Zero credit on new water meter

paul90 · Post by **paul90** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 7:59 am

Just to share my experience from earlier this week:
I had always been under the assumption that if the credit on the meter ran out then you were allowed an additional three tonnes before the valve in the meter closed and the mains supply shut off.
Yesterday, for a certain reason that I need not go into, my meter showed minus 18 tonnes (and this was accurate) but I was still getting plenty of water from the mains. i.e. the valve had not automatically closed at minus three tonnes.
So I went to Lapta Belediyesi to ask why.
Question: when does the valve cut off the mains supply?
Answer: at minus three tonnes.
Question: Can it ever go above minus three tonnes?
Answer: perhaps minus 6-9 tonnes during a Bayram holiday.
Question: Why am I still getting water at minus 18 tonnes (that I have not yet paid for)?
Answer: no answer, just a shrug of the shoulders.

So I have no confidence that the valve will stop water flowing if there is no credit left on the meter.
Moral of the story: If you go on holiday then close the valve on the meter just in case something happens further down the system where water might flow unknowingly.

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 9:42 am

Overall I would consider that a good thing, though. Wouldn't you Paul?

paul90 · Post by **paul90** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 11:44 am

Yes and No Mark.
Yes for the honest amongst us who pay their bills in full.
But one of the reasons for the introduction of these payment-controlled meters was because on the old system some local people would use huge amounts of water, run up bills of some thousands of TL and then go to their local Belediyesi and pay off just a nominal amount to ensure a supply of water - and perhaps in the end never, ever paying off what they truly owed!!

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 1:33 pm

I see your point, I didn't even realise that the meters registered a negative balance. We are always well in credit so shouldn't have to worry about, hopefully. I dreaded the new system before it was installed, but can only say good things about it, apart from the increased cost of the water of course.

susiesusie · Post by **susiesusie** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 4:09 pm

Was 18 Ton in credit and still got cut off .
Belediye says you can only go for a period without putting credit on . If you do not , regardless whether in credit or not you will get cut off. ! Asked how long the period of time is ... shrug of shoulders.
Guess it's something concerning standing charges . Once cut off you can't put credit on unless you first swipe the card at your meter . Then go and put credit on. If you do not then it will not register .
bonkers !

jofra · Post by **jofra** » Wed 05 Jul 2017 5:35 pm

susiesusie wrote: ...Belediye says you can only go for a period without putting credit on . If you do not , regardless whether in credit or not you will get cut off. !

Not quite exactly sure about that, but in my case (swallow), over the last two years of owning I have been well in credit (only paid twice but bought several tonnes) and each time I have returned after several months, the water has been "cut off" - however, all I had to do (I found out) was insert the card in the meter and press the black button - lo and behold, water back on! Apparently, after a period of non-use, the valve automatically switches off...