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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

sanfairyanne · 02/09/2015 11:45

If its new build it could be a mix up, but it sounds about right for 4 people? We pay about 600 a year, 5 people and not many baths as me and dh use the gym.

lemoncordial · 02/09/2015 11:59

We got charged for our neighbours' water (in the same building). The meters has been labelled wrongly.

VacantlyStaring · 02/09/2015 13:53

Sorry I haven't read the thread but I used to do a lot of work for a water company. This might have been said already. You don't have to pay the bill if you are disputing it with them. TBH, the bill is on the high side but not enormously massive.

It might be that you have a leak or someone else's supply is being counted on your meter. This happens very very often in flats where pipes go off in all directions and get charged to all sorts of people.

Firstly, in writing, tell them you're not convinced that the bill is accurate and ask them that you want a hold put on the account whilst you look into possible leaks or cross-supply. This will stop them chasing you for money.

Secondly, get them to send you a Charge sheet which sets out how much each cubic meter of water costs and how much standing charges are. Make sure you're on the right standing charge and surface water rate (flats are the smallest surface water area rate).

Thirdly, do as they suggest and turn off your water and monitor the meter but don't do it over the course of one hour, do it overnight if you can. That way you can see if you're being charged for a cross-supply. At least do it for a few hours. Take (if you can) time stamped photographs before and after you do this. If you do have a leak or something else untoward is going on, send them everything in writing. If it turns out that you don't have a leak, I'm afraid you will have to pay it.

VacantlyStaring · 02/09/2015 13:57

Should have said, if you turn off the water to see about cross-supply or leaks, try and do it at a time of high usage when your neighbours will be likely to use water. It's no good if you do this 2am-4am when everyone's in bed and not using water!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/09/2015 14:02

Mine is more than a grand but there are six of us and people are constantly in the shower. I also do loads of laundry.

When I checked it out we actually use less water per person than the water company average.

I have put egg timer things on the shower doors to try and cut things down, not sure that anyone takes much notice though.

LadySheherazade · 02/09/2015 14:16

We are not on a meter but we pay £350 a year over ten months. Also United Utilities.

Maybe it's the area? We live in a 3 bed with 5 of us, but we only have one bathroom. We do a lot of laundry though!

Original poster

mizu · 02/09/2015 18:19

Vacantlystaring - I will follow your advice before paying, thanks. Worth doing I think as it is a lot of money.

OP posts:

Ellreejee · 02/09/2015 19:25

Sounds average I'm afraid hun.

Many people seam very naive, water includes sewage.

goblinhat · 02/09/2015 19:31

I don't have a water meter.
I pay a set amount a year (£180) for water and sewerage contained within my council tax bill.
THere are 5 of us in a 5 bed house.

Fugghetaboutit · 02/09/2015 19:35

£1k a year - you're being robbed.

We pay £3-400 a year in a 3 bed, 3 storey house with 2 adults and a kid.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/09/2015 20:39

Well there are twice as many of us Fugg, four sporty adults, a teen and one very dirty footie playing nine year old.

Fugghetaboutit · 02/09/2015 21:12

My reply was to this poster: Mine is £1000 a year. Me and 2 DC and we are very very careful

Runningupthathill82 · 02/09/2015 21:33

Sounds about right to me - we pay £50 a month. Me, DH and a toddler. Yorkshire water.

Original poster

mizu · 02/09/2015 21:41

Sounds like there is a massive disparity depending on where you live.

Don't get why these bills are so different.

OP posts:

pointythings · 02/09/2015 22:13

We're a family of 4, less than £400 a year on a meter, we're frugal but not insanely so - Anglian Water here. I'd definitely check for leaks and misconnected meters, that is a high bill. And £1000 a year - ! how can that possibly right anywhere in the UK?

Arabidopsis · 02/09/2015 23:24

We pay £200 a year (2 adults) in Severn Trent region but I'm away quite a bit with work.

AndNowItsSeven · 02/09/2015 23:29

Ours is £60 a month United utilities - no meter.

onecurrantbun1 · 03/09/2015 08:37

Also with Severn Trent. 4 bed detached with 2 adults and 2 kids. We have no dishwasher but have the washing machine on a lot (preschool kids so in the house all day)

We have also recently had the whole garden redone and the workmen used a lot of water to mix cement, clean down after each day, bed in turf etc

£210 Feb-Aug for 63m3 usage.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 03/09/2015 08:41

Is the meter internal or is it in the pavement? If it's in the pavement are they reading the right meter? I have known the wrong meter to be labelled up for the wrong flat before. Ive even known the water supply for two flats to go through one meter.

Original poster

mizu · 03/09/2015 16:51

Meter is outside in a meter cupboard with all the others. Will do a stop tap check on Monday when we as a family are all out at school and work.

Def not going to pay til we've checked.

OP posts:

littone · 03/09/2015 17:23

My mother in law had a meter fitted, got a very high bill got told to the turning on water thing, she got a man is as she is disabled and can't do it herself. meter still going round. So they turned the water back on and turned the water off at the hatch in the pavement she had been told was hers. She still had water coming out the tap. They checked all the hatches, they found which one was hers......but there was no meter in it!! It took a couple of months to get the bills sorted out (and a meter installed for her flat). It may be worth doing the same check? Also a friend of hers (living in a different area, different water board) regularly gets a neighbours bill.turns out the meters are read electronically, and the barcode on hers is only one or two digits different to a neighbour. So if your meter has any identifying bar code or numbers on it, check it matches what is on your bill. Good luck!

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