Thames water- heavy handed tactics

fingerbob7

Is it just me or are Thames Water really unreasonable? They send a bill twice a year, at least 2 months before it's due, and if you accidentally forget to pay it on time, as I did last March, they suddenly send a demand for the whole year's bill. So on receiving the demand I paid the half I owed right away, but now I've got a threatening letter from their debt collectors to get the advance payment!! It's not as though I haven't paid what I owed. They just want to punish me by making me the year in advance now. Which would be OK but I'm not working at the moment and can't really afford it.

I think it's too heavy handed, I don't see why I should now have to pay in advance. Most other utilities companies send a reminder, and then a final reminder before sending in the debt collectors.:cool:

bluewire

Why dont you phone them.
Say that you are sorry that you missed you payment but that you didn't get a reminder before they asked for the full balance.

If you are nice to the person on the phone you have a very good chance that they will allow you to pay the balance in October when it was due.

It may pain you to be nice when you feel that you have been treated in a bad way but it should help you get what you want.

macman

There's a an easy solution to forgotten bills, it's called direct debit. It is certainly heavy handed of them, but no doubt it's hidden in the T&C's somewhere that this is what they can do if you miss your payment. Most LA's apply the same principle for Council Tax.

fingerbob7

Thanks, I'll try calling them. I called today but they're closed.