Water Bills questions and comment

A question about : Water Bills questions and comment

Please place your water bill questions and comments here

Addition by Fran - link to Martin's article HERE

Best answers:

• Can't wait until the market is deregulated.
  We all pay too much now for this basic commodity.
  How much does everyone pay?
  Ours is Ј23 per month (Anglian Water) and was Ј29 until I asked them to change it, telling them I was right with my usage calculation the first time round, but they wouldn't have it.
  Ј23 is still too much, but I do work on numerous money-saving methods quite well.
  As for the young lads across the street that wash their cars EVERY weeeknd without fail, dirty or not - generally not - (rain included), all I can say is: 'Get a woman, chaps and stop playing with your darn silly cars!' [They annoy all the neighbours].
  There should be a car washing tax - hey, there's a popular idea.
  Mark E
• I can't wait for competition in the water market.
  1st of all think of all the money to be made from the companies wanting to get your custom.
  I've done energy sales, and there was loads of money to be made
  (without the need to sell to the old & vunarable)
  I bet 'the boss' is dreading it. Just think of all those calculations that need to be done and re-done. Based on yourr location, the company and whether you have gas/elec/phone &/or water from them.
  Pak
• I live alone in a four bedroom house, I have a water meter. When I first moved in two years ago I was charged 18 pounds a month. this was then changed to 29 pounds a month and this year has been changed to 48 pounds a month. I have asked for the meter to be checked but so far this has not happenedalthough Anglia Water have said that they will only charge me the 29 pounds a month for the time being. I do not have a swimming pool.
  Doreen
• You may have a secret underground swimming pool forming underground between the meter and your home.
  This is your responcibility so be warned, do you have a nice green lawn compared to other people?
  It might be worth taking out an plumbing cover with some company, just for a year before you discover there is a problem (and thus excluded from a new policy)
  Try filling some bottles up, turning your taps off, and seeing if the meter still turns. You must give it a while as a small leek may not show for several hours.
  Look at the OFWAT web site to see wot your rights are re meter testing.
  Pak
• Hi all
  Just bought by second buy to let property for students.
  Only just realised it has a water meter.......and I think landlords are responisble for the water. Other unmetered houses in the street have a yearly bill of Ј226 Dee Valley Water say that I can expect the bill to be around Ј475 for a family of 4 can that be right??
  Poor show Dee Valley ( Chester Cheshire) you wait until I can change.
  Happy saving everyone !!
  PS anyone know where I can get long term unsecured loan longer than 7 years. Need another deposit for a buy to let.
• I would fit taps where U have to hold the top down to get water out. (like the ones in public loos)
  Put a brick in the tank of the loo, to restrict the massive over amount water being flushed.
  & fit a shower. and a small bath.
  Make sure theres no outside tap for hoses.
  Not that I don't like students........but the struggle makes them stronger people. :P
  Pak
  Re the loan, best ask that in the 'loans section'
• If you have a water meter and on a low income and on benefit. Do the water companies have different tarrifs?
  Thanks
  rogersa
• No
  Why should they ?
  The other utilities don't distinguish
  Try speaking to the DSS
• We pay Ј19 odd a month, which is ridiculously cheap considering the rateable value of our home. Might be because it used to be a vicarage. Do the Church get special treatment.
  Anyway, we think it is cheap, and don't want to rock the boat, so we are keeping quiet on this one.
• Check teletext Channel 4 page 535! page 5 of 8
  Save on Water Bills with a meter
  People on low incomes and medical conditions (skin diseases)(they need to bathe more)
  rogersa
• Who thinks PakMan was a little abrupt when answering my earlier question?
  rogersa
• I dont think Pak-Man was being too abrupt - sometimes though it's difficult to see the nuances in print. He tends to write his messages that way but boy does he know his utilities!
  I think the point he was making is 'water companies are commerical organistions are therefore its unlikely they will cut their earnings because people are on benefits' therefore its more likely if money is available then it will be in the form of social security benefits rather than direct reductions from the suppliers.
  I must admit this isn't something i've looked into too closely. If you give Citizens Advice a call they can do a full 'benefits check up' and you may find this and other things that you're entitled too.
  All the best
  Martin
• Sorry for seeming abrupt
  I wrote it out the first time then lost all the txt so 2nd time i wrote very short answer.The Boss understood where I was coming from, and his longer explanation was wot was intended.
  Pak :-[
• don't forget if the water company don't take run of water away u can apply for a dicount
• Yes, if you have a soak away then there is a discount. !
  BUT you have to claim it. !
  They won't give it to you.
  Pak
• I have recently changed over to a water meter having calculated that I should save around Ј100 per year. I have now had my first bill in, (I know it was summer but it is has Ј167 of water charges - 3/4 of my old water rates).
  I have checked against an old bill from my previous property and there is a major difference. On this new one, Thames Water have decided to multiply my meter reading by 4.5 (ish) - the rateable value. This didn't happen 3 years ago in my flat. Do Thames Water do this on all bills?
  I thought I would ask before tackling Thames Water.
  I know I can change back within the first 12 months if I am unhappy with the meter, but I did think I would make a saving.
• If you`re on a water meter rateable value does`nt come into it.
  It will show you on the bill how many units you`ve used for the period and also the price per unit.
  Multiply one by the other and that`s the amount you should pay.
  Is it an estimated bill,have you taken your own reading and compared it to theirs.
  If your not happy ring them up and enquire.
• Hey,
  Can anybody give me a rough estimate as to when the water industry is going to be deregulated?
  Pak if you've done energy sales then i am sure your Chumping at the bit for this to happen!
  Cheers
  Simon
• Hello everyone, thanks for this resource - it's a life saver.
  I suspect I have a problem that there won't be an answer for. It's to do with the water meters. We've recently had them forced upon us in Tyne and Wear - so there wasn't any choice here. Is there a way to have it taken out? The problem is I keep a lot of fish, and they need water changed regularly. It's going to cost so much that I may have to give up my hobby.
  Any help much appreciated.
  Thanks!
  Tom