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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To query this massive water bill?

46 replies

mizu · 01/09/2015 19:38

£299 for 6 months water.

2 bed flat.

Water meter.

Just called the company and they have basically said we have to pay it but first check there are no leaks by turning off the internal stop tap for an hour and checking the meter before and after.

Seems like a fuck of a lot of money for a small 2 bed with H and 2 children. We are fairly frugal too, watch what we use.

Is there anything I can do other than do the tap thing?

OP posts:
NadiaWadia · 01/09/2015 19:44

Seems a lot, we pay £35 a month for a small 3 bed (so £210 over 6 months, if my maths is right). We have a meter too.

ThisIsStartingToBoreMe · 01/09/2015 19:50

I have a meter my water bill is about £500 per year for 4 of us.

Don't think you've got any choice other than to pay it to be honest. At least I you've overpaid you'll get a refund.

NannyR · 01/09/2015 20:01

I got an unexpectedly huge bill about a year after moving into my flat. I complained as there was no way I was using that amount of water.
It turned out when they investigated that the meters for the two flats in the building were connected wrongly - I had been charged for the family of four who live in the other flat, they had been charged for my usage. Might be something to look into?

addictedtosugar · 01/09/2015 20:05

When did you move in? ie do you have older bills for that house to compare it with? And which water board? I can't remember who, but someone down south is very expensive.
The leak test will give you some info to go on.
And ignore "water metres don't go wrong" they do. Although we saved money as ours stopped turning, and they didn't believe us....

PigletJohn · 01/09/2015 20:05

Was the previous bill an estimate?

Do you ever look at the meter? The central bubble should stop spinning when you are using no water.

Are you unwilling to do the meter check?

Electrolux2 · 01/09/2015 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PHANTOMnamechanger · 01/09/2015 20:07

I can imagine with 2 small DC, all that laundry, plus bathing/showers for 4 of you may use more water than you think even if you do try to be frugal. If you've never had metered water before, it can come as a shock how much it costs.

Of course, it could be a leak or a dodgy/broken meter, or maybe you need to try ways of reducing your useage? a brick in the loo cistern is an immediate saving of a litre every time you flush.

NannyR · 01/09/2015 20:10

That's a good point - my water company (Yorkshire) give out free tap aerators, shower timers, cistern bags etc to help you be more economical with water usage.

Original poster
mizu · 01/09/2015 20:50

Thanks for replies, much appreciated, my DDs are not that young, 9 and 10 and we have been in flat since January.

We lived in a run down Victorian semi for 7 years before this, no meter and paid £28 a month so this is loads more hence I am just a bit shocked as I thought it would be more economical to live here.

The flat is a new build and has power showers so maybe that is where the cost is.

Electrolux2 we live in Gloucestershire and use Severn Trent.

Will do the tap thing, if I can find the bloody thing, then guess I will have to pay.

OP posts:
cece · 01/09/2015 20:55

I queried mine once. Never again - they were a nightmare - phoning me all the time to see if I had sorted out the leak and so on. I then had to send written proof that it been fixed and then I had to send in regular meter readings. They only left me alone after 12 months and I had sorted out the leak.

I would highly recommend getting insurance before you phone them to query it.

Original poster
mizu · 01/09/2015 21:03

Yes, I had a problem with Npower last year in the old house and it was so, so stressful.

I know I sound like a push over but I don't want the hassle.

Am a teacher and start teaching on Monday, do not need any extra stress at the moment Grin

OP posts:
HackerFucker22 · 01/09/2015 21:19

Gawd my water bill is £73 a month.

I know this sounds insane but does everyone have a water meter?

RandomMess · 01/09/2015 21:24

Nope lots of people still have unmetered water. I really miss that!!!

Different water companies have different charges for both metered and unmetered...

Power showers do use a LOT of water.

Chattymummyhere · 01/09/2015 21:28

We pay £66 per month for a 3bed 2adults, 2children. It was £44 per month last year.

KitKat1985 · 01/09/2015 21:34

Most water companies are in the process of changing everyone over to meters (usually when you accounts are set up or new houseowners take ownership of a property). I used to work for a water metering installation company and people were often shocked by how much of a difference it makes to their bills. Usually metered bills are a lot higher than water rates (unless you happen to be for example a single person in a 3 bed house, where it may be cheaper). Unless you can find evidence of a leak then yes I'm afraid you will have to pay it.

janethegirl2 · 01/09/2015 21:37

Seems ok to me, we are over £400 for two of us per annum with a water meter.

KitKat1985 · 01/09/2015 21:41

HackerFucker that's a big bill. Ours are about £35ish a month for a 2 bed house (me, DH and a 11 month old). Do you use a lot of water? If not I'd check for leaks.

NotAFuckingChance · 01/09/2015 21:49

We are on metered water and pay £21 a month to Thames Water for a 2 bed flat with 2 adults, a 6yo and 6mo, we aren't particularly careful either.

Fluffyears · 02/09/2015 10:06

Hope they never implement these in Scotland. Pretty sure we pay water rates with our council tax.

BobbinThreadbare · 02/09/2015 10:51

I had a stupidly large bill after I went metered. Turns out I had a leak! Once I fixed it, the bill went back to normal. Check for leaks!

jay55 · 02/09/2015 10:53

I had the same size bill on a 1 bed flat and thought it was crazy but it's the first time having a dishwasher in a while so I put it down to that. The next bill came in that they owed me £20 as there had been a fuck up and they'd charged double.

redstrawberry10 · 02/09/2015 11:26

Mine is £1000 a year. Me and 2 DC and we are very very careful. Where do you live.

that sounds incredibly high. haven't your queried it? I wouldn't want to dump a grand on water.

Electrolux2 · 02/09/2015 11:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

redstrawberry10 · 02/09/2015 11:39

And we really are careful United utilities are not cheap

i guess the thing to check is it usage or price? I am not metered so can't help you there. But maybe someone with similar number of people in the house can post their usage (rather than the pound amount).

Room101isWhereIUsedToLive · 02/09/2015 11:44

I was meant to here from my water provider in mid-August, but haven't heard a thing. I'm going to have to chase them, aren't I? I thought metered water would be a good thing.
Good luck, op!!