charging

Here’s what the Dodgers will be charging for World Series tickets

Can you put a price on the experience of enjoying a World Series game at Dodger Stadium?

Yes, and it’s a very high one.

The Dodgers put tickets for potential World Series games on sale Tuesday, with the cheapest seat available for $881.95, according to an afternoon review of the team website. That seat — $800 for the ticket and $81.95 for fees — is located at the end of the reserve level, high above the field and next to the foul pole.

World Series prices posted on the website Tuesday ranged as high as $1,510.05. The best seats are sold as part of season packages, so that $1,510.05 seat ($1,371 ticket plus $139.05 fees) is located on the field level, near the foul pole and bullpen.

If the Dodgers advance to the World Series and play the Seattle Mariners, the Dodgers would play as many as four home games, starting Friday, Oct. 24. If the Dodgers advance and play the Toronto Blue Jays, the Dodgers would play as many as three home games, starting Monday, Oct. 27.

On Oct. 24, a family of four could get into Disneyland for a total of $796. On Oct. 27, a family of four could get into Disneyland for a total of $676.

Ticket prices are subject to change based on demand.

When the Dodgers put National League Championship Series tickets on sale, the cheapest price was $155. On Tuesday, the cheapest ticket on the team website for Game 3 on Thursday was $168.

However, since the game time has been set at 3 p.m. and weekday afternoon games are not popular, tickets on the resale market could be bought for about $100 Tuesday.

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Contributor: Charging $100,000 for H-1B visas will cost the U.S. uncountable wealth

President Trump signed a proclamation that imposes a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, the immigration allocation set aside for highly skilled workers the U.S. economy needs. The new rules threaten the availability and deployment of human capital in the United States. This is misguided and will hurt U.S. growth and innovation, at a time when the global arms race for AI creates a vital need for the sharpest human talent and innovators.

We are professors who study and teach innovation-related topics at U.S. research universities. As immigrants to the United States from India and Panama respectively, we understand firsthand the sometimes painful discussions around H-1B immigration. Tensions around immigration routinely affect our academic institutions, our current students and former students now in industry. But there should be a lot of common ground on this polarizing topic.

STEM immigrants are creating substantial value in the United States. Immigrants play a significant role in entrepreneurial ventures in the United States and particularly startup innovation. Further, such immigrants are responsible for 23% of innovation output in the United States. This effect is in part based on policies that allow for foreign students to study and stay in the United States to work in startups.

H-1B immigration is like a natural selection process that benefits the U.S. immensely. Highly skilled immigrants in areas such as technology and medicine come hungry for hard work and full of ideas to better the world — to create new products, services and even markets as well as to cater to existing needs through more incremental improvement and optimization. Many of our best students are immigrants who are looking to stay in the United States and create work opportunities that would not be possible anywhere else in the world. In the United States, we recognize entrepreneurial success perhaps more than any other country. It is one of our greatest attributes as a society.

Nevertheless, we do have an immigration problem in the United States. The problem is that the distribution of benefits across the United States is highly skewed. Much of the wealth generated in terms of company creation and jobs has redounded to innovative clusters. But the idea to reduce the total number of H-1B immigrants by increasing the cost is exactly the wrong way to “solve” this problem — by dragging down the thriving parts of the economy rather than lifting up the rest.

To grow economic prosperity throughout the country, we need to offer more opportunities for more H-1B visa applicants. There are simply not enough trained U.S. nationals to take on the sort of labor required for the next wave of a tech-enabled industrial revolution.

Distributing the fruits of H-1B visa holders’ work more broadly requires a different approach than the U.S. has taken before. We should increase the total number of new H-1B visa recipients each year to 350,000 from around 85,000, with the additional visas apportioned across states so that locations like college towns — places like Lawrence, Kan., Gainesville, Fla., and Clemson, S.C., as well as cities such as Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City and Boise receive sufficient numbers of H-1B workers. Visas could be allocated through a process akin to the resident-matching system for medical doctors, thereby sending workers to states where they would create greater value by filling economic and technological gaps. This infusion of labor would improve technological innovation in local economies and create local spillover effects in job creation and additional innovation.

Such immigration is necessary particularly now given a global push toward increased industrial policy, as China and others invest in AI and broader digital transformation. At a time when our national security is linked to technological innovation, it is shortsighted not to open ourselves to more immigration. If we do not, we will lose some of the best and brightest minds to Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore and other countries.

