Problem with Affinity water overcharging

[mamothd]

I had a water meter installed because I hardly use any water as I'm away most of the time abroad. I live alone.

The man who installed it didn't show me how to read the meter. He gave no instructions at all.

Affinity did a manual reading after 6 months. It showed 532,000 litres of water!! I would literally use about 100 litres a year.

I assumed this was an estimated reading, but it wasn't estimated.

Affinity say I must have had a leak, but I know I definitely don't have a leak anywhere. I had a plumber in today to confirm this.

The last 2 months meter reading has increased by a reasonable 20 units (first 6 months were 332 units).

So clearly their meter is faulty. Plus ,as I said, I wasn't given any instructions on how to read the meter.

They are trying to charge me £1200 for the first 6 months of use. I'd say it should be more like £50.

They are coming next week to check for leaks outside the house. If they don't find one, what is my position? I have no intention of paying anywhere like £1200.

I would also argue I've been a customer for 35 years.

for the last 10years I was paying £350pa non-metered, so was overpaying given my use was genuinely about £100 per year.

i reckon I've kinda overpaid them £3000 over that period.

Will that help my negotiations?

[dx100uk]

have you evidence it was a new meter upon installation or was a reading taken, and have readings been taken regularly by anyone since it was installed?

dx

[mamothd]

Reading was taken by the installer when it was installed. Reading was “32”.

As I was absent from uk for several months I couldn’t take a reading myself.

Plus, the engineer didn’t show me how to do a reading.

As he was installing it, I asked him if he needed me to stay at the house and he said it was ok for me to go.

(He was obviously outside the house doing the job).

[AndyOrch]

12 hours ago, mamothd said:

I would also argue I've been a customer for 35 years.

So they must know your annual usage from your History

 

How much water does an average person use?

	Yearly water use in Cubic Metres m3
Number of people living in your home	Low use	Average use
1	45	66
2	55	110
3	82	136

[Homer67]

Check the property for water leaks your side of the meter.

[mamothd]

Thanks but already done that. Had a plumber in yesterday to check everything and definitely no leaks my side

[mamothd]

MY property is empty, and has been for years.

Therefore I decided to volunteer for a water meter as I thought it would save money.

I literally use less than 50 litres a year.

But my first bill was for £1300! something like 500,000 litres on the meter.

I've had no leaks at all, I know this is wrong.

I've shut my stopcock, and the meter hasn't moved.

Affinity have fitted a new meter.

But I'm certain there must have been a leak outside my house.

It's the only explanation as there has been no leak inside the house.

How do I proceed?

I know they can't cut me off, and I will of course pay for any genuine ongoing water use.

But I'm not going to pay for a faulty reading.

They say they would give a discount for "leakage" but I'm sure it would only be a few percent.

I'm willing to pay £250 of the £1300, even though that's more than my use.

Should I insist on this negotiation?

One of my arguments Is I was paying their non-metered bill for about 10 years (£350 pa), when my actual use was nowhere near £350pa (I know I cannot prove this as there was no meter)

[dx100uk]

old and new threads merged.

are your bills also encompassing sewerage and waste water drainage like gutters etc. there is an annual standing charge for that.

does each bill specifically state the sum you say thats wrong IS water usage and not sewerage/waste water costs?

dx

 

[dx100uk]

Find your wastewater provider - Affinity Water

We collect charges for some customers on behalf of their wastewater provider.

[mamothd]

the bill is for water use only- over 500,000 litres in a 6 month period.And this is in a house that has NOBODY occupying it!

[dx100uk]

thats 2777 litres per day.

dont talk stupid 

you'd have an Olympic sized swimming pool puddle  if it were that much.

who do you pay your waste water bill too?

dx

 

[mamothd]

exactly! that's what I said to them- I'd have had a massive leak, But there wasn't any leak.I'm not exaggerating their use quote- it was £1300 for 6 months.

But will they negotiate?

My only contract for water is with Affnity

[dx100uk]

41 minutes ago, dx100uk said:

who do you pay your waste water bill too?

dx