problem with my water meter reading

A question about : problem with my water meter reading

I took my water reading on 10/12/10 and it was 551 cubic metres. The United Utilities charge is a Ј1.374 each. I checked it today again and it's 1201 cubic metres. If I calculate it appears that I used 650 cubic metres for the last month. It's Ј893.1 for one month!!! I live on my own on 2 bedroom flat. What I have to do? What can it be?

Best answers:

• Are you sure it wasn't 5.51 cubic metres and now 12.01 cubic metres so you have used 6.5 cubic metres.
  P.S. They might charge Ј1.374 for water, but normally more than that for sewerage.
• Sorry I am still unclear.
  Are you saying it was red numbers first? followed by black?
  It can't change from a 7 digit display to an 8 digit display - you must have read it incorrectly on 15 Dec.
• This is taken from the United Utilities website https://www.unitedutilities.com/SubmitaMeterReading.aspx
  Water meter information
  Meter serial No. (if known):
  For household customers your meter will have 4 or 5 digits on a black or white background, followed by 2 or 3 in a red background. Include all the numbers on the black or white background and ignore all the red ones
  Meter reading: *
• Odd, because if you read it like a normal meter then there should be 1 CM3 used but then you don't read the red numbers so that does not really help much.
  I would ring UU and ask them for an appointment to read the meter and check that the dials are correct. You will need to ask for them to call you to confirm the appointment and you should allow 5 working days but I think that might be the best idea.
  Can you take a photo ?
• Well I think it fair to assume that you haven't used 650,000 litres of water in a month and if there was a leak after the meter of that magnitude, your house would be floating!!!
  Look forward to seeing the photo.
• i think it was 0338 and now its 0339 myself so 1m 3
• Linden, that is what I thought but the only way that would work is if the meter was put together wrong..stranger things have happened though.
  Oki can you take a reading tomorrow morning ? If so....Take a reading before using ANY water if possible and then go about your morning..ie flush toilet, shower etc and then take another reading.
  That way we can work out what moved..As it should be the red in a normal meter but I am thinking it might be the black with you and that is showing the litres rather then cubic meters.
• I think the reading should be 0339 and that would make 1 CM3 used which would sound about right for one person in that period
  I think there has been a mistake with your meter and the reader is reading it as most need to be IE the black numbers.
  Wonder if he reported anything against his reading.
  Can you do it again tomorrow morning though , just to double check that what I think has happened has happened and then we can go from there.
  Sounds like nothing to panic about and a simple flow test from UU should clear it up and get the bill sorted out.
• I think UU might have used an est reading as it would follow on from 551 if you see what I mean ? If they have been reading the black then 576 would be a good guess against 551 if the property was empty or had new tenants.
• Good question though. Oki against the reading on the bill what does it say ? A or E ? Or some other code letter/ number ?
  Did you see UU reading it or are you only guessing based on getting a bill ?