BQF Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Having completed the purchase of a house in Orne on the 12th of this month, I have my first water bill. €60 - for one month! This seems colossal - I have a one bedroom detached cottage, and have only been there for a week.Is this reasonable? Is water much more expensive in France? My first electricity bill was only €25....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Vette Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 You might find that it is for the standing charge (abonnement) and is only paid once a year. We are charged 1.34 Euros per cubic meter (different water companies may vary) and over the last 6 months, living here full time, we have been charged 45 Euros (plus standing charge). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Also, sure it's for one month? Often they only send out one bill a year. We're near Alençon (but in the Sarthe) and our water is about 1 euro per cubic metre (half for the water, half for the drains). The bill should show the volume of water and any standing charge separately. Also, if it relates to a period when the previous occupant was in residence, explain this at the Mairie and they should take the bill and forward it.Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgina Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]Also, sure it's for one month? Often they only send out one bill a year. We're near Alençon (but in the Sarthe) and our water is about 1 euro per cubic metre (half for the water, half for the drains). The bill should show the volume of water and any standing charge separately. Also, if it relates to a period when the previous occupant was in residence, explain this at the Mairie and they should take the bill and forward it.Phil[/quote] we had the opposite problem, it was too cheap. Apparently they had not read the meter in a year and it was estimated at the previous occupant's use. We got them to read it, then, we got an enormous bill. Water is expensive unfortunately.Georgina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 More water woes - we were here three months before we discovered a water leak in a pipe under the (concrete) floor. We were losing a cubic metre a day! We sent the bill to the previous owners ...Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Our standing charge is near enough 50 euros for a year, and water at89.5 cents per m3. Our first bill also included a charge of 25euros to set up the contract with them....... As with the otherreplies, we only get a bill once a year.Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Try testing to see if there's a leak - turn off all the taps etc, readthe meter, then go back an hour later to see if it's gone up. Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BQF Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 Ah - theres no leak, but the 'yearly standing charge up front' theory seems to be the issue - Thanks all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninahookins Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 HiWe have lived in our house for just over two years. We didn't realise but our water bill is divided by two companies, one was supposed to tell the other our usage. They didnt. One company has now taken over the other and noticed we have not paid for 2 years (obviosly we haven't we never had a bill) they have now landed us with a bill for 1200€ and want it all in one go and won't except anything else.So in our area, water is very expensiveNina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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