I used a Martin Lewis tips to get £950 back on my water bill – how you can too
A MARTIN Lewis fan has revealed how she managed to get £950 back on her water bill thanks to a clever tip.
The fan, called Sophie followed the advice and explained how she did it in this week’s MoneySavingExpert (MSE) newsletter.
She told MSE that she contacted her water company and discovered a mistake on the numbers used on her bill.
Her household are now set to receive £950 in backdated refunds on previous miscalculated bills.
Sophie said she originally checked her water bill after reading Martin Lewis‘ advice on checking whether it’s worth switching to a water meter.
It comes as households brace for the largest hike in their annual water bills in nearly 20 years, when they rise to an average of £448.
Water UK said the 7.5% increase would see customers pay around £1.23 per day on average, from April in England and Wales.
MSE founder Mr Lewis said there’s an easy way to check if a meter could reduce costs.
If you’ve got more or the same number of bedrooms as people in your home, switching to a meter could save you money.
That’s because households without a meter are charged in line with the value of their property.
But if, for example, just two of you live in a four bedroom house, you’re probably being charged more than you actually use.
But not all families will benefit from a meter being installed, Martin said.
Most water companies will let you trial a meter for up to two years and you can switch back for free if you’re unhappy.
You can use an online calculator on the CCW website to estimate how much you could save.
You’ll need information on how much water your household uses and how much you currently pay. – this information will be on previous bills.
How else can I save money on my water bills?
There’s a number of ways you can slash your water bills.
You can save save cash by cutting down the amount of time you spend in the shower.
According to Uswitch, you could cut £70 from your energy bills and reduce your water bills too by reducing your wash time.
And leaving the water running while you brush your teeth could add £60 a year to your bills says Octopus.
The same goes for washing dishes, be sure you turn the tap off as if you’re doing it in the sink, leaving it running will add £25 to your annual bill.
Fixing leaks in the home is another. A leaky loo can waste between 215 and 400 litres of water per day.
Making sure you only use your washing machine or dishwasher when they are fully loaded helps too.
Plus, switching to an aerated shower head could save a household of four £75 on their energy bills and £45 on their water bills every year, Water UK estimates.
Many water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills too – which can slash your bills by hundreds every year.
Contact your supplier or check out savewatersavemoney.co.uk.
In other news, a plumber has revealed a simple settings change that could save you £100s on your bill.
Plus, hundreds of thousands of struggling households could get up to £50 in extra help towards their water bills.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk