Utility Help

wltroubled

I have 2 substantial bills for electric and water, I have enough money to pay off one, or do i pay half and half. I havent a clue, has anybody any advice ?

HappyMJ

Pay the electric you can be cut off if you don't pay it. The water company cannot do anything.

Horseunderwater

Or you can ask to go on a pre pay meter and have debt popped onto that. They will then take say £4.99 per week to repay themselves out of what you buy in top ups and the balance is used to provide your electric up front. Thus meaning that you can also come to an arrangement with the Water company. How can I ask did you end up owing so much to them? Just curious.

wltroubled

I really dont want to have to say that the debts are due to being a single parent with one income, but unfortunately it is true. I currently rent, have worked full time for the past 6 zillion years, yet have never earned enough to fulfill all outgoings. Therefore rent or utilities. I really got into trouble when i was made redundant in September

Gothicfairy

HappyMJ wrote: »

The water company cannot do anything.

Well I wouldn't say that, they can go to court and get a ccj etc and if this is an RV debt it can be done really quite soon after it becoming due.

Why not just call both companies and make an agreement with them to pay something off each month and also set up a payment plan for future bills to avoid getting a massive debt.

HappyMJ

wltroubled wrote: »

I really dont want to have to say that the debts are due to being a single parent with one income, but unfortunately it is true. I currently rent, have worked full time for the past 6 zillion years, yet have never earned enough to fulfill all outgoings. Therefore rent or utilities. I really got into trouble when i was made redundant in September

Do you claim everything you are entitled to?

Minimum of 15% of the NRP's take home wage.
Minimum government benefits are £67.50 per week income support or JSA.
Child benefit is £20.30 per week for 1 child.
Child tax credits are £3,100 per year for 1 child (£59.60 per week)
All of your rent and council tax is paid assuming you live in an appropriately sized house.

If you are spending more than that then you must reduce your outgoings. Unsecured debts such as credit cards must be the last thing you pay as losing a credit meter will cost you much more over the long term.

HappyMJ

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Well I wouldn't say that, they can go to court and get a ccj etc and if this is an RV debt it can be done really quite soon after it becoming due.

Why not just call both companies and make an agreement with them to pay something off each month and also set up a payment plan for future bills to avoid getting a massive debt.

A CCJ? And the problem with that is what exactly? The water still flows. The OP rents so they can't put a charge over the property.

wltroubled

I really appreciate your reply. Unfortunately my wage at the time was sufficient as far as benefits were concerned. My wage less outgoings, which was purely rent, council tax and utilities left me with around £200 per month, although i did receive £60 per week working tax credit. My children are 20 and 15, the 15 year old i have half and half, his father claims for him. I am sure i do not need to tell you tht £60 per week was enough to live on,however i worked 20 miles away, so petrol expenses was a problem. Therefore the debt grew. I find it fustrating that when you do contact the utility companies that unless you pay a substantial amount they will not take you on. I once rang and advised that i was in trouble and offered to pay them £100 and asked if i could set up a monthly direct debit, they refused. £100 was not enough! I have worked for the past 30 years full time, even tho i have claimed for benefits that i was elligble for, things are a struggle. I realise there are thousands worse off than me. Please dont ask me about JSA and their rules, that really is another topic

Gothicfairy

HappyMJ wrote: »

A CCJ? And the problem with that is what exactly? The water still flows. The OP rents so they can't put a charge over the property.

Not everyone can take a CCJ so lightly, it can effect work or the ability to get work.
The water does indeed still flow but it will do more damage to their long term credit then just making a phone call and getting it sorted that way.

wltroubled

So! i should pay the electric in full ? and come to some arrangement which is a trifle hard considering i am claiming JSA, which has been stopped due to me not applying for a position they had put me forward for.............doesnt matter, it seems that i had applied for 36 jobs in 2 weeks, that one job stopped my payments. I thank you for your advice

HappyMJ

wltroubled wrote: »

So! i should pay the electric in full ? and come to some arrangement which is a trifle hard considering i am claiming JSA, which has been stopped due to me not applying for a position they had put me forward for.............doesnt matter, it seems that i had applied for 36 jobs in 2 weeks, that one job stopped my payments. I thank you for your advice

I would..... you can ask for water payments to come direct from your benefits. It's called water direct. They'll take about £3.40 per week. You must be at least £50 in arrears. I'm only giving my opinion based on my own previous experience with debt and utilities. The water company took 4 years of non payment to do anything. The electricity company took 6 months to threaten a prepayment meter.