water can they force u to pay

dianna8106

yorkshire water are asking us to pay 36 pounds a month it may not sound alot but we cant afford it, i emailed then explaining that we could only manage half of that per month as our household income is only 180 week 400 a month rent tax nappies milk newbaby on the way etc etc.
they responded by saying that we have no choice nad must pay it and then i received a warning letter saying i have to pay within 7 days or else further proceedings. honestly can they cut out supply or are they tryna bluff us in to paying, so many people dont ever pay a penny inwater but those of us who are honest and do they charging more than we can manage.
any advice appreciated

mancitychick

You pay Yorkshire water over 10 months of the year. Can you not ask to spread your bill over 12 months - at least this way you are paying abit less each month.

I know the water board didn't used to be able to cut your water off for non payment as water is classed as a necessity (unlike gas & elec that can be cut off), but the powers that be were looking at changing this, but I don't know if they have changed it yet. sorry.

mancitychick

Also, have you looked into a water meter. It may be cheaper to pay for what you actually use. I pay Yorkshire Water £47 per month in water rates. My previous home (thames valley water) had a water meter and I was paying approx £25 per month for my water - therefore I am looking in to getting a meter installed here.

1882

Water cannot be cut off - that's not to say they can't/wont take stringent measures to get the cash tho'

mancitychick

sherbetpops wrote: »

It would appear the OP is already on a meter

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=3718239#post3718239

OOPS didn't realise they had a meter. However I see they are looking to buy a car. Surely if you cannot afford to pay for your water you cannot afford to buy and run a car.

dianna8106

no we didnt get the car unfortunetly just wishful thinking
we didnt get the meter either as landlord said no!

dianna8106

i dont know i just know i cant pay it

this was their response

If you feel that your income is insufficient to cover these payments then I
suggest that you contact the collections department to discuss other option
available for payments as if the payments are not made as they fall due and
for the amount stated on the arrangement then the account will follow the
usual recovery procedure with our collections department.

if getting a meter is the answer i cant get my landlord to agree
he says it will lower the tone of the house whatever that means he doesnt want any meters
i was thinking to draft them a letter explaining again but not sure wat i can say as i have asked for the payments to be lowered but they are not biting

computerwoman

yep, yorkshire water, they are really "NICE" people arent they,
I had a run in with them in 2000, I had a water meter in my last property, which I got into bother with, they said I owed them £500 so I paid it, then I moved, when I rang them to sort out paying for this property that I am in now they said I owed them £1000, so I said how come, it turned out that instead of taking it off, some lame brain had added it on, anyway it took a number of years of going backwards and forwards to sort this, so I just said I am not paying you another penny until you do sort it out, since then I have not paid them a penny in 7 years, yes sure I got all the usual threatening letters and phone calls, I just changed my phone number, they had robbed me of £1000