. My bill on rates went up £20 a month this year.

I’ve just changed to a water meter and it has dropped significantly as now based on actual use not predicted use.

I just moved into a flat and they're telling me that i can't have a meter and their predicted use for me and dd is £60 per month! Have emailed them, disgusted

Not sure but we have a meter and the water company are very crafty, they regularly do an estimated reading which is always higher than out actual usage and sneakily try to out our direct debit up. I have called with the actual readings which are consistently similar year on year to get it put back down again.

Water bills have increased massively. We're on a meter and our usage has actually dropped a bit this year but our bills have gone up £10 a month 😐.

Direct debit billing when you are on a water meter is always a prediction of future usage based on previous consumption and whether you are carrying over any shortfall on previous bills.
Also the unit price for a cubic metre of water has gone up and the standing charge too.
Another thing to consider is whether you have a leak.
Look around for lush vegetation and puddles between the meter and the house when it's dry weather.
Then turn the water off at the internal stop tap and go back out to the meter. If the dials are moving then there's an external leak.
Turn the internal stop tap back on. The check every tap for drips, every toilet cistern to see if it's continuing to run after it has filled.
Check the hoses and connectors on your washing machine and dishwasher for leaks.
Then look at where your toilet cistern overflows stick out the walls for leaks.
Finally check if any outside taps are dripping.
Also ask your water company about water saving devices.

Thanks for the replies. Honestly I think they should have warned me when I came off the meter. Something like "when you come off your meter, we predict you will be using ... amount which is £.... per month". But obviously that wouldn't have been in their best interests!

Maybe you could look at the paperwork to find out how much a unit cost before and how much it costs niw and how many units they are basing your useage on and what evidence there is for that.

Perhaos citizens advise couod help?

Your meter isn't the problem - unless your have a leak somewhere, the issue is water bills have sky rocketed. So yes I can believe that the bill has doubled in 2 years. Ours is now £50pm - 2 adults, on a water meter.

Our water bill (Thames Water) has just increased massively. Part of this is because water companies have committed extra money for investment in infrastructure, such as reservoirs and fixing leaks. But that not the fully story, just this week Thames Water decided to “pause” substantial bonuses for its senior staff because a number of Newspapers and MPs raised concerns (but who knows what has already been paid).

I would look at the sums and see if you are better off with a water meter. We don’t have any choice as Thames Water forced us (and everyone living in my area) to transfer to a water meter over a three year period.

We're Southern Water and our bill is due to go up 47%!

I don’t really understand that - in most areas if they put you on a meter trial they leave you on the meter unless you ask to go back on fixed. Just go back on the meter if it’s cheaper 🤷🏼‍♀️