Clueless in Dresden.
Aug 24th, 2007 by B.
Once again I’m writing asking for help.
We’ve been living in our flat for a year and a half now and I’ve yet to get a water bill. Is this normal? I’m pretty sure when we moved in our relocation specialist told us they (water company meter readers) would be around twice a year to read the meters (never happened… not once), that we’d need to be here to let them in, and then after a year they’d compare our actual usage against what they’d averaged for the year and make adjustments accordingly for the following year. Kind of like how our electricity is done.
And while I’m really not looking forward to finding out how much we’ve used… I feel strongly it’ll be waaay over what it’s supposed to be… I also don’t want it to snowball and end up with a huge bill on my hands.
So tell me, is it really the normal procedure to have your water meter checked every six months? If so we’re 3 checks behind. Also, is it billed out annually like the electricity? Maybe I just misunderstood her and they won’t read it again until we move out, and then deduct the difference from our security deposit?
Oy, I’m so clueless…
Oh, since I’m asking for help anyway, I woke up this morning with a powerful craving for these (especially the green apple & cherry!):
I don’t suppose anyone knows where I can score Sweet-Tarts in Germany??
On this day..
- 87,074 and counting. - 2007
I don’t really pay attention to this stuff because our utilities are automatically debited from our bank account but I *think* we get some kind of water usage notice once a year telling us the amount. But every city may do it differently and since you live in an apartment it might be different all together. There’s usually a bill you get from your landlord called “Nebenkosten” but I don’t know if water is included in that.
As for Sweet-Tarts, try Frigeo Ahoj-Brause Brausebonbons. They’re kind of sour and prickly and come in a few different flavours. The packages are brightly coloured with a little blue sailor holding a flag on the front.
In Weimar, our water meter is read once a year, sometime in September. Usually they pick a really bad day and I have to ask a neighbor to let in the meter reader. Then, in October, we get a Nebenkosten bill that charges us–but not for the year that just ended, but the previous year.
It’s a little bit strange, if you ask me.
If I can find them for you B……..I’ll let you know
Do not recall, B, but it was “seldom.” DO know we were here in Hamburg for a full year and got a bill for Dresden power, as well as Dresden cable which they said we never “turned off.” When we left the first Dresden apartment, Sept 2001 we were told our deposit would be in 2003. It was, in June 2003 WHEN we asked for it.
Huh, well if they run a year behind that would explain why we haven’t gotten a bill yet. And yes, I think they said the bill would come in the form of something from the management company/landlord.
I just wish I understood all these things better… it would leave me with sooo much less to worry about.
Thanks, Christina, for the candy tip. Tomorrow is shopping day, I’ll keep an eye out for them!
Good question, but as far as I recall the (cold) water is included in the Nebenkosten (running costs) that you pay directly to the landlord. Here in the north the meter is read not more than once a year, I think. [The water meter might also be located outside your appartment somewhere else in the house and therefore nobody asked you to let someone in…?]. Usually once a year you’ll get an overview about the running costs (water, heating, garbage collection, if applicable expenses for cleaning the staircase etc.) and the landlord then tells you whether you paid enough during the year and if you have to pay something additional (or get reimbursed) and if the running costs will be adjusted in the future.
blah
Around here the water meter is read once a year, between Christmas and New Years’. If you aren’t home they drop a postcard in your mailbox asking you to read your own meter - maybe you had one of these cards and didn’t know what it was?
Yea I always rented underneath people so I dont have any ideas about bills… The Life in Germany
I can mail you sweet tarts if you want…