£50 to £320 water increase Thames Water

[Waterincrease]

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Thames Water sent us an email saying they are increasing our payment from April from £50 to £320 per month. Not a lot of explanation but something about water consumption increased. How can this be right? What can we do? Could it be a leak?

Are you on a meter? It sounds like you could be, and yes, it's sounds like a leak!

Hope you get it sorted.

Similar happened to us. I assumed it meant we had a leak but after spending a stressful evening researching online, I checked the meter reading in the pavement thingy ( didn't even know you could do that - found instructions online) and it turned out someone had transposed two of the digits when recording the reading, thereby incorrectly adding a few hundred units. I phoned Thames Water and the guy was great, correcting it immediately.

So it might be a leak, or it might just be an admin error.

The quickest way to find out would be to call Thames water and explain the situation, it might be a bit of a wait on the phones - but they can send someone out to find if there is a leak on the property.

The property owner is usually responsible for leaks within the boundary line, but depending on where the water meter is (and whether it's a shared supply), it can be a bit complicated with older properties.

It could be that your old payment was based on a period when you using a lot less water. The increase may be to pay for the increased use and to make up the difference from when you were paying too little.

Check your meter readings

Thank you all

We are on a meter; a bit stressed at the moment as we are away but will contact Thames water.

Not sure how we checked for a leak

They don’t say how long is the increase either, it says per month.

we are on holiday but I can’t relax now

The telephone number on the internet doesn’t work

This happened to us this month

I’m wondering if there’s an issue then

went from £450 for six months to £900 for six months - we apparently doubled our water usage when we were actually out of the house more

i I wondered if it was because we used more heating during the winter months - do you think it could be that?

our latest bill is so out of step with what we have ever spent

They should come and check for a leak outside as well as you checking in the house. Are you abroad, if so are you adding +44 to the number? They should also have a live chat on the website.

Was your neighbour using your outside tap to water his garden/wash car when you were out?

we are on holiday but I can’t relax now

Oh poor you, it's a horrible feeling isn't it? They told us they were going to increase the monthly payment from £20 to £220. I felt sick. But at least I was at home and able to investigate immediately.

Do you live in a house or flat? Do you know where your water meter is? Is there someone who could check the reading while you're away?

Ohh, we live in a small gated development and sometimes it has been used for communal works; but can’t remember recently. Will investigate.

quite stressed now

@Namechangedforthis25 - Check the reading on your meter to see if it matches the water company's records.

Google to find out how to do it. Or try your water company's website.

It's probably a standard increase for some water companies. Loads are carrying billions in debt, consumer pays for it.

There's a guide here.

www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-meters/answering-water-meter-questions

OP are you sure you mean a month? I’m with TW, family of 4 and our water bill is approx £650 per year on a meter. I pay every 6 months and your OP would be correct for that given the big recent increases.

We had similar in a previous house with a meter, and they could not have been more helpful. They were able to see the date the water usage increased and came out to check themselves where the leak was. All was sorted very quickly.

Yes, it says from end of April our DD will increase from £50 to £320 per month. That is why we are shocked. Not a lot information either just thar we are using more water.

Thank you. Hopefully that will be the case for us too

Really? 6 times increase. I know Thames Water is broken but surely they are not allowed a 6 times water rate increase per month.

They increased us to 1000 a year from about 700 last year...