Water meter? DON'T

We asked for one but for various reasons the Water Board can't fit one.

They put us on a different charge which means we were paying less, as if we were metered, but the price has gone up by about 30% this year!

and I cant get rid of the meter

Why? I'd be on to them again!
You should be on a special rate for a single-person household.

I. have asked to have it removed and they said no.
No way of changing supplier like you can with energy.
grrr

That sounds really frustrating It's tough when you feel stuck with a supplier. Have you considered reaching out to a consumer advocacy group for advice? They might have some suggestions on how to handle the situation.

All new build houses have them so we didn’t get a choice.

There’s no discount for single person occupancy Allira.

I hope you don’t have a leak lovingit but is it possible they’re reading the right meter for your property?
Northumbrian Water fitted my water meter and allowed a 12 month trial before we had to make a final decision on keeping it.

To check if the meter is working correctly, fill a measured container with water and then see if that amount of water has been registered on the meter.

Could possibly be an underground leak

My water meter is on the road 😫

Allira

^and I cant get rid of the meter^

Why? I'd be on to them again!
You should be on a special rate for a single-person household.

I didn't know about special water rates for single person households.

There isn’t growstuff

I have a water meter. I live on my own (most of the time) and pay £30 a month for water (to give you an idea). I'm actually paying a little bit too much and this month I was sent a cheque for a £77 refund for the past 12 months.

As others have said, you possibly have a leak. If you can read the meter easily, turn all your water off for a couple of hours and compare readings.

Pressed too soon - there may be a discount for those on low income/pension credit.

Georgesgran

There isn’t growstuff

Didn't think so

In our area single person households without a meter pay a reduced charge - actually half of the charge for a two or more household.

I was doubtful of the £26 a month the OP said she paid but I can see it would be about £30 a month here, for a single person.

There’s the rub. A meter would save money if there are two of you but not if your water authority does the single household reduction.

We have a water meter and pay £25 per month. Just DH and I live here and we are using our water as we did before having the meter fitted.
I suspect you have a leak. Request an engineer to come and test for leaks. You should not be paying so much.

Georgesgran

There isn’t growstuff

There used to be
It must have been discontinued.

I live alone and recently our water and sewerage accounts have merged together
I have a water meter I’ve had one for many years and I pay £38 a month for the two bills added together
I d ask them to check as you feel it’s not correct but I don’t think it’s the water meters fault

Same here, Water and sewerage charged together.

Well, it’s interesting to see the differences in what water authorities charge.

Ours does a single household reduction but Anglia Water (used to live in that area) doesn’t and the charges for unmetered seem to be astronomical. The OPs £55 a month metered would still be saving her £££££.

This can’t be right, can it? That water, the most basic of human needs, is a major, almost unaffordable expense for some in some parts of the+country.

We don’t think we had any choice about having a meter. It’s buried full fathom five in the front garden, I’ve never seen anyone read it and feel it must be too old for this to be done remotely. We’re unlucky enough to be Thames Water and were notified that our bills would be going up hugely.
But I do nothing because I make fairly heavy use of the garden hose.

We resisted a water meter for ages and were paying £72 per month for water (two person household) with United Utilities.

This year we bit the bullet and had a meter installed. Our bill is now £30 per month, and we have 12 months to change our minds should we want to have it removed.

For us it’s been a no-brainier, but it appears that different water companies have different systems (and pricing?).

Nationalise!!!

I was under the impression that if you asked for a meter to be fitted, you could ask for it to be taken out again if you had not had it longer than 12 months. Maybe I've got that wrong! We're with Welsh Water and pay £73 a month for the two of us.

A leak is quite a common occurrence so def get them to send somebody out to check.