Strange water meter readings

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BenWickes
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Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:22 pm

Anyone else's water usage gone up in the past 6 months according to United Utilities despite seemingly using less? This is in comparison with the bill after our hot dry summer last year.
We're trying to work out how we've used £50 worth more water despite keeping to our usual routines and not using anywhere near as much water on the garden due to this summer being wetter and not as hot as last year. We seemed to be continuously filling up the watering can last summer. Got most of our water from the water butt this summer.
Very odd. Still less than if we were on a water meter after using their usage calculator. We can only assume it's down to having to wash our hands a lot more because of Covid, but £50 worth? :o

Mayoclaret
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Mayoclaret » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:26 pm

Could you have a leak somewhere?

FactualFrank
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by FactualFrank » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:28 pm

I was sent a letter telling me of some sort of 'leak' and that my bills would be going up. It was almost trebled. Some sort of fraud definitely going on somewhere.

Sky also randomly added things to my bill a bit back, and I had to check my bill before I noticed what they'd done.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:31 pm

Mayoclaret wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:26 pm
Could you have a leak somewhere?
Certainly a possibility. There was a water leak in the area a few months back .It affected the local postcode. They can't whack that on our bill can they? Will have to question that bill as it doesn't add up.

BenWickes
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:32 pm

FactualFrank wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:28 pm
I was sent a letter telling me of some sort of 'leak' and that my bills would be going up. It was almost trebled. Some sort of fraud definitely going on somewhere.

Sky also randomly added things to my bill a bit back, and I had to check my bill before I noticed what they'd done.
Sneaky buggers aren't they?!

FactualFrank
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by FactualFrank » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:32 pm

BenWickes wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:31 pm
Certainly a possibility. There was a water leak in the area a few months back .It affected the local postcode. They can't whack that on our bill can they? Will have to question that bill as it doesn't add up.
Of course they can't. But I tried to disprove and they wouldn't have it.

The thing is, I'm with Yorkshire Water and you can't just swap, like gas and electric. You're stuck with whoever supplies your water.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Firthy » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:41 pm

Thank god we don't have water meters over here. Would cost me a fortune with all the cuppas we have :)
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ClaretTony
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by ClaretTony » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:44 pm

BenWickes wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:22 pm
Still less than if we were on a water meter after using their usage calculator
My water bill went down 70% when I switched to a meter

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by conyoviejo » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:45 pm

Put a magnet over the dial counter and half your bills.
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lakedistrictclaret
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by lakedistrictclaret » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:48 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:44 pm
My water bill went down 70% when I switched to a meter
I can't quite match Tony's 70%, but the installation of a meter reduced mine by over 50%.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by conyoviejo » Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:52 pm

conyoviejo wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:45 pm
Put a magnet over the dial counter and half your bills.
It's a well known fact Frank,along with drilling a minute hole in your electric meter and placing a small wire on the dial to stop it turning..Don't forget to take it off before the meter reader comes though and fill the hole with shoe polish. ;)

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by DCWat » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:28 pm

BenWickes wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:22 pm
Anyone else's water usage gone up in the past 6 months according to United Utilities despite seemingly using less? This is in comparison with the bill after our hot dry summer last year.
We're trying to work out how we've used £50 worth more water despite keeping to our usual routines and not using anywhere near as much water on the garden due to this summer being wetter and not as hot as last year. We seemed to be continuously filling up the watering can last summer. Got most of our water from the water butt this summer.
Very odd. Still less than if we were on a water meter after using their usage calculator. We can only assume it's down to having to wash our hands a lot more because of Covid, but £50 worth? :o
If you’re not on a meter (assuming you don’t have one and are therefore billed on RV). How can anyone say that your usage has gone up?

DCWat
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by DCWat » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:30 pm

FactualFrank wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:32 pm
Of course they can't. But I tried to disprove and they wouldn't have it.

The thing is, I'm with Yorkshire Water and you can't just swap, like gas and electric. You're stuck with whoever supplies your water.
That’ll change eventually.

You can already swap providers if you’re a commercial customer.

clarethomer
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by clarethomer » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:34 pm

Yes, I had the 6 monthly bill

Less usage, and increase in payment.

I noticed the reading was an estimate and that the meter reading was lower in reality.

Updated with an accurate reading.

Got a thank you and you will get an updated bill within next day or so.

Got the bill - payments the same as the estimate.

Not had the energy or time to contact them yet and ask why.......

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by FactualFrank » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:38 pm

lakedistrictclaret wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:48 pm
I can't quite match Tony's 70%, but the installation of a meter reduced mine by over 50%.
So basically, they are robbing their customers. When their customers can track, the charge is what it should be.

Local cricketer
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Local cricketer » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:49 pm

FactualFrank wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:38 pm
So basically, they are robbing their customers. When their customers can track, the charge is what it should be.
I got my water meter on this day 2018. Was well worth it

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by ClaretTony » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:49 pm

FactualFrank wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:38 pm
So basically, they are robbing their customers. When their customers can track, the charge is what it should be.
Not really. In the days before water meters the charge was based on the rateable value of the property, they were called water rates.

Then they started introducing the meters and people, including myself, were very cautious. I continued paying the figure based on the rates until two years ago. By this time I was paying over £58 per month and stupidly not even questioning it. Some of my neighbours were paying the same amount. It was a friend of mine who suggested getting a meter and it was installed on 1st October 2018. I now have a monthly payment of just over £17 per month. Obviously it needs to be considered carefully if there are a few people living in the house. Once installed, I think you have a year to opt back to the fixed figure.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:54 pm

DCWat wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:28 pm
If you’re not on a meter (assuming you don’t have one and are therefore billed on RV). How can anyone say that your usage has gone up?
There's an outside underground meter they read every six months. Looking online they've estimated an increase. It shows in a graph an increase from last year, but we've used less.

clarethomer
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by clarethomer » Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:59 pm

They say that if you have more bedrooms than people in your home, you are likely to pay less for your water on a meter.

FactualFrank
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by FactualFrank » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:02 pm

clarethomer wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:59 pm
They say that if you have more bedrooms than people in your home, you are likely to pay less for your water on a meter.
3 bedrooms... live on my own and the girlfriend sometimes. Still a rip off :D

Although one bedroom is an office.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by claretandy » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:03 pm

clarethomer wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:59 pm
They say that if you have more bedrooms than people in your home, you are likely to pay less for your water on a meter.
This, but just remember that once you go on a meter, you can't take it out.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by ClaretTony » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:06 pm

claretandy wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:03 pm
This, but just remember that once you go on a meter, you can't take it out.
You might not be able to take it out but United Utilities give you two years to change your mind and go back to rateable value charges.

FactualFrank
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by FactualFrank » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:07 pm

claretandy wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:03 pm
This, but just remember that once you go on a meter, you can't take it out.
Surely you can? I know electric can, so how can they stop you? Just don't pay until they take it out :)

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by claretandy » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:26 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:06 pm
You might not be able to take it out but United Utilities give you two years to change your mind and go back to rateable value charges.
And think about when you come to sell the house, if a family is buying then they will look for a house with no meter.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by DCWat » Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:59 pm

BenWickes wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 5:54 pm
There's an outside underground meter they read every six months. Looking online they've estimated an increase. It shows in a graph an increase from last year, but we've used less.
Take a couple of readings yourself an hour or so apart (not using any water during this time) to see if there’s a change If you’ve a significant leak, you’ll see a difference. A minor leak may take longer to register, so perhaps try last thing at night, first thing in the morning.

Anything after the meter is really, your responsibility, but when I used to work at YW, we would on occasion pay for a leak if it was outside the property but after the meter (garden for example).
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Rileybobs
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Rileybobs » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:03 pm

claretandy wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:26 pm
And think about when you come to sell the house, if a family is buying then they will look for a house with no meter.
I can’t imagine someone making a decision in buying a house based on whether it has a water meter or not.

I changed to a meter a couple of years ago and my bills reduced by about half.
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by conyoviejo » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:21 pm

Rileybobs wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:03 pm
I can’t imagine someone making a decision in buying a house based on whether it has a water meter or not.

I changed to a meter a couple of years ago and my bills reduced by about half.
Ah,you must be using the magnet method. :lol:
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by TheOriginalLongsider » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:32 pm

My meter was showing I used a lot of water. The meters need to be replaced every so often and mine was past the change date so they replaced it and the reading were then okay. They then took reduced my previous bills based on my real usage over the next few months. Worth asking the water company if it could be faulty.
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by ClaretTony » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:36 pm

claretandy wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:26 pm
And think about when you come to sell the house, if a family is buying then they will look for a house with no meter.
Do people really look for houses with no water meters?

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by claretandy » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:43 pm

ClaretTony wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:36 pm
Do people really look for houses with no water meters?
It was a consideration for me, looking at 2 similar priced 4 bed detached houses.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:54 pm

DCWat wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:59 pm
Take a couple of readings yourself an hour or so apart (not using any water during this time) to see if there’s a change If you’ve a significant leak, you’ll see a difference. A minor leak may take longer to register, so perhaps try last thing at night, first thing in the morning.

Anything after the meter is really, your responsibility, but when I used to work at YW, we would on occasion pay for a leak if it was outside the property but after the meter (garden for example).
Cheers DC. It's situated under the public footpath outside our property garden wall but get what you mean. I'll look into it.
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BenWickes
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:55 pm

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:32 pm
My meter was showing I used a lot of water. The meters need to be replaced every so often and mine was past the change date so they replaced it and the reading were then okay. They then took reduced my previous bills based on my real usage over the next few months. Worth asking the water company if it could be faulty.
Could be. I'll contact them in the morning.

Paul Waine
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Paul Waine » Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:13 pm

FactualFrank wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:07 pm
Surely you can? I know electric can, so how can they stop you? Just don't pay until they take it out :)
I'm sure there will be some environmentally friendly reasons that favour water meters and control of water usage, rather than allow meters to be removed and return to a fixed charge for water and sewage (part of the charge is for taking the waste away).

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by clarethomer » Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:36 pm

I think as what has already been mentioned, they give you 2 years to revert back to water rates. The below explains the situation better.

Water meter removal

Since 1990 all new build properties are fitted with a water meter. If you've moved into a new build property you cannot revert to Rateable Value charges.

Meters installed under the Free Meter Option scheme, and fitted from 1st April 2015 onwards, can now revert back to Rateable Value within 24 months of installation or 30 days after receipt of a fourth bill (whether based on an actual or an estimated meter reading). Meters installed prior to 1st April 2015 can revert back to Rateable Value within 12 months of installation or 30 days after receipt of a second bill. We do not physically remove the meter in these circumstances, however if you require us to do so, please contact us.

You can also revert to Rateable Value if the meter was fitted prior to 1995 and the customer paid for the installation. Exceptions to this are if the rateable value is no longer valid or if the customer has a swimming pool or uses a sprinkler. Commercial customers are not entitled to revert to Rateable Value.

If you have just taken responsibility for a property that already has a meter then you cannot revert back to Rateable Value. It is only the original occupier who requested the meter to be fitted who can revert back; the onus is on the purchaser to determine how water service charges are levied prior to purchasing the property.

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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by Burnleyareback2 » Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:25 pm

By any chance have you been washing your hands more often or spending more time at home?!

Have you had any building work or trades working on the house? I have renovated a couple of houses and have always seen at least a 50% increase during the next billing cycle.

BenWickes
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Re: Strange water meter readings

Post by BenWickes » Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:42 pm

Burnleyareback2 wrote:
Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:25 pm
By any chance have you been washing your hands more often or spending more time at home?!

Have you had any building work or trades working on the house? I have renovated a couple of houses and have always seen at least a 50% increase during the next billing cycle.
We have been washing our hands more but not to the tune of what we were watering plants last year in that hot summer. Been little change from last year otherwise. In fact, we probably use less water on a daily basis in comparison to last summer overall due to extended work hours.
No building work.

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