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Water Bill Problems

NAS62563

Has anyone else had problems with their water bills? I recently moved to a 1 bedroom flat with no washing machine, hose, dishwasher or bath and United Utilities sent me a bill for £728 for the year. After doing some research I found that they base the bill on the rateable value of the property from 1990 which effectively means that because I live in a converted flat I am being sent the bill for an 8 bedroom house rather than a 1 bedroom flat

I tried to explain the situation to them but have been going around in circles for the last 3 months as they seem to enjoy taking advantage of vulnerable people and hoping that they will just give up and pay up. I told that them it wouldn't be possible for me to have a water meter fitted due to shared pipes and a shared laundry etc. but they didn't listen and just said I would need to request a meter. I have requested a meter twice but when the pandemic happened they said that they won't be installing any meters for 3 months. They then tried to "trick" me into paying the full amount of £728 by giving me a £70 discount because of coronavirus. I am now getting letters about legal action and the citizens advice bureau have been useless. I don't fancy phoning the 50 pence a minute phone number they gave me again so have sent them an email. Hopefully they can't charge me those ridiculous prices and will eventually agree to giving me the fair fixed rate for 1 bedroom house which is around £21 per month

This has caused me so much distress I think it is a disgrace that this is how they operate and can imagine that there are lots of older/vulnerable people that just pay up the £50 a month rate just cause they don't know what to do

  • in reply to DuckBread

    It's like when you have to call up for cheaper tariffs. The gas and electricity is exactly the same regardless lol

  • in reply to mouse2

    That seems ridiculous. I hate the way these companies get away with lying and misleading people.

  • in reply to NAS62563

    It really is criminal. I hope you manage to get it sorted.

  • in reply to DuckBread

    When I done research into it I saw people in a similar situation to me saying things along the lines of their elderly mother in law just pays up the 6 bedroom rate for her 2 bedroom house because she can't be bothered with the hassle. I know some people that would probably do the same and not bother fighting it due to the fear tactics they use. t really makes you think who are the real criminals in society

  • We are paying for something I cant think what it's called but basically they say the rain washes off of our roof into a drain. We have no drain! We get flooding! Also scottish power billed us 399 for 2 weeks electric and gas because we left! I cant figire it out

  • I'm having trouble with my electricity company at the moment - unfortunately, I think these people really take advantage of the fact that many people (myself included!) don't know how their bills work, or how to challenge them (and be listened to) if we're being charged unfairly.

    My best advice is to go to the Citizens' Advice Bureau - they should be able to give you impartial help and advice. 

  • in reply to NAS62563

    Keep asking 

    they tried this on me but eventually we got a water meter. We weren’t in a flat but a row of terrace houses that had one supply so they have to put the meter in your flat. Ours was under our sink in the kitchen. They were like babies when they did it - showing they didn’t want to do it but had no choice. 

    Like most NT things - they’re scum - cheating nasty pieces of NT cxnt faces 

  • in reply to Robert124

    Thank you for your reply. I asked my landlord if I could have a meter installed and they just ignored me but I'm pretty sure I can't due to shared pipes for the toilet and having a separate laundry.

    The water company said that the single person fixed person rate is around £21 a month but I can't get that until someone checks if I can have a meter installed but obviously that cannot be done just now. If they backdate the single person rate rather than the 8 bedroom rate that will solve the problem but they seem very adamant that I pay up the 8 bedroom rate so it looks like I will have to keep fighting just to have the fair rate

    In Scotland the water bill is part of the council tax, and not based on whether your flat used to be a mansion in 1990 which makes a lot more sense considering it is a basic human need

  • I also have had long term problems with water bills, so I feel empathy with you.

    I live alone in a flat and use very little water, my landlord initially refused me permission to have a water meter installed.

    I applied to yorkshire water to be placed on their social tariff, quoting my multiple health problems etc.  This reduced my bill to £400 per year.  I advise you to investigate if your water provider has a social tarriff.

    This year I finally got my landlords permission to install a water meter.  The official yorkshire water website publicised that a single person living alone, should be paying between £211 and £325 with a water meter, much lower than the £400 I was paying.  In February they fitted the meter.  They now have sent me an estimated bill for £610, demanding payment.