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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask how much your water bills are?

148 replies

ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 14:42

Sorry to be nosy, but we have recently had our water meter 'upgraded' to a smart version, which means, apparently, that the water company can drive past the house, point a device and read our meter without coming in to the house.

But our water bill has shot up.

I am of the opinion that our old meter was not working properly and that we have been undercharged for years.

DH thinks DD has started having too many baths.

idiot

OP posts:
shovetheholly · 31/07/2015 15:06

Oh and no I don't live in a mansion alas but in bog standard, smallish 3 bed semi! It's because I'm not on a meter. I had no idea I was paying so much over the odds.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:09

Read pm

Nanasueathome · 31/07/2015 15:11

5 minutes ago my post came
And my water bill
£18.71 a month from September
On a meter, just me and the dog but we do use a fair bit of water as and when needed
Laundry most days, dishwasher, bath daily
I used to pay £65 a month before the meter
3 bed house

RabbitSaysWoof · 31/07/2015 15:12

I had a leak under my house once and the high bill was the indicator to check for a leak. Could they have caused any damage installing the new meter? I'm not on a meter now, it put me off tbh paying so much for so much wasted water the rebate was nothing like I had been paying over the years (it wasn't until I was talking about water prices with friends I realised it wasn't normal so called the water company after 5 years in the property.)
ATM I pay £50 with no meter.

ButterflyUpSoHigh · 31/07/2015 15:15

No meter £34 a month over 10 months.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:19

£39 a month, no meter here. Personally wouldn't choose to have one unless was one my own in a big (higher rateable value) home.

Quietlifenotonyournelly · 31/07/2015 15:20
  • on not one
EauPea · 31/07/2015 15:32

We are with South West Water (the most expensive iirc).

We pay £49 per month water and still get hit with a bill every 6 months for sewerage charges.

It's only Dh, Dd and me full time, with big Dd in the holidays (uni).

baldbyfifty · 31/07/2015 15:32

We live in Devon, ours is just over £1000 a year, South West Water staff rooms must have nice biscuits.

chelle792 · 31/07/2015 15:37

I know the the South west is pretty expensive - they have to pay to maintain the 'blue flag' beaches. My mum pays about £1300 a year.

I pay £15 a month. Two adults and one dog (not in the SW)

Rafflesway · 31/07/2015 15:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Iwantobreakfree · 31/07/2015 15:53

£34 direct debit a month,moved half a mile and my bill went up £100 a year

FlyingGoose · 31/07/2015 16:06

Last year paid about £230 in total, on a water meter, two adults and two two year olds in the Midlands. We have at least one bath and two showers a day between us, sometimes more and I do 9 loads of washing a week.

Madbengalmum · 31/07/2015 16:11

£110 every six months

flagnogbagnog · 31/07/2015 16:15

I pay £21 per month, there are 6 of us.

I live in wales and because I'm claiming child benefit for 3 or more children my water rates are capped at this rate. I don't think everyone knows about this. It's called 'welsh water assist'. I wonder if there is an equivalent in England?

Original poster
ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 16:19

Thanks all.

Our first bill on the new meter is £380 for 6 months. 2 adults and 1 teenage DD. Two showers and one bath a day. Dishwasher and washing machine used every day.

Apparently the water company told DH that our water use is equivalent to 5 people!

OP posts:
KinkyAfro · 31/07/2015 16:22

£25/month, 2 adults + 1 dog. Meter here too

thatsn0tmyname · 31/07/2015 16:26

Ours has recently increased by 50% to £31 per month. They said it's to cover a debt caused by direct debit and will be reviewed in 6 months.

BumbleBeeBat · 31/07/2015 16:27

£20 a month but I think it has just been adjusted down a little bit. I got a letter saying the account was in credit. I'm in the midlands.

Pastamancer · 31/07/2015 16:29

SWW here so expensive. We are on a meter and for 2 adults, a 3yo and a baby it is roughly £80 a quarter

Marylou2 · 31/07/2015 16:34

Can I ask if you all knew this without looking? I asked DH and he had no idea either. I'm going to check out Direct Debits and be much more aware of this sort of thing.

Princess28 · 31/07/2015 16:34

Just under £25 per month for one and £89 per year for the other. No meter (in the south)

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 31/07/2015 16:39

£280 a year on a meter, two adults, two pre-teens, DW and WM used about once a day each. About the same as it was when we were on rateable value (we were compulsorily metered).

I knew this roughly, but we had a bill this week so that was to hand.

Original poster
ExitPursuedByABear · 31/07/2015 16:41

DH is adamant we haven't got a leak. He checked it hourly whilst DD and I were away.

The water company think probably the old meter was undercharging us. Just seems a lot for 3 people.

OP posts: