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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Water bill is wrong, right?

36 replies

areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 11:56

I'm in debt with water and on a payment plan where they match my payments, great. However I've just got a new bill for £210, whatever.... but I checked my previous bills and it seems to be charging me £210/month every single month.

Is that right?!

OP posts:
hedgehoglurker · 31/03/2023 12:06

How much is the debt? What do the bills say?

MrsMoastyToasty · 31/03/2023 12:08

Can you show us the bill with personal details hidden? I used to work for a water company.

Takeitonthechin · 31/03/2023 12:16

Are you on a water meter, if so, how much water are you using or have you got a leak somewhere?

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:16

Oh goodness don't even ask my how much the debt is. I'm in fuel debt unfortunately, the bills are so high and I've been making ends meet. I'm a single mum now and work very hard and am paying off commercial debt which takes precedence as it's achievable and to be honest they chase better.

I'm hoping to get some kind of write off from energy but water have been matching my payments which is great, but this looks like £210 is being and has been being charged every month and I just think that's absurd?

I am trying. I've been in two abusive relationships and just seem to have been in a total fog for the past decade to be honest. It's partly me letting this slide but also partly the HUGE charges which everyone would struggle to keep up with let alone someone on 21K

Water bill is wrong, right?
OP posts:
toodlesofoodles · 31/03/2023 12:19

OP we are a family of 5 and my water bill is around £50 a month (metered). I get a paper bill and on there it has a breakdown of charges and how much water we have used in the last quarter. £210 is absurd unless they are factoring your debt into that?

Itsbytheby · 31/03/2023 12:22

Call them. That's a huge amount adn doesn't sound right. Are you on a meter?

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 31/03/2023 12:22

That does seem very high, OP, but I guess it depends how much the debt is.

Are you getting professional debt advice? If not, please do look into this as they will be able to help you sort things out.

Might be worth checking that you're getting all of the benefits that you're eligible for as well.

MrsMoastyToasty · 31/03/2023 12:24

Can you also show me the page that shows how much is carried forward?

2 questions .
Are you on Rateable Value (RV) bills?
Do you pay sewerage to the same company?

LIZS · 31/03/2023 12:27

We pay about £30 pm on a meter, so yours looks £££ even with debt added. Have you had them check it, if metered is there a leak or is the meter supplying more than one property?

Usernamesarenoteasy · 31/03/2023 12:30

I am currently paying £21 a month on a meter.... yours is astronomical!

VikingVolva · 31/03/2023 12:30

Unmetered water here, and it's just under £500 a year (which works out at about £42 per month)

You need to ring the company and find out why they are charging you that amount. It's probably connected to paying back your debt, You should however get them to explain how they have arrived at that amount, and how long the plan is to run for.

Also, you need to get out of your fog and get some proper debt advice. Easier said than done, I know. But once you make that appointment, you start taking back control and that's important.

ArianahX · 31/03/2023 12:31

Have you looked at your water meter? I had a leak and levered the lid off the manhole where the water meter is - it was full of water! And it was the water company who had to fix it & pay up.

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:36

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 31/03/2023 12:22

That does seem very high, OP, but I guess it depends how much the debt is.

Are you getting professional debt advice? If not, please do look into this as they will be able to help you sort things out.

Might be worth checking that you're getting all of the benefits that you're eligible for as well.

Thanks. This is the first I've seen of this. Yes I will call.

Professionals want me to go on a plan where all my spending is monitored and that isn't something I'm willing to do.

I'm happy with the match scheme and also happy to remain in debt as it has no impact on my life.

I'm on Universal Credit and can and will increase my earnings once I've dealt with some crappy court stuff my abusive ex has lumbered me with.

I am getting all I am entitled to. I owe Shell a stupid amount but give them £100 a month and they leave me alone.

OP posts:
Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:36

ArianahX · 31/03/2023 12:31

Have you looked at your water meter? I had a leak and levered the lid off the manhole where the water meter is - it was full of water! And it was the water company who had to fix it & pay up.

I don't even understand what you're saying. No idea where that would be.

OP posts:
Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:37

Usernamesarenoteasy · 31/03/2023 12:30

I am currently paying £21 a month on a meter.... yours is astronomical!

Okay it's probably the debt, thanks I will make a call now.

OP posts:
tealandteal · 31/03/2023 12:38

Definitely give them a call. Also try turning the water off, if your meter is still going up then you may have a leak.

thegrain · 31/03/2023 12:41

Whats the debt though? I imagine it's that. You must owe loads though!!

Thesearmsofmine · 31/03/2023 12:45

They should be able to tell you how much is the actual bill and how much is the debt our water is £90 a month(no meter for 10 months of the year. It’s always so high compared to other peoples when I see it mentioned on here.

WomensLandArmy · 31/03/2023 12:48

Apologies if anyone else has mentioned this already, but have you checked if you are eligible for the watersure tariff? Much cheaper.

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:50

Called them, said likely a leak. Doing a test now and they will sort :) Very helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 12:50

Thanks all

OP posts:
Thatladdo · 31/03/2023 13:10

OMG
£165.57 a year for a farm 😂

Original poster
areyousittingontheremote · 31/03/2023 13:13

Thatladdo · 31/03/2023 13:10

OMG
£165.57 a year for a farm 😂

Yeah it's probably a leak so they're going to wait for my report back and probably do a one off payment for me :)

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 31/03/2023 13:13

That does seem outrageous. I hope they get to the bottom of it for you.

FlibbertyGibbitt · 31/03/2023 13:15

If you are on a meter ( which will be either under your sink where your main stop tap is or outside on the pavement ) and you are leaving a tap running all day or filling a swimming pool up, then maybe.

Get them out to check if you have a leak on your supply pipe ( from the main stop tap to the house ) again if you are in a meter then that will show .