Crazy Water Bills

It has been known that people will swap meters if they want to fill a swimming pool, then swap them back.

You don't know what the reading was when you bought the property but you do know what the reading was in December when you got the bill.  How do those figures tally with your current reading?

Hi Erica, are the meter boxes not meant to be locked?

Hi Lari,

Thanks for your response.

Your right in that we never read the meter when moving in. The first time I read the meter was at the end of March when we received the first large bill. Since the end of March the meter has been climbing by approx 2m3 every few days. According to the bills from the water company however it was almost 35m3 a day prior to that. As I don't have a number to compare with originally I unfortunately have to use the number they had. They had a reading in early Dec of around 1500 and now the meter is at 3000. As I say, since i have been monitoring though it has only been climbing at a much more regular rate.

Im wondering if there was a much bigger number on the meter when we moved in that they had registered in their system?

Hope that makes sense, appreciate the help

All of the above are possibilities, any kind of error is always to be considered.

However, it may be that unbeknown to you, there is a leak between the meter and the house underground; this is I believe more common than may be thought. And unfortunately if it is on your land you will be responsible for the payment - anything in the pipework ‘from’ the meter into the house is yours. have you checked if the meter is running constantly?

It is surprising that if your abogado transferred the account into your name - which they do - that they don’t have a copy of the final bill of the previous owner which will show a reading.

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for the response and good points.

I totally understand about the leak if it was on our property. The thing is i am sure there isnt one, I am in construction myself so have searched all the likely areas. However the main point is that the meter is reading the right amounts and has been since I first started checking it, so if there was a leak it would still be running high. I havent changed anything in the house and the meter records around 2m3 every few days, so how it was recording 35m3 before i have no idea, hence why i think the readings must be off.

Ive written my lawyer, but you know lawyers, slow to respond when you need something :)

Anyway, i really appreciate the help. I know we havent used that water, so i am desperate to find a way to have the water company realize this.

4,000 euros is a crazy amount of money, esepcially in this climate.