Water Bill

[WhiteBears]

Hi all, i have just received an Estimated water bill of �49.49 for 26/2/09 - 28/05/09

they estimated that i have used 13 cubic metres during those months. Do you think its a bit much for one person?

the past couple of bills had been �47.42 (also estimated 13 cubic metres) -as you can see its gone up a couple quids.

when i moved in to this Apartment last year i received my first bill for �21.68 ( that was just from 26/7/08 to 27/8/08 ) that is quite a lot for one month isnt it??

i was living with my parents during xmas / new yr for possibly 3 weeks aswel! so how come my new yrs bill was the same?

i have also been charged for Surface water �9.94 for each bill. what ever that is.... it says if 'customer not connected for surface water drainage are entitled to a rebate' shouldn't they know whether its connected or not? its them that installed it?... how am i suppose to know if it is connected or not?.... they just love ripping us off dont they??

i dont think i am going to pay this latest bill until i get a proper reading - (need to wait till tonight when the security officer starts his shift -he has the key to gain access to the metre!)

[redcrx]

�49 for 3 months doesnt sound overly excessive at all to me, I had a flat and rates were �30 a month. I couldnt have a meter fitted but negotiated my bill down. It was estimated that living alone, not having a dishwasher or washing machine, but only using bath (no shower) once a day wouldcost me �12 a month.

you dont say what water you may be using.

[Nosha123]

Firstly you need to get the meter read and stop these estimated bills - you could end up getting a nasty shock down the line.

The surface water - they are charging you for any surface water on your property - in a driveway or garden etc.. manily hardstanding areas.. that then filter down into the drains - which they have to take the water away from and treat it at the sewer works.

If you have a rainwater storage tank or soakaway then the water from hard areas would go to this so hence they dont have to treat it etc and you would be due a rebate.

Doesnt sound like a lot of water to me.... depends on whether you bath or shower and how often etc...

[theshedman]

Hi, I would agree with Nosha about getting the metre read. At least you will know exactly what you owe and what you should expect ot pay after that. Also the area that you live in and the water company you pay will make a lot of difference to the amount that you pay. My parents pay �35 a month for their water whereas I have to pay almost �80 a month for mine, and we have the same size houses.

[WhiteBears]

hi Redcrx and Nosha

well, i live in a really small one bedroom apartment, no washing machine, no dishwasher and no bath (only shower).

i work normal hours 9-5, dont come home til about 6pm. So i am hardly in the apartment. Also i wasnt in the apartment for 4-6 weeks! my work colleagues says its too much.

Nosha cos i live in a block of apartments do you think it is likely that i have to pay for for surface water? gosh... they must make alot of money if we had to, there are a lot of people living in these block of three apartments

[WhiteBears]

Thanks TheShedMan, you pay alot for your water, do you have a big house?

i only live in a one bed room apartment, i was wondering if they are basing it on Two people living there. Cos when i moved in i received my council tax and they based it on at least two people living there. I had to ring them to get the 25% off!! still a lot though for one person =(

[theshedman]

Hi, I only have 3 bedroom house. The water is expensive with South West water. It also tastes bad if not filtered first. I think it goes on the council tax band you are in if you are not on a metre. Not positive but I thought they gave the 25% discount to people living on their own if a metre could not be fitted as is sometimes the case when living in flats or apartments. As you say check with the security guard and ask if you have a metre and if you can see it. Then just take the metre reading and compare it to your bill.

[WhiteBears]

i just got my metre reading, and it just doesnt make any sense.

if they are basing on the last two digits reading then i have been over charged by 15 cubic metres, i think i need to call them tomorrow.

[stoofur]

It may be worth checking that your water meter is not turning when all of your taps are turned off. You may have a leak?

[WhiteBears]

hi stoofur

i dont think there are any leaks, i checked it with the security guard, the dial only turns when i turn on the tap. i have deffo been over charged. the bill is estimated and it is about 11 cubic metres more than the present reading. so im gonna ring them tomorrow.