Immigration is currently a volatile political issue in the U.S., as it has been at some other moments in the nation’s history. Although this is a country of immigrants, for people who feel insecure about pocketbook and cultural issues, continued immigration can feel threatening. As a percentage of people living in the United States, it has been more than 100 years since there were as many immigrants here as there are now. But as with past waves of immigration, productivity and transformation have followed.

This is particularly clear for H-1B visa holders, who create opportunities for people born in the U.S. and ensure the vitality of American innovation, security and democratic values. Increasing the costs of such visas would chill their use and reduce U.S. prosperity and innovation exactly at a time of great need.

Hemant Bhargava is a professor of business at UC Davis Graduate School of Management and director of the Center for Analytics and Technology in Society. D. Daniel Sokol is a professor of law and business at USC.

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Ideas expressed in the piece

  • The $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visa applications represents a misguided policy that will harm U.S. growth and innovation at a critical time when the global competition for artificial intelligence talent demands access to the sharpest human capital and innovators.

  • STEM immigrants generate substantial economic value for the United States, with such immigrants responsible for 23% of the nation’s innovation output and playing significant roles in entrepreneurial ventures and startup innovation.

  • The H-1B immigration system functions as a natural selection process that immensely benefits the United States by attracting highly skilled workers in technology and medicine who arrive motivated to create new products, services, and markets while improving existing systems through optimization.

  • Rather than reducing H-1B immigration through increased costs, the United States should dramatically expand the program by increasing annual H-1B recipients from 85,000 to 350,000, with additional visas distributed across states to benefit college towns and smaller cities that would create greater value by filling economic and technological gaps.

  • Expanding H-1B immigration is essential for national security, particularly as China and other nations invest heavily in AI and digital transformation, since restricting such immigration will result in losing the best talent to Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and other competing countries.

  • Historical precedent demonstrates that immigration waves have consistently led to increased productivity and transformation, with H-1B visa holders specifically creating opportunities for U.S.-born citizens while ensuring the vitality of American innovation, security, and democratic values.

Different views on the topic

  • The H-1B program has been systematically exploited by employers to replace American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled foreign labor rather than supplementing the domestic workforce, undermining both economic and national security through large-scale displacement of qualified American citizens[1][3].

  • Wage suppression has become a widespread practice facilitated by H-1B program abuse, creating disadvantageous labor market conditions for American workers while making it more difficult to attract and retain the highest skilled temporary workers in critical STEM fields[3].

  • The foreign share of the U.S. STEM workforce has grown disproportionately, with foreign STEM workers more than doubling from 1.2 million to 2.5 million between 2000 and 2019, while overall STEM employment increased only 44.5 percent during the same period[3].

  • In computer and mathematics occupations specifically, foreign workers’ share of the workforce expanded from 17.7 percent in 2000 to 26.1 percent in 2019, demonstrating the extent of foreign worker integration in key technology sectors[3].

  • Major technology companies have engaged in practices of laying off qualified American workers while simultaneously hiring thousands of H-1B workers, with one software company alone receiving approval for over 5,000 H-1B workers in fiscal year 2025[3].

  • The $100,000 fee serves as a necessary mechanism to address program abuse, stop the displacement of U.S. workers, and ensure that only employers with legitimate high-skilled needs utilize the H-1B system, while directing the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to prioritize high-skilled, high-paid workers in future rulemakings[1][2].

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How Sylvia Young went from housewife charging 10p for drama lessons to theatre school boss who made Britain’s top stars

FOR a housewife who started out charging ten pence for after-school drama lessons, Sylvia Young had an incredible ability to spot raw talent.

The 85-year-old, who died on Wednesday, helped hone the skills of a who’s who of the ­British entertainment industry.

Sylvia Young holding her OBE after receiving it from Queen Elizabeth II.

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Sylvia Young had an incredible ability to spot raw talentCredit: Alamy
Black and white photo of a young woman in a light-colored dress and gloves.

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Sylvia helped hone the skills of a who’s who of the ­British entertainment industryCredit: Facebook/FrancesRuffelle
Amy Winehouse at the BRIT Awards 2007.

