Martin Lewis has told everyone who pays a water bill to make one simple check as he warned them they could be drastically overpaying. On the latest episode of his The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, the money saving expert told customers to get in touch with their water company.
Water bills are set to a specific company depending on where you live, meaning there’s no leverage to get a better deal with a different provider, reports Manchester Evening News. But, there are ways in which you can reduce your bill, with one woman saying she saved more than £1,000 by listening to Lewis’ advice. You can get the latest WalesOnline newsletters e-mailed to you directly for free by signing up here.
Speaking on his popular ITV show, he said there is a rule to follow which could earn you huge savings on your bill. “Many people who live in flats can’t get a water meter, it’s called ‘not practicable’ to have a water meter fitted, in which case you can ask for an ‘assessed charge’,” he said.
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“That’s where they work out how much you would pay if you were on a water meter, even though you can’t have one, and you’re charged that rather than the water rates. Do you have more or the same number of people as bedrooms in your home? If the answer is no, a water meter may save you money in England and Wales. Two people, three bedrooms. Why would that be better on a water meter? Because water rates are based on the rateable value of your house, which is a proxy for the value of your house.
“You’ve got this big old house here so they’ll be charging you a lot, but there’s only two people here so they won’t be using that much. Water meters measure your water usage and your sewage, so that will probably be cheaper. This can be hundreds of pounds. Now if you have a voluntary change, you usually have two years that you can switch back to water rates if a water meter isn’t working for you.
“If you’re disabled or you’ve got related medical issues that mean you need to use a lot of water or you’re on benefits, speak to your energy firm. There’s often, but not always, help available to you.”
One customer wrote into the show to tell Lewis that his advice had saved her more than £1,100. She said: “I saw you suggest getting in touch with your water company if you were unable to have a water meter, to ask for an assessment. My provider called me back to say, I’m now due a rebate of £1,132.81! As a 76 year old relying on her state pension, this is like winning the lottery.”
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