Water bills?

[TheOpalFox]

Severn Trent said my water bills are going uoto £51.
am I better off going on a meter? Or will that work out more expensive please?
thank you
2 bed house £51!!!

Surely they should base it on actual usage. If they tried doing that with myDD I'd just not have a dd set up, save the money each month and pay when the bill came

And if they are, then people should pay for what they use. Not call up claiming they can't afford it whilst using the water which is what the previous poster seems to be implying.

Otherwise we could all call up saying we can't afford what we use.

That can't be with South West Water.

I'm on my own, daily shower, work from home, dishwasher on 2/3 times a week and washing machine twice a week and I pay £52 a month, metered.

£153 per month. Family of 4. It’s a ridiculous amount I think. I’m really not happy with it, but what can you do. There’s no competition to move to and you need water and i refuse to ration it but we aren’t going needlessly mad with it. Sorry should have said. SW.

Ours went up to £96 a month on a standard tariff. Enquired about a water meter but they can’t fit one in this property. The assessment based on circumstances dropped it by £300 a year! It is worth enquiring if you think you use less than they charge for.

I'm like you. I might try calling too...

£55 a month on a meter. Three adults, two WFH so kettle refilled regularly, washing machine and dishwasher used most days, at least one of us has a shower most days. Fish pond topped up regularly when required, dog has fresh water twice a day usually.

Well obviously. But the water companies seem to randomly hike DDs to a ridiculous amount with no proof the customer is using that amount. My DS had his water company hike bill from £30 a month to £80. Totally disregarded the fact he was nearly £100 in credit having paid £30 for the previous 6 months

What's the alternative, though, if people genuinely cannot afford to pay the increasing bills from the water companies?

Should they just go without clean water, or have to walk miles and back to a well - like people in very poor countries still have to, and which charities like Water Aid are thankfully trying to make a thing of the past?

That’s shocking. Clearly your charges are rediculous. I’d contact them in writing and advise that I wouldn’t be paying my bill going forward until the issue is sorted out. If you are metered There is a possibility that there is a leak somewhere, if you’re not metered then get one put in. It is illegal for water companies to cut off your supply for non payment. Speak to Citizens Advice for help.

Agree. Can’t be with south west water, far too cheap!

For us with 6 in our family the meter is cheaper

Not necessarily - we’re a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) with SWW and, as I said in my previous comment, our bill is around £180 every 6 months on a meter.

Does anyone here work for a water company? Am curious as to why, if they screwed up by not doing maintenance and dumping raw sewage in rivers etc, why it is we the consumer are being penalised? I just wrote to mine and asked to be disconnected as cannot afford food AND water, buying large bottles and saving rainwater gonna be far far cheaper for me

Do I win? £80 a month unmetred one bedroom flat

£114 with recent increases, no meter.
Just switched to meter - surely it can't be worse! (Will switch back if it is).

There's a time limit to revert back to unmetered so check with your water company how long you have.

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3270188/options-for-having-water-meter-removed

I am with Southern Water (bastards) for wastewater and charges have gone up over 50% per cubic metre! We are coastal and the sea is pumped full of poo constantly. Hate them.

It might be illegal for them to cut you off, but they are becoming as bad as council tax for issuing court summons for being 5 days late on a payment now! The constant 4 plus times a day phone calls and letter and emails for even i day late is beyond intimidating