United Utilities they have a nerve. I come under the 1936 sewage act (shared sewage with 3 other properties), have got sewage coming through my ceiling and they don't want to know. Costing me £400 per year for what!

Has anyone that changed to a water meter saved any money? I have 2 children and my wife living in our house and pay £900.00 p.a. in our last house the annual charge was £156.00. UU seem to have no tangible pricing structure and is a company set up for shareholder benefit. Amazed that the Manchester reservoir system was bought through public donation due to the high amount of cholera in the city and then sold but Margret Thatcher in her privitise everything phase... It wasn't hers to sell and the people of Manchester who owned the water company had no compensation what so ever. If we all stopped paying what could they do realistically.

I have only just realised that I am being charged for surface water drainage to the tune of £67.00. Most people I have spoken to do not even realised they are being charged for the rainwater falling on their home. When I spoke to UU I was told to calm down because everyone pays this. I replied that no residential customer should be paying this as the water does not come through my property and drains into a sewer outside the boundary of property.
I have contacted Watchdog and my local Liverpool Echo in the hopes that the general public will wake up and do what this country is very poor at, standing up and supporting each other.

Replies and ideas invited.

I recently moved house across town (less than a mile away from my previous address). This property is smaller and there is only 2 of us living there, our bills have gone from £18 to a staggering £63.07 a month. They told me my rate will only go down if I have a water meter installed, otherwise I need to check with the council that they have given the right rates out. Me and my fella work are butts of and we have lived on our own for over 1 year and have nothing but problems with UU and I'm expecting my first child, there is no way we can afford that! £735 a year disgusting!

Sent UU a cheque for the year when we moved in and gave them DD details for the next year. They are now claiming that we still owe them the full year and that they cannot find the cheque that has cleared from our account to theirs!!!

I live alone, try very hard to be economical with water as much for environmental reasons as cost, on cost grounds seems a waste of time to economise as cost of water used (according to bill as recorded by meter) is rarely more than about 15% of the total, run off surface drainage is by far the biggest cost. As if this was not annoying enough (especially during long periods without rain) I recently had a bill claiming I had used about 350% more water than usual. UU insisted I pay this amount and that it was based on actual readings not an estimate. This they maintained repeatedly. I duly paid this amount, my next bill six months later showed me to be in credit, as did the bill six months after that. Surprisingly enough the overcharge was not based on a reading despite their repeated insistence, and was an estimate. I am a little curious as to what sort of maths they are using to come up with an estimate so much higher than normal. What can anyone do, they are merely following the example set by ministers, MPs and local officials of "if you do not like what we do - tough, what are you going to do about it" school of accountability.

Absolutely disgusted with united utilities, been flooded twice in 14 months due to drains want updating, having to live in alternative accommodation. Last time it took 4 months to get straight. Said they know what the problem is but will cost too much to put right, in the meantime we have no guarantee that this won't happen again.

Like others, I was shocked when a Debt Collection company wrote to us that we owe money to UU for a water bill. We moved from the previous house in July 2007 and at that time we paid all the bills we received. We informed UU that we are moving our house. Now after a year since we have moved, we received the bill for £536 saying they have taken the reading now. Previously, we received a bill of £17000.00 what a joke? We called the company and we were told that was an error. However, I am more upset that UU has asked Debt Collection company to approach us. During my whole life, I have never had bad credit history and I feel this is great insult. I would really be grateful for any tips how to deal with this terribly company. This is a day time robbery.

I was just browsing the net to find information about United Utilities surface water drainage charges. Yes, they even charge us for the rain that falls!! I am amazed how poor their service seems to be from these comments and more amazed they get away with it. Getting things off your chest is all very well, but do any of these comments get back to United Utilities. If not, it seems like everyone is just wasting their breath. Maybe if enough people complained to Offwat (the water 'watchdog') they would get so sick of the complaints they MAY actually try to improve services, which is, after all, what everyone wants. Giving UU hefty fines now and again means nothing when it's the consumer who paid for it by being overcharged in the first place. And guess where the money from the fines goes... not back to the overcharged consumer, oh no, but to the treasury. GREAT!

UU are sooo BAD in calculation. I have moved out from my parents house, I have changed Water bill to my mum's name. She received water bill for more than £1400 from since we bought house back Jan-2003 until now. I have contact few time and explain but still sending same amount of Bill again. I am really fed-up talking with UU.

We received our water bill from United Utilities today. Last year we paid £264.70 and this year they are charging £518.29. We do not have a water meter and both of us are retired and on fixed incomes. This is an absolute disgrace for the water company, the government that fails to intervene and the media for not shaming them. How can we be protected from legalised mugging?

Poor excuse for a company. I recently moved into a brand new house. UU would not transfer my old account to the new property. I rang customer services who could not advise me squat because they could not explain to me why UU would not set up a new water account. All this time now 4 months and I haven't paid anything to my water rates, and I'm sure the bill is still rising. I once again requested to set up direct debit, then I received a letter with a pre paid card attached? So I rang them up again to query the card and they told me to destroy the card as it was sent in error. To this date I have received no letters, phone calls or anything from UU. Just who the hell is supplying my water. Also I have emailed them numerous times with zero response.

Absolutely disgraceful excuse for a company, moved out of my property 2 weeks ago and was unable to take a meter reading as their box was unreadable. UU refused to come out and read it, so over estimated a ridiculous amount, but accepted it as hands tied, so assumed bill was finalised... How wrong! Just received a new bill they say they have done a reading and we had used more than their estimate! Not my fault! So because of this they have re-estimated my bill for a previous property I moved out of over a year ago, as they say we must have used more there too! It just seems like any excuse to take money off you, I'm sure they make it up as every time you phone they give a different explanation as to what the bill is for! I really find it hard to believe we have used so much, there's only 2 of us in a 2 bedroomed house, out at work all day and we have paid almost £600 for 18months, and apparently still owe more! I can't see how it's legal, it's robbery! and no doubt the re-estimate of the property we lived at in 2006 is done at todays over inflated rates, and not the rates of that year! I GIVE UP!!