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Amy Winehouse passed the audition to join Sylvia’s theatre school in LondonCredit: Getty
Photo of Amy Winehouse and classmates at Sylvia Young Theatre School.

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A young Amy Winehouse pictured at the Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolCredit: X

Among those to have passed the audition to join her theatre school in London were singers Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Dua Lipa, Rita Ora and three-quarters of All Saints.

Dua, who has won seven Brit awards and three Grammys, said that she did not know she could sing until a teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School told her how good she was.

Actors who attended her classes include Keeley Hawes, Doctor Who’s Matt Smith, Nicholas Hoult, who is in the latest Superman blockbuster, and Emmy-nominated Adolescence and Top Boy star Ashley Walters.

The school was also a conveyor belt for EastEnders stars, with Nick Berry, Letitia Dean, Adam Woodyatt and Dean Gaffney all passing through its doors.

READ MORE ON DRAMA SCHOOLS

Stage fright

But there were problems along the way. In 1998 one of the drama ­masters was arrested for indecent assault, and the company struggled to survive the Covid shutdown.

The pressures of fame also proved too much for some former pupils, including the late Winehouse and EastEnders’ original Mark Fowler, David Scarboro, who was found at the bottom of cliffs as Beachy Head in East Sussex in 1988.

Sylvia, though, was loved by her former pupils, many of whom paid tribute to the “backstage ­matriarch”.

Keeley Hawes wrote: “I wouldn’t have the career I have today without her help”.

And All Saints singer Nicole ­Appleton commented: “This is going to really affect us all who were lucky enough to be part of her amazing world growing up. What a time, the best memories.”

DJ Tony Blackburn added: “She was a very lovely lady who I had the privilege of knowing for many years. She will be sadly missed.”

Winehouse Shows Star Quality

Actress Sadie Frost commented online: “What a woman, what a family, what a legacy! Sending everyone so much love and support. She was always so lovely to me.”

And TV and radio presenter Kate Thornton said she “meant so much to so many”.

Sylvia did not boast about the ­success of her students and the school’s website does not mention its incredible roster of ex-pupils.

But it is hard to imagine a single drama teacher ever having as much impact as her. Sylvia’s two daughters, Alison and Frances Ruffelle, who are directors of the theatre school, said: “Our mum was a true visionary.

“She gave young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills to the highest standard.

“Her rare ability to recognise raw talent and encourage all her students contributed to the richness of today’s theatre and music world, even ­winning herself an Olivier Award along the way.”

Rita Ora in a red outfit.

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Pop star Rita Ora also attended Sylvia’s schoolCredit: Getty
Portrait of Rita Ora at Sylvia Young Theatre School.

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Rita Ora pictured as a student of the Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolCredit: John Clark/22five Publishing
Denise Van Outen at the Amsterdam premiere.

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Denise Van Outen was a product of the prestigious schoolCredit: Getty
Young Denise Van Outen singing in a school choir.

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A young and smiling Denise at Sylvia’s schoolCredit: YouTube

Sylvia made it to the top of the British entertainment industry the hard way.

She was the eldest of nine children born to Abraham Bakal, a tailor’s presser, and housewife Sophie in London’s East End. Born in 1939 just after the outbreak of World War Two she remembered the air raid sirens during the Blitz of the capital.

She was evacuated to a village near Barnsley during the war, only returning home once it was over.

At the local library she was gripped by reading plays and would meet up with friends to perform them.

While still at school she joined a theatre group in North London, but her dreams of treading the boards in the West End were dashed by stage fright.

She said: “I used to lose my voice before every production. When I think about it, they were sort of panic attacks.”

Instead, she married telephone engineer Norman Ruffell in 1961 and stayed at home to look after their two daughters.

When Alison and Frances attended primary school, Sylvia started teaching drama to their fellow pupils. It cost just ten pence and the kids also got a cup of orange squash and a biscuit.

Word spread and when her ­students got the nickname the ­Young-uns, Sylvia decided to adopt the surname Young for business ­purposes.

The first Sylvia Young Theatre School was set up in 1981 in Drury Lane in the heart of London’s theatre district.

Two years later, it moved to a ­former church school in Marylebone in central London, where most of its famous pupils got their start.

Even though it is fee-paying, everyone has to pass an audition — and only one in 25 applicants are successful.

