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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
cookoos · 01/08/2015 13:14

£35, 2 adults in 3bed semi in west mids on a meter. we only moved in feb, previous to this 2bed terrace on water rates £24!

worldsgonemade · 01/08/2015 13:43

I joined the water sure scheme 3 years ago, found out about it by accident the water company had never advised me there was such a scheme. You have to have 3 or more children to qualify. Our combined water and sewage is capped at £20 a month no matter how much water we use. Prior to the scheme we were paying £80 a month so a massive difference. If you Google water sure you can apply online, it's for both working and non working families, dh works fulltime and we still qualify. Think each water company sets their own cap so some maybe higher some lower

unlucky4marie · 01/08/2015 13:48

That seam s unfair 3 children, 5 people and water capped at 20. What I pay for a single person.

Original poster
ExitPursuedByABear · 01/08/2015 14:03

There doesn't seem to much fairness, or parity, in water bills.

I am very confused.

The house already had a water meter when we moved here 11 years ago. You cannot have them removed once they have been installed.

Bastards.

OP posts:
maddening · 01/08/2015 15:05

No meter - £230 per year

myusernamewastaken · 01/08/2015 15:40

I'm in Norfolk and have no meter and i pay approx £240 a year...there is me and 3 kids here...i would be paying a fortune if i was on a meter so am going to refuse one until the kids have left home x

bigbluebus · 01/08/2015 16:38

We have a water meter - house built agter they became compulsory. We used to pay £37 pm for 2 adults and 2 DCs but are now on Watersure scheme due to DDs disabilities so only pay £27pm now. We live in Severn Trent water area and I think they are relatively cheap.
My parents live in Dwr Cymru area and were paying £55pm for 2 of them without a meter. When DF died I told DM to get a meter - she was reluctant as worried she would use more that £55pm worth. I persuaded her as you can opt to have it removed after a full 12 months' bills if it ends up costing you more. She currently pays £28pm which is based on her estimated usage - which is still more than we pay for 4 people but I think it also depends very much on where you live as I think Weslh Water is expensive - even though it never stops raining in North Wales and there are lakes/reservoirs in abundance.

happybubblebrain · 01/08/2015 16:41

I don't have a water meter. I pay 180 a year, which is 15 pounds a month.

autumnboys · 01/08/2015 16:46

Meter, 2 adults, 3 children, most of us shower daily, dishwasher runs daily, washing machine probably 8/9 loads a week. £50-ish a month.

VinoTime · 01/08/2015 17:05

I live in Scotland and any water and sewage charges are added into the council tax. My water charge for the year (Scottish Water) is £128.76 with my single person discount. Which works out at £10.76 a month.

That seems very low compared to others Shock

The80sweregreat · 01/08/2015 17:12

31a month for one lot ( sewage ithink) 20 a month for the other lot, so loads and on a meter too!
We are always a bit in arrears ( 10 or 20 pounds) but they rarely chase us up.
Had a leak in the past, they did a refund which was good.
My friend hasnt got a meter, always boasting about her low bills, hose on all the time ( she is keen garderner) grrrr,, think its who your with sometimes!

The80sweregreat · 01/08/2015 17:14

I wanted to refuse my meter, was told no when we moved in!

Pastamancer · 01/08/2015 17:29

I use the same amount of water on a meter than I would if I was just on standard rates. It's water, we need it, the reservoirs always have plenty in them and I refuse to scrimp on something so vital. We are on a meter because the house already had one when we bought it.

CheeseBaguette · 01/08/2015 20:32

Yes,once a meter is fitted you can never revert back. That is a big clue as to what will happen in the future once mopst of us have one. Infact reading this thread shows that its already happening. Some people seem to bepaying loads more than others. Water meters are only the cheaper option to get us all to switch over. Once they have us all we will probably all be paying more than we ever were on standard water rates.

I am house hunting at the moment and after the first week when I saw a house I loved and then found out it was on a water meter, I now call the agent and ask before going for a viewing. I will not buy a house with a meter already fitted because there is no going back.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 01/08/2015 20:36

Our entire region is being compulsorily metered now, so even if you do buy a house without one there is no guarantee it will stay that way. We were worried before having ours done, the online calculator things made it look as though we would be paying about twice as much as we did under rateable value, but in fact it's stayed about the same.

Saladspork · 01/08/2015 20:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OiledBegg · 01/08/2015 21:09

£34 a month, direct debit. It's myself here all the time, 10yo DS here half the time and my bf who is here a few nights a week.

We all have one shower a day, no dishwasher (which actually save water if used when full!) washing machine on 2-3 times a week. I do have 2-3 baths a week though (instead of shower).

OiledBegg · 01/08/2015 21:09

And I'm on a meter.

ListenWillYou · 01/08/2015 21:14

I think ours is £80 with no meter. We have a biggish house (5 beds) and a big garden with lush green grass Blush

PingPongBat · 01/08/2015 21:52

With Anglian water you can switch from rateable value to metered and you have a 24 month 'switchback guarantee' - i.e. to go back to rateable if a meter works out more expensive.

ziggyziggy · 01/08/2015 21:58

about £37 per month for me and DS, with DS dad here to help a few days a week (he does not bath here but has OCD and hand washes for 10 - 15 minutes a time which drives me insane!!). we are on a water meter.

we have one of those hippo flush things you can get free from water company to put in cistern, think it helps a bit.

Pastamancer · 02/08/2015 09:19

I assume that eventually everyone will be switched to one and that the prices will rocket up. There isn't much that can be done about that but at least I am benefitting from the cheaper price in the meantime.

Dowser · 02/08/2015 09:25

£25 a month on a meter. I don't want a smart meter. Not for anything.

My bill without a meter was much more which is why I got a meter.

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