OK, I'm stunned. Received my water bill today for 2008/2009 and yes, it's gone up again to £582.19. Just read in the Daily Express that water bills will be going up as much as £30.00 p.a. giving an average water bill of £330.00 - well mine's gone up £50.00 and has done year in year out. So where is this average bill? It's not here in Worsley! 2 people, working full time, hardly ever in the house paying the same as our neighbours who have 3 children + 2 adults and they're at home all day - how can this be right? Oh yeah, and because we are at the end of the water supply we have very low water pressure, and try getting that changed, rubbish!

I have just phoned to inform UU that I have vacated my property. They couldn't have been more helpful. I lived alone for the first time and am a big green about bills etc. Didn't know you got a refund or you could be in credit. UU offered the info to me without prompting, and a cheque is in the post. Excellent service I feel!!

We live in a three bedroomed house on a new housing estate and are a family of 4. When we moved in 2 years ago and our dd was £27 month, then last July we had a bill estimated for the year for £1020. They wanted to put dd up to £82 month. After ringing them and asking them what it was all about, they said what do you expect with a family of 4. After a bit of negotiation we got dd down to £70 month. Sure we are paying for our neighbours water supply as well. This is ridiculous but what can we do.

Dreadful company. We are currently experiencing severe problems with our water supply. It's a Sunday and their site is down, all their numbers are 'Not open'. How the hell is one supposed to sort such a problem? Very poor customer care.

I've been trying to find out from UU if they should be charging me for surface water drainage for several years. Finally in September, I got a letter from them (ref 210907AMAX254675) saying they would investigate and write in 10 working days time. That was 3 months ago... I assume they've worked 10 days but I've heard nothing. I'm fed up with writing letters and phoning, and getting solicitor's letters. Don't these people have an email address?

United Utilities charge what they like and there isn't a thing you can do about it. They issue bills based on the 'rateable' value which was set back in the late 90's. So if you are in a building that was since converted to flats, each of those flats are subject to the SAME rateable value as if it was one building. I am a single person in a flat in a building that was converted along with another 2 adjoining buildings. The occupants of the other buildings pay just over a third of what I pay a year. So if all bills were set at the same time, how is it their bills are less? United Utilities say there is NOTHING that can be done since the department that looked after assessing bills by rateable value no longer exists. They will NOT provide a refund and the only way to reduce future water bills is to get a water meter fitted. But I'm moving out at the end of this month anyway. If there was competition for water provision you can bet your a$$ that department would be re-opened!

I am shocked to discover I have no say in who supplies my business with water. The quality is so poor, smelling of bleach and looking murky, I am reduced to use bottled water for drinking as I don't trust it to keep me in good health and what do I get for this massive inconvenience? A bill almost doubled last yrs. What a way to live.

I am single person in small flat, out working all day and at weekend out walking or watching sport. My DD increased last year from £20 to £49, I argued the point and they said it was to cover estimated bill for next year. I said why, am I going to take in family of 6 as lodgers, then they said it was because I have not paid enough last year. They make it up as they go along. My bill this year is estimated t be £468 - what a joke, I have just worked out to be possibly £277 - a huge difference. This company needs to be removed as supplier and replaced.

I've been told by the United Utilities that I was in credit - asked for money back, said they had a technical error and are looking into it. I have kept ringing and getting same reply, this has gone on for 6 months!!!

I am a nurse and live in a one bed flat. Charges are £350 a year! As a shift worker I am hardly there. I have twice applied for a meter to be installed only to be told that there is not enough pipe to fit one even though 2 flats on the same row has got them! I am not giving up - watch this space.

Don't believe a word United Utilities say, we have been told by their complaints department that all charges are on hold until they have satisfied my complaint. This morning I received a county court summons. United utilities will not retract, none of my questions have been answered re: 'Why my water rates are now double' and break down of bills since RV started so we can see if bill is in line with inflation.

They want me to do their work for them, reading my meter - in the meantime they grossly over-estimate. They charge me for my rainwater then sell it back to me - brilliant!

I have just been posted a note to say Barnston Road Sewage Works is extended from feb 12 weeks now to 22nd June. My life has been made miserable by this work, endless traffic streams up our small drive, the road surface now wrecked, endless car screeching as they tear down and realise too late their is a blind Corner. The audacity to site slow progress due to uncharted pipes. Lets make it clear I want a job working for for Donegan Engineers, They start at 8.30 stop at 10..and do not appear until 2 then gone by 4. On average they work for 4 hours.. Amazing I go to work at 8.30 , nip home for lunch 12.15 to 1.45 , come back at 4.30 and there is never any one working.
What compensation do I get for making my life miserable , a raise in water rates???
Miss Cannell..

I am in exactly the same 3 bed semi £187 per year for 2006 now in 2007 increased to £349.69, This cannot be correct, point number 2 the bills are so difficult to work out a math degree is required

Probably the wrong place to ask BUT
why is the reservoir in Langendale peak district near Tintwhistle nearly empty. Thanks

The quality of our water supply is extremely poor going from smelling/tasting like bleach to being orange!! We have had checks made by United Utilities which have come back as 'acceptable levels'. to whom I ask?. I am unsure of your star rating so I assume that being so dissatisfied that the lowest is 1?

United Utilities.
Water meter supplying three bedroomed semi. Using 77cubic metres per annum.
Charges in 2006: £187.44.
From April 2007 to: £370.56.
INCREASE: +97%.
Monopoly-owned by foreign company, no alternative supplier, no media outcry.