Water rates again

[factor-fiction]

I know perhaps I should be on a weter meter but Mrs Factor is worried about not being able to have her daily hot bath and we do use the dishwasher/washer daily, so I'm stuck with paying the unmetered charges for now.

I have just received my bill for 2012/13 and once again, even though United Utilties are claiming bills are only going up by 4-5%, mine is again going up by 7% and will be a whopping £800 for the year.

I live in a modest detached house (band D) yet my bills seems to be roughly double those of others on AB. I can't challenge my banding because I know that as we've extended the next revaluation will put us in a band E.

I have written to UU and my MP several times in recent years about the regular 7-11% annual rises but never get anything other than confirmation that the charge is correct, a bland statement that average bills have only gone up by around 5% and a claim that it's good value for money.

Does anyone else get a bill for such an amount? I can't think where to turn next

[factor-fiction]

Thanks everyone.
Mrs Factor had agreed that we should go for a meter on the grounds that:
(a) based on the experience of others in a similar position we are are confident we can save at least £200 a year
(b)the fitting is free
(c) we have up to 13 months to change our mind
(d) in the unlikely event they can't fit a meter we can opt for the Assessed Charge which would certainly save us £300 a year.

My investigation have shown me that the current charging system for unmetered water is unfair and the water companies have been able to manipulate charges.

The main problem is that charges are based on rateable values set in 1990 rather than on council tax bands. These were set 'loosely' in 1990 'based on estimated rental values' but it was decided that water companies would use these figures to set charges and there has been no right of appeal even if your assessed rateable value, like mine, was clearly out of line with those of your neighbours. The only option allowed in such cases (in England) was to have a free meter installed.

The other aspect that concerns me is that the charging system was not transparent. Every year I was told average charges were going up by say 5% but mine went up by nearer 10% pa. I was just told the % increase varied according to rateable value. The 'outgoing water' charge increased by well over 10% last year and the standing charge went up by well above inflation each year too.

I'm very tenacious but for once I had to give up as I just could get a straight answer, even from my Labour MP and the cabinet minister (under the last govt). I came to the conclusion the government and water companies were colluding in this issue and hiding the true scale of increases. I also discovered water charges were actually reduced slightly one year across the country- of course that was in the year when a general election was planned.

[atalanta]

Watch out. The water boards want everybody to be on metered supply. They know that one incentive to go over to meters is the possibility of lower bills, which is why metered suppies are mostly cheaper ( for now) than unmetered. When 90 percent of customers ( or thereabouts) are on meters, they will force the remainder to go over by insisting on fitting meters when houses change hands. Or they will just do it anyway. However, when everyone is on meters, the income of the water boards will drop, possibly by almost half. They will then double their prices, which is what they have wanted all along. And then we shall all be totally at the mercy of the companies - which, remember, are profit-making companies. And, if I remember rightly, not all of them are UK companies.

[factor-fiction]

That may indeed happen Atalanta, but it may take ten years and in the meantime I'm not going to continue paying £300 a year more than I need to.

[DaisyNonna]

I am in the Southern water area. Last week a mandatory meter was installed. My worry is that the meter is under the pavement, to be accessed by a drive by vehicle. I have no way of knowing what thge reading will be or even if water is being recorded as used when I am not flushing the loo or turning on the taps. At least I can keep an eye on my gas and electricity meters. What happens if there is an underground leak?

[theshedman]

Our bill last year was £980 and it will be going up again this year and that's for a three bedroom house. That's with South West Water. They are getting crafty though. When my bill came last year and it had gone down by a couple of quid a month I thought that's nice until I noticed that they had changed my payment from 10 monthly payments to 12. Thing is we have no choice who we buy water from unlike the other utilities.

[Zeuhl]

Daisy

you should be able to see your meter by lifting the access cover.

we have just had one installed and as our useage is so high the water company have sugeested we check for any leaks by checking if meter is moving when we know none is being drawn.

[sasskins]

Thanks for the link to the assessed annoys me is that charge buildersmate. I have just asked to be put on that, and am relievd to see ) will save £140 per year. What annoys me is that you can only have the assessed charge if you have been denied a meter. That surely shouldn't make a difference - a single user is a single user, much the same as with council tax.

[frazerd]

If you can't give up your daily baths, dishwasher and washer then why not try and make savings elsewhere like using the delay start on your washer and dishwasher to come on at cheap rate times (night).

[sherrardk]

We are on a meter and I pay £45 a month - we are not water saving people, the washing machine is constantly on the go, kids having baths and showers, etc. Maybe you would be better off on a meter?

[buildersmate]

Cheaper water at night, eh Frazerd. What planet are you on?

[factor-fiction]

Ha ha- we do all that, frazered. All the washing is done and dried (or out on the line) by 7.30 am, water is heated from 4 am -7.am ,, etc. We even try to recharge laptops, toothbrushes, radios etc before breakfast

[frazerd]

You didn't read the answer Buildersmate. I said make savings elsewhere.

[Old_Geezer]

Just to say I've just paid my 12 month bill in advance for the coming year and it seems to be just over 31% of your bill. Looks like there needs to be competition in supplier, or else the government should take over supplying it.

[factor-fiction]

I realised that frazerd was referring to Economy 7 electricity which offers cheaper off peak rates (in return for higher peak rates).

Thanks O_G. I think the variations mentioned on here for non-metered rates (from under £300 pa to over £980 pa) show just how unfair the current charging system is, and the refusal to allow any appeals against ratings/charges is so unfair that I'm surprised it hasn't been challenged in the courts

[boxtops]

Daisy, we have a meter inside the house too, which we can read. We had that installed after the one in the pavement, which was just so the waterboard could check usage when I had a leak...

and btw emeritus says waste water and fresh intake are on the same bill. Not here in Kent, it's not - I pay one charge for incoming water, and anotehr separate one to Southern Water for drainage etc.

[DaisyNonna]

Zeuhl, thanks for your answer but have no idea where 'under the pavement' the meter is. Nothing to see. Live in a flat (1st floor) another flat below me and two attached , ground and first floor on my left. Apparently the meters are read electronically from a car driving past the properties.

[ytsrik1978]

go to united unility trust fund website print off the application form fill it in and send it off good luck
kirsty