Water Bills

Itsallgonepearshaped

Hi'

I saw some threads on here about water bills for the full year being included in BR but I can't find them again! Can anyone point me in the right direction ? (my water company has just been on the phone saying only charges up to the date of BR are included and they're sending me a revised bill for the rest of the year).

Thanks

fatou256

hi i think this is the thread you are talking about is this one
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1855503

this is what debt doctor said "With water, water is billed in advance, therefore (unless you are on a meter) the rest of the year ALWAYS goes in to your BR."

I have found this on their technical manual

40.100 Water rates – unmeasured Since the implementation of the Water Industry Act 1991 the independent water companies have been in a position to set their own charges scheme for collection of water rates, within the guidelines imposed by OFWAT the water services regulation authority URL="http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/freedomofinformation/technical/TechnicalManual/Ch37-48/chapter40/part6/Notes/Notes.htm#1"]Note 1[/URL. The Water Industry Act 1999 made it illegal for any water company in England or Wales to disconnect the water supply of a person for non payment of water charges if it was the persons only or principal home URL="http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/freedomofinformation/technical/TechnicalManual/Ch37-48/chapter40/part6/Notes/Notes.htm#2"]Note 2[/URL.
Consequently, there is no longer a standard treatment for dealing with outstanding water rates charges in insolvency and the treatment will depend upon the charges scheme used by a particular water company. The Consumer Council for Water website contains a full list of the water companies with their website addresses http://www.ccwater.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.73. The water company websites can then be searched to locate the particular charges scheme applied by that company.


40.100A Water rates – where annual advanced charges apply
(June 2008)
Where water is supplied under a charges scheme that is rate-based rather than metered, the charges scheme may provide that any standing charges are due and payable in advance, generally on 1 April each year. Therefore, the whole of that year’s charge, or unpaid balance at the date of the winding-up order or bankruptcy order, may be claimed in the proceedings, in addition to any arrears from previous periods. As the whole debt becomes due prior to the insolvency, it is a provable debt as defined in paragraph 40.12.
Thus, in these circumstances, if a charge of £240 for water services made on a consumer is payable in full on 1 April 2008, and monthly payments of £20 are made on that day and on 1 May 2008, then a bankruptcy order is made against the consumer on 1 June 2008, the claim in the bankruptcy would be £200 (£240 - £40).
The water company cannot take steps to recover the balance of the debt, or to seek payment from a bankrupt for the continuing supply of water for the period covered by the pre bankruptcy advance charge. The water company can begin charging again on the 1 April following the making of the bankruptcy order for charges due on that date in advance for the following year but not the arrears. This should be taken into account by the official receiver in a bankruptcy when considering expenditure in the assessment of contributions to be made under an income payments order.

40.100B Water rates – measured
Charges for metered supplies are treated differently as, generally speaking, the meter will be read at or about the date of the winding-up or bankruptcy order and the provable claim based on that reading. New supplies will be paid for when charged. In cases of doubt, the official receiver should ask the water company to provide a copy of its charges scheme for scrutiny.

Itsallgonepearshaped

That's exactly what I was looking for - many thanks !:beer:

alastairq

darnit...I have been paying mine monthly throughout my BR so far...if a tenant, can the water co claim from the landlord?

magicgirl

Mine pro rata'd the bill following br (tw) Was a few years owing but they never asked the landlord (I am HA)

i admitted i had held off paying as they sent me a letter when i moved saying i wasn't responsible cos my HA was supposed to pay but HA changed their mind so really it was their debt to start imo.