Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#1
My Southern water bill came this morning, the meter reading is dated to 15th February, nearly a month ago, my payment is due, but because I pay direct debit, it will be collected on 15th April, which is one month away and two month`s away from the meter reading. All designed to confuse? Normally when bill`s arrive, you should pay asap, though you`re usually allowed 7/14 days etc. Why is the utility company not in a hurry for payment?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
the bills i hate the most are the ones from the water companies.
total rip off.
have you benefited from having a meter colin?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#3
Had a water meter for some years Howard. It is an estimate, but unlike the water bill, I pay the gas and electric straightaway online rather than DD, if their estimate is near my reading.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
have you gained money though colin?
i was told to go on a meter when i lived on my own, a few months later i was informed that i had used 1200 quids worth of water in a month.
the water company said that the leak was from a pipe on my property, my frontage is one stride from door to front gate.
fair enough they repaired it for free and waived the leakage charge.
a few months later the same again, they said it was from a different part of this very short pipe.
i immediately came off of the metering.
#5
Don't know about water bill but I do know that my direct debit to Scottish Power for gas + electric has just gone up 22%.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#6
I was paying slightly less at first Howard, but in today`s terms, I`m not really sure. I was told that you can`t come off the meter once you`re on it. They did our whole road in one go about 6 or 7 years ago I think.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
colin
when i went over to a meter, there was a one year opt out, i took it.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#8
Just spotted the `a` in front of meter Howard. I thought you were referring to a blind date.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
#9
Due to having a leak on the stop tap in doors, I went out to turn the stop tap off outside on the path so that I could replace the leaking tap. What did I find but the meter alongside the outside tap covered in dirt and grime, goodness only knows when it was last read, I would say well over a year ago.
I have never taken much notice of the water bills as after not having a water meter at my old house I have considered the meter bills cheaper, but when my next bill comes in I will be checking it with the meter reading.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
#10
Howard, we had meters installed in Whitfield about seven years ago as Colin said. They were compulsory with no opt out clause. I don't know why they picked on Whitfield. My bills did go down a little at first but I am not sure about now as there are so many different calculations that they have made just to confuse people.
I have a neighbour on one side who lives alone and on the other side a family with two children, there are just the two of us. Obviously the single person will be paying less than the family therefore it is a fairer system.
Harry, our meters are read about two or three times a year.
Guest 1154- Registered: 3 Jan 2014
- Posts: 8
#11
I moved into a house in Dover a while ago, got in touch with all the utilities and thought I had done quite well, then around 5 months later I got a bill from Southern water, who I am not with, saying We have opened you an account and here is your bill which is 95.9% of water you have drawn into the property, I have phoned and told them I re cycle lots of water, I also give around 8 litres a day to my dogs as well as during the summer months, I was giving the wild ponies 15 litres per day, all of which does not go into their drain system, I have told them in no uncertain terms that they cannot go around opening accounts for people without speaking to them first, also there is no law that says I have to use them and in addition to all of that they should fit waste meters to properties, you cannot say everyone is exactly the same, I have made it very clear I am very unhappy about it, has anyone else had a similar problem? ( i have also stated I am not going to pay unless they can show me a letter by law that says I have to pay whatever they say by law, plus they have no signiture of mine )
jbb
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#12
wasting your breath john, privatisation did not give a choice but gave us two water bills.
i believe we are unique in this.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#13
The law places an obligation on the occupant of every property to pay for water and drainage, either by a fixed water rate or via a metered supply. The bad news ithat in this area we have separate suppliers for water and drainage. The good news is that if you are careful with water use it works out much cheaper to be on a meter. We still pay less than we did before privatisation.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#14
Howard you still meter free? We have been forced to go on a meter. I have never believed it will be cheaper beeing on a meter. I have proved right in that one. They have a daily standing charge and other superstitious charges which are confusing. I was much happier unmetered than metered. I wish I could go back to beeing unmetered again.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#15
Peter I have always been careful with water. Used to it from childhood. But its definitive not cheaper. I was cheaper unmetered.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#16
My water bills are much much lower being metered.
Roger
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#17
lucky you Roger :)
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#18
I agree Heike.
But there is only me at home now.
Roger
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#19
Three of us in this household and I am saving about £10 a month since being on a meter.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#20
Things you can do,
Fit a new modern toilet duel flush , Fit a shower, divert water from gutters to a soak away, and clam a rebate, install a rainwater harvester system
Install boilers near to the hot water tap most in use ,if possible
Re-nationalise water, cut out the greedy shareholders.
They should be doing a meter reading every 6 months ,they may be estimating it
I suggest you do a reading and ring it in .