Dua Lipa performing on stage.

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Dua Lipa, who has won seven Brit awards and three GrammysCredit: Redferns
Young Dua Lipa.

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She did not know she could sing until a teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School told her how good she wasCredit: Instagram
Emma Bunton at the Global Gift Gala.

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Emma Bunton ­joining the Spice Girls was thanks to Sylvia’s schoolCredit: Getty
Emma Bunton auditioning for the Spice Girls.

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It was thanks to talent scouts and casting agents putting up requests on the notice board at the schoolCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

It costs up to £7,000 per term for full-time students and only has places for 250 pupils aged ten to 16.

There are bursaries and fee reductions for pupils from less well-off backgrounds, plus a Saturday school and part-time classes.

Sylvia was always keen to avoid it being a school for rich kids.

When she took an assembly she would ask pupils, “What mustn’t we be?”, and they would shout back, “Stage school brats”.

Keeping kids level-headed when stardom beckoned was also important for the teacher.

She said: “I offer good training and like to keep the students as individual as possible.

“We develop a lot of confidence and communication skills. Of course they want immediate stardom, but they’re not expecting it. You don’t find notices up here about who’s doing what. It is actually played down tremendously.”

‘Baby Spice was lovely’

A need for discipline even applied to Sylvia’s daughter Frances, who she expelled from the school.

Frances clearly got over it, going on to have a career in musical theatre and representing the United Kingdom in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing tenth.

Those genes were strong, with Frances’ daughter, stage name Eliza Doolittle, having a Top Five hit with Pack Up in 2010.

The ever-rebellious Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011 aged 27 from accidental alcohol poisoning, claimed to have been kicked out, too.

She said: “I was just being a brat and being disruptive and so on. I loved it there, I didn’t have a problem, I just didn’t want to conform.

“And they didn’t like me wearing a nose piercing.”

But Sylvia did not want Amy to leave. She said: “She would upset the academic teachers, except the English teacher who thought she’d be a novelist. She seemed to be just loved. But she was naughty.”

Other singers were clearly inspired by their time at the school, which moved to new premises in Westminster in 2010.

Billie Piper at the Fashion Awards 2024.

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Billie Piper had her acting skills honed thanks to SylviaCredit: Getty
Photo of a young Billie Piper wearing an Adidas shirt.

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Billie attended the Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Sign for the Sylvia Young Theatre School.

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Sylvia was loved by her former pupils, many of whom paid tribute to the ‘backstage matriarch’Credit: Alamy

Dua Lipa, who went to the ­Saturday school from the age of nine, was asked to sing in front of other pupils shortly after joining.

She said, “I was terrified”, but that the vocal coach “was the first person to tell me I could sing”.

Talent scouts and casting agents would put up requests on the notice board at the school. One such ­posting led to Emma Bunton ­joining the Spice Girls.

Of Baby Spice, Sylvia said: “She got away with whatever she could. But she was a lovely, happy-go-lucky individual with a sweet ­singing voice.”

Groups were also formed by ­Sylvia’s ex-pupils.

All Saints singer Melanie Blatt became best friends with Nicole Appleton at Sylvia Young’s and brought her in when her band needed new singers in 1996.

But Melanie was not complimentary about the school, once saying: “I just found the whole thing really up its own arse.”

Casting agents did, however, hold the classes in very high regard.

The professionalism instilled in the students meant that producers from major British TV shows such as EastEnders and Grange Hill kept coming back for more.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of less well-known performers treading the boards of Britain’s stages also have the school’s ethos to thank for their success.

Those achievements were recognised in the 2005 Honours List when Sylvia was awarded an OBE for services to the arts.

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has produced shows including Les Miserables and Cats, said: “The show that provided the greatest showcase for the young actors she discovered and nurtured is undoubtedly Oliver! which has featured hundreds of her students over the years.

“Sylvia was a pioneer who became a caring but formidable children’s agent.”

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EasyJet, Ryanair and other airlines charging passengers extra for cabin bags

While most airlines allow passengers to carry a small personal item or bag free of charge, some of the UK’s most popular airlines charge an additional fee for cabin bags

Smiling blonde hair teenager portrait staying in aircraft corridor with headphones with cabin trolley bag.
Depending on your fare class, you may need to pay extra for a cabin bag [stock image](Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Airline staff have become adept at spotting luggage that exceeds the standard weight and size limitations. One personal bag or ‘small’ cabin bag – typically a purse or a backpack – is allowed on every one of the UK’s most popular airlines – no matter what type of fare you purchase or where you are travelling.

