HELP - ADVICE NEEDED re outstanding monies

sunflower11

Right here goes...

I have been rather silly and got completely confused over my water bills, as I was paying one company I thought this was all done and dusted and that my direct debit covered all the water for my propertly but it turns out you have to pay two seperate water companies, one for normal water and one for sewage.

I had been receiving letters here for a previous tenant from another company but assumed it was money they previously owed and sent these letters back unopened. As it has been going on for some time now I opened a letter and realised that this amount is outstanding for the period I have lived here and am now freaking out at how to pay back this large amount.

In there most recent correspondence they are threatening legal proceedings and I am rather worried.

I am going to try to call them tomorrow but does anyone have any advice for me on how to approach this. I really don't want a black mark against my credit and don't know how to get this some of money together in one go.

Thank you in advance for any help...

BigBother

Hi Sunflower,
We are in a similar situation. First the water bills accumated by your previous occupier are not your problem - its theirs! We are been chased by one company for someone who lived here a long time ago. Are they with a different company to what you use? Every so often we get these demands - and just bin them. Its nothing whatso ever to do with us. Even our landlord did'nt know who they were so it must have been long ago. Don't speak on the phone to these DCA people. If they ask for your details just tell they you don't pass over details on the phone. Remeber its nothing to do with you so they can forget it.

Cardew

BigBother wrote: »

Hi Sunflower,
We are in a similar situation. First the water bills accumated by your previous occupier are not your problem - its theirs! We are been chased by one company for someone who lived here a long time ago. Are they with a different company to what you use? Every so often we get these demands - and just bin them. Its nothing whatso ever to do with us. Even our landlord did'nt know who they were so it must have been long ago. Don't speak on the phone to these DCA people. If they ask for your details just tell they you don't pass over details on the phone. Remeber its nothing to do with you so they can forget it.

Welcome to the forum.

Whilst i agree with you about ignoring DCAs, I think you have misread the OP's post.

The OP appears to acknowledge that the debt is valid i.e.

I opened a letter and realised that this amount is outstanding for the period I have lived here

If the OP has not informed the company that they are living at the address then they are liable for the time they have lived at the address.

As I understand the post, the OP is asking how to get time to pay etc.

anniecave

sunflower 11 - do you know how much you owe for previous year (up to March)? How much for current year? (apr 09 to mar 10)
you need to be paying for your ongoing use anyway, and paying towards your arrears (last years) at a reasonable rate.
have you done a budget and do you know how much money you hare spending on different things anwway.

in my area they ask for water in 8 monthly installments if you ask to pay monthly but I think some areas it may be different

phone them up anyway and ask them what the options are

and to my knowledge water companies don't report on to credit reference agencies unless they get to taking you to court for non-payment. so if you contact them and offer to pay a reasonable amount you should be fine

BigBother

Yes sorry did misread her post! getting Old! What these companies sometimes do if your a new tennant and they can't find the previous one is to load your first bill with the old debt! Its happened to me - no way could I use £400 of water in six months. The incoming water bill is usually a bit higher than the sewarge bill (About £20! allowing for what you drink!- evaporation?)

casdor1

hi will i know if you have to pay water if you are living in housing associe
am family mosaic tenant previous i used be council tenant & the water was included in the rent but since i got here i pay the water for £500 a year this is my first yr in the housing asociesion is so much to pay. so i can i found out if i have to pay for water or what.
thanks

Gothicfairy

Normally the tenant has to pay their water bill.

The council did include it in the rent in some areas but I think most have stopped that now anyway.

The rule of thumb is the person who is using the supply and responsible for the tenancy agreement (or owner) pays the bill as it would be that person who can disconnect the supply (temp disconnection as permanent is quite another thing) or have a water meter fitted.
You can always contact your water supplier or your housing !!! as they should be able to help you and if the property is on the rateable value charge it might be worth looking at getting a water meter fitted.

aksram

Hi,when u call the water company, explain to them the resaon for not paying the amount- the letters were not coming in your name- so didnt open it. if something's outstanding for you, they should send a letter in your name. then might be u can also ask for some extra time/pay in installments. good luk

Cardew

aksram wrote: »

Hi,when u call the water company, explain to them the resaon for not paying the amount- the letters were not coming in your name- so didnt open it. if something's outstanding for you, they should send a letter in your name. then might be u can also ask for some extra time/pay in installments. good luk

The water company(for sewerage) can't send a bill to the OP in their name if they don't know the old tenant has moved out and the new tenant(the OP) has moved in.