Help - water bill *doubling*!

[AuntyDiluvian]

I just had a letter through the post from Southern Water saying that as of next week we will be being moved on to their 'metered assessed charge', as we can't have a water meter fitted.
This means that our water bill will more than DOUBLE from £203.46 to £423.15.
They're generously going to 'ease us in' to this by steadily increasing our bills so that we wouldn't be paying the full amount until 3 years' time. But - am I going mad? This can't be OK, can it? And is there anything I can do?
I've just confirmed this on the phone with SW who basically said 'tough titty'.
I feel suddenly really clueless as the info about all this I found with a quick Google meant nothing to me.
We're 3 people in a 2-bed terrace by the way if anyone can comment on whether we've just been getting away with a low bill for ages!

Why can't you have a water meter fitted? If there really is no easy access pipework in your house, can't they fit one outside - my friends have this.

We are a family of three on a rateable value and pay approx. £240 a year. My Mum lives on her own, is very careful with water and pays £180 - having said this a good proportion of her bill is taken up with general charges, not the amount of water she has used.

Search online to see if there's a regulatory body (details might even be on your bill), who you can check this out with.

Thank you lottie. We can't have a meter because we don't know where the stopcock is and the engineer couldn't find it - maybe I need to take this up with the landlord and also have a look round if a meter would make it better.

ask about sure start water. it's a scheme to help with water bills, can find qualifying criteria under your water company

Has your property been significantly altered since 1990 (loft conversion, extension) if so they can make a change over to an assessed charge as basically the rateable value is no longer valid however if there hasn't been a change then I don't think they can. That's what I get from OFWATs website www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/unmetered/rv
I would ask why they are changing you over and if they haven't a valid reason I'd be making a complaint to OFWAT. If they are changing you over just because they can't fit a meter then This link www.ofwat.gov.uk/consumerissues/chargesbills/assessed/ says you can refuse.
Our meter is on the stopcock connection at the end of our drive, we have another inside & another by the garage. If you don't have a stopcock how would you turn the water off in an emergency? You need to get this rectified - if you have a landlord I would get them to look into this to reduce damage in event of an emergency.

ask the landlord where the stopcock is! You will be stuffed (and so will he) if you have a water leak.

do you know where your other emergency switches/taps are?

Thank you all so much. I'm going to have a proper look at those links wonky, looks perfect. And will definitely get onto the landlord re stopcock.
Special : what other taps?! I know for gas and electricity... Am I missing something?

those are the ones I had in mind - glad you know where those are!

Thanks special, had a sudden moment of self doubt that there might be a legendary Fourth Utility I'd forgotten ...!

(me too..)