However, this ‘small’ cabin bag must typically be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Passengers requiring additional space will need to separately purchase a cabin bag which can be stored in the overhead compartment. easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Jet2 all charge extra for overhead storage cabin bags.

Image of woman loading bag in overhead compartment of plane
Cabin bags need to fit in overhead compartments onboard while personal items typically need to fit under the seat in front of you(Image: Getty Images)

READ MORE: Genius packing hack praised as traveller avoids paying £43 for extra luggage

Below you can find the maximum weight and dimensions of both personal baggage and cabin baggage for each airline – as well as how much you will be charged.

easyJet

Every easyJet passenger is entitled to carry a maximum of two cabin bags: one small cabin bag (free of charge) and one large cabin bag (if included in membership and fare benefits or added during booking).

easyJet small cabin bags must be a maximum of 15kg and within the dimension 45 x 36 x 20cm. A small cabin bag or personal item is free with any fare for easyJet passengers.

easyJet large cabin bags must be a maximum of 15kg within the dimensions 56 x 45 x 25cm. A cabin bag is free for easyJet Plus members or FLEXI ticket holder, or available for purchase

Prices start from £5.99 to book a large cabin bag. Alternatively, you can choose to bring a hold bag, with prices starting from £6.99 for a 15kg bag.

Ryanair

Every Ryanair passenger is entitled to carry one small personal bag free of charge. The small personal bag must be between 40 x 20 x 25cm. Regular cabin bags can be purchased separately but must be within 55 x 40 x 20cm in size and weigh no more than 10kg.

Prices start from £6 to book a large cabin bag and can reach as high as £60 depending on your travel route, whether you add the cabin bag during or after the time of booking, and your travel dates.

Image of cabin bag being tested for size restrictions
Purchasing a slightly higher fare could save you the cost of paying for a cabin bag – with some additional perks(Image: PA)

Vueling Airlines

All Vueling passengers are entitled to one personal bag that can be stored in the seat in front of them between the dimensions 40x30x20 cm. However, there is an additional cost for basic fare passengers to add a cabin bag.

The cabin bag must be between the dimensions 55x40x20 cm and under 10kg in weight. The cost to add a cabin bag can range from 10 Euro to 75 Euro depending on whether you book it early or add it on later, as well as your travel destination.

Wizz Air

All Wizz Air passengers are entitled to one personal item free of charge. However only Wizz Priority passengers are entitled to bring an extra trolley bag of maximum size 55 x 40 x 23 cm into the cabin.

The cost of adding a cabin bag depends on whether it is high seasons or low season, as well as where you are travelling. Prices range from €15 during low season for a bag with a 10 kg weight maximum to €189.50 during high season for a bag with a 26kg maximum.

Two airlines that allow cabin bags free of charge

British Airways and TUI Airways both allow passengers of all fare classes to travel with one piece of hand luggage free of charge.

1) British Airways

British Airways specifies that passengers can bring one standard piece of hand luggage and one personal item on board with even their lowest fare – Economy Basic. The standard hand luggage, including wheels and handles, can be up to 56 x 45 x 25cm and must weigh no more than 23kg.

That said, it is important to note that if you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re over the permitted size, you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.

Additionally, when you’ve used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay to put any extra bags into the hold. You can check your baggage allowance on the BA website using their handy baggage allowance calculator.

British Airways asks passengers to keep in mind that the carriage of excess baggage is subject to availability. In some destinations, additional local taxes may also apply. If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their allowances may be different.

2) TUI Airways

All TUI Airways passengers (excluding infants) are permitted to carry one piece of hand luggage free of charge. The luggage must be within the dimension 55 x 40 x 20cm and be a maximum weight of 10kg.

TUI passengers are also permitted to carry one personal item free of charge, but it must be stored under the seat in front of you and within the dimension 40 x 30 x 20cm.

Additionally, when you fly both ways with TUI Airways as part of a package holiday, your fare will include at least 20kg of checked-in luggage per person and 10kg for Under 2s.

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Thames Water AUTOMATICALLY moving customers onto tariffs set in the 90s and charging up to 671% more

THOUSANDS of Thames Water customers are stuck on tariffs which were set in the 90s and bills have jumped by up to 671%.

The water firm, which is in the midst of a multibillion-pound rescue deal, has said bills would rise by 31% from April.

Thames Water bill with UK currency; cost of living concept.

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Hundreds of Thames Water customers have seen their bills doubleCredit: Alamy

Our investigation has discovered that:

  • Customers without water meters have seen bills soar due to rates set in the 90s
  • Thousands of homes are unable to get a water meter installed, which could lower their bill, because of where they live
  • Customers are not being told about a tariff which could save them money
  • Customers who ask to get a water meter but can’t get one could be automatically being moved onto a tariff for a three-bedroom home that is up to £93.72 more expensive annually

We have delivered a dossier of cases to Thames Water asking them to urgently investigate.

We have also shared our concerns with the Consumer Council for Water, regulator Ofwat and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

Read more on household bills

Consumer expert Martyn James said: “I’m deeply concerned about affordability and supporting people who can’t afford this unavoidable, essential service.”

Bills rising by more than expected

The Sun has spoken to scores of people who have seen their bills double, with one customer being hit by a 671% increase.

Many do not have a water meter, so their bills are calculated using a metric known as the rateable value (RV).

The RV of a property is set by the government and is based on the location and size of your home.

The rates were set in 1990 and the values from March 31 of that year are still used to calculate customers’ bills.

The RV varies from house to house, so your bill could be different to your neighbour’s, even if your houses are identical.

Industry regulator Ofwat told The Sun that some customers, particularly those without a water meter whose bills are calculated in this way, may see their payments increase by more than average.

Ofwat added that the RV may not accurately reflect the amount of water they currently use.

In comparison, households with a water meter pay for the exact amount used.

As a result, their bill could be higher or lower than average based on their usage.

Water meter lottery

Installing a water meter is the main way households can reduce their bill.

Customers firstly must ask Thames Water for a water meter appointment and then an engineer will visit to install one – but thousands of homes around the UK are not suitable for them.

Bill rise is ridiculous – we’ll have to cut back

MUM-OF-TWO Susan Palmer, 46, said it’s “ridiculous

Susan, who lives in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom flat in Lewisham, London, with her husband James, 48, a warehouse operative and 13-year-old sons Callum & Reece.

She said: “It’s worrying. I’m a paramedic so I am not at home very often.

“There is no reason why we would be using a lot of water and we don’t have a bath. It doesn’t make sense.”

Susan called Thames Water to ask why her bill had risen but it couldn’t explain the increase.

Susan said her family will now need to cut back.

“I normally do overtime to keep our head above water. This bill increase will mean we need to tighten our purse strings,” she said.

This is due to a number of reasons, including sharing your water supply with other residents such as in a flat without your own stop cock or living in a home where there isn’t a suitable place to fit one.

Insiders at Thames Water have told this newspaper that around 70% of homes in London cannot get a water meter.

If you live in a home where you cannot get a water meter fitted then you can be moved onto new tariff called the Assessed Household Charge – but this only happens after your home has been assessed by an engineer.

The Sun has found that customers are not being told about this process and therefore cannot access the cheaper tariff.

However, households who are put on the Assessed Household Charge tariff will automatically be moved to the three-bedroom rate, unless they update Thames Water to tell them how many bedrooms they have.

This could mean a household with two bedrooms could be paying around £61.14 extra per year.

Thames Water will not backdate payments so customers need to contact them as soon as possible to check their tariff and update their details.

Experts have slammed the water company for making customers opt-in to find cheaper tariffs.

Martyn James said: “Anything that could reduce bills should absolutely not be conditional on getting a water meter.”

Discounts if you live alone

If you live alone you could also access a single occupier tariff.

However, the vast majority of homes will be on the rate of a three-bedroom home.

The tariff costs £606.58 a year – £93.72 less than for a standard three bed property.

I complained to my MP after bill hike

Natasha Tressillian complained to Thames Water after her water bill rose from £359 a year to £535.

Although Natasha lives alone in a flat in Lewisham, London, she is now spending £45 a month on her bill after it rose by £15 a month.

Thames Water estimates that if Natasha had a water meter her bill would be just £315 a year – £220 less than what she is currently paying.

Natasha, who is in her 30s, said: “Unfortunately a water meter cannot be fitted in my flat. 

“That means with a single occupier tariff I’m paying around double what I would otherwise have been charged if a water meter could be fitted.

“It just doesn’t seem fair or reasonable.”

She has complained to Thames Water and her local MP, Janet Daby, and plans to file a formal complaint to the Consumer Council for Water and Ofwat.

Surge in demand for water meters

Bill rises have caused a surge in demand for water meter installations, according to the Consumer Council for Water.

A spokesperson said: “We know water companies have seen a surge in applications for water meters since the bill rises were announced and, in some cases, demand has doubled or even trebled.

“This means in some instances it is taking longer than expected to install water meters at properties where they can be fitted.”

Thames Water aims to install meters within 50 days.

This means that if you apply for an appointment now you could be forced to wait until the end of July for a visit from an engineer.

It also means if you are unable to get a water meter that you could be waiting weeks paying a higher rate before you can access the discounted tariff.

If it takes longer than 12 weeks for a water meter to be installed then you are entitled to compensation.

Act now to get help

Anyone who is worried about their bill should speak to Thames Water, the Consumer Council for Water recommends.

It should be able to explain why your bill has increased and double check if it is accurate.

You can contact Thames Water online or by calling 0800 980 8800.

The phone lines are open from Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm or on Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.

If you are still concerned then you can complain to the Consumer Council for Water, who can investigate on your behalf.

If your bill has increased and you do not have a water meter then you should book an appointment now.

An engineer may be able to install a water meter at your home, so you will only be billed for what you use.

If they cannot install a meter then you will be moved onto the Assessed Household Charge, which should save you money.

Ofwat suggests that customers whose bills are calculated using the RV may benefit financially by switching to the Assessed Household Charge.

We’ll tighten our belts due to bill increase

ANN Molloy, 52, was shocked to receive a letter from Thames Water to say that her water bill will increase by more than £180 a year from April.

The mother of one, who lives in Ealing, London, received a letter from Thames Water in February to say that her bill will rise from £440 a year to £620.

She said: “We can’t be using that much water. I live with my husband and teenage son in a two bed house with only one bathroom.

“We don’t take baths and only water the garden when it really needs it.”

The family are unable to get a water meter as the pipe that provides their water also supplies the house next door.

To replace the pipe Thames Water would have to rip up the entire ground floor of the family’s home.

Ann asked Thames Water how it calculated her new bill but it was unable to explain the increase.

She also contacted Ealing Council for help but they were unable to explain the bill rise.

The family will now need to cut back in order to afford the bill increase.

Ann said: “It just gets me down. We’re going to have to tighten our belts a bit.

“We will really need to take a look at our finances and our expenses going out.”

If your bill will be lower on the new tariff then Thames Water will switch you straight away.

But if your bill will be higher then it will not move you onto the tariff for a year to give you time to understand how you will be affected.

Thames Water will send you a letter to let you know how much you will pay.

If you live alone then contact Thames Water as soon as you can and ask to be moved onto a Single Occupier Tariff.

If you are unable to pay your bill then you may be able to get financial support from Thames Water.

You can complete an assessment online or call 0800 980 8800 to discuss our options.

To apply you will need the details of any income you receive, your debts, regular bills and outgoings and your Thames Water account number.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We offer comprehensive support for customers struggling to pay their bill, rated among the best in the sector. 

“We’re already helping around 450,000 customers pay their bills, and by 2030, one in ten households will be in receipt of support, including a discount of 50% on their bill.”

What water bill support is available?

IT’S always worth checking if you qualify for a discount or extra support to help pay your water bill.

Over two million households who qualify to be on discounted social water tariffs aren’t claiming the savings provided, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW).

Only 1.3million households are currently issued with a social water tariff – up 19% from the previous year.

And the average household qualifying for the discounted water rates can slash their bills by £160 a year.

Every water company has a social tariff scheme which can help reduce your bills if you’re on a low income and the CCW is calling on customers to take advantage before bills rise in April.

Who’s eligible for help and the level of support offered varies depending on your water company.

Most suppliers also have a pot of money to dish out to thousands of customers who are under pressure from rising costs – and you don’t have to pay it back.

These grants can be worth hundreds of pounds offering a vital lifeline when faced with daunting water bills.

The exact amount you can get depends on where you live and your supplier, as well as your individual circumstances.

Many billpayers across the country could also get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme and even get the balance written off.

Companies match the payments eligible customers make against the debt on their account to help clear it sooner.

If you’re on a water meter but find it hard to save water as you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, you may be able to cap your bills through the WaterSure scheme.

Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.

The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £307 on average through the scheme.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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UK cities with slowest charging times and lowest number of EVs revealed – don’t get caught out when driving your motor

THE BRITISH cities with the worst availability and speed of electric vehicle charging have been revealed in new research.

More and more people are making the switch to EVs each passing year, but access to charging infrastructure continues to be a key concern for motorists.

Electric car charging at a modern charging station.

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Cost, speed and access to EV chargers can vary vastly from region to regionCredit: Getty
Person plugging in an electric car at home.

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Electric car plugged in outside house on street with a sunsetCredit: Getty
Electric car charging stations on a residential street.

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Researchers looked at the number of charging points per 10,000 people within a five mile radius of city centresCredit: Getty

Cost, speed and access to EV chargers can vary vastly from region to region across the country.

But new data from Available Car has shed light on exactly which cities are the best and worst to drive an electric vehicle.

Researchers looked at the number of charging points per 10,000 people within a five mile radius of city centres.

They also noted the average cost and time it takes to charge half an EV battery.

The data examines 53 major cities across the UK, excluding London.

Liverpool was found to be the city with the lowest number of chargers, with just two chargers per 100,000 people within a five mile radius of the city centre.

Newcastle barely did better at 2.4 chargers per 100,000, while Bradford and Leeds followed up with 2.6 each.

10 cities with the fewest EV chargers

The following 10 cities have the fewest number of EV chargers per 100,000 people within a five mile radius of the city centre according to Available Car:

  1. Liverpool – 2.0
  2. Newcastle-upon-Tyne – 2.4
  3. Bradford – 2.6
  4. Leeds – 2.6
  5. Sheffield – 3.0
  6. Bristol – 3.4
  7. Birmingham – 3.5
  8. Southend-on-sea – 3.8
  9. Durham – 4.0
  10. Canterbury – 4.5

Smaller cities boasted far better numbers in the EV charging accessibility ranking.

Ripon was the city with the highest number of chargers per 100,000 at 63.1 – far ahead of second placed Salisbury at 43.7.

But simply finding a charger isn’t the only issue EV owners face.

Available Car’s data also highlighted a major regional disparity in the time it takes to charge half a battery.

Leicester is the city found to have the slowest EV charging times – taking an average of 8.25 hours to get to half charge.

Available Car’s report reads: “The city’s slower charging infrastructure highlights the need for investment in faster chargers to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.

“Without quicker charging options, Leicester may face challenges in encouraging more drivers to switch to electric.”

But Leicester EV drivers have some solace – as the survey also found it to cheapest city to charge your car, where a half full battery would cost an average of £12.60.

10 cities with the slowest EV charging time

The following cities have the slowest average time to charge an EV according to Available Car:

  1. Leicester – 8.25 hours
  2. Brighton & Hove – 6.24 hours
  3. Portsmouth – 5.67 hours
  4. Coventry – 5.45 hours
  5. Oxford – 4.65 hours
  6. York – 4.58 hours
  7. Bath – 4.54 hours
  8. Leeds – 4.51 hours
  9. Manchester – 4.46 hours
  10. Norwich – 4.28 hours

Brighton & Hove and Portsmouth followed Leicester as the next slowest for charging, 6.24 and 5.67 hours respectively.

Wakefield recorded the speediest charge of the cities surveyed, taking an average of just 0.8 hours.

The researchers used a Tesla Model Y as the benchmark vehicle when gathering the data.

Their report adds: “Making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) should be an exciting step towards greener, more sustainable driving.

“However, one of the biggest barriers preventing drivers from switching from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles is having to rely on their local charging infrastructure, particularly the time it takes to charge and the cost involved.

“Unlike petrol and diesel drivers, EV owners must navigate the UK’s charging network, where charging speeds and costs vary significantly based on location and charger type.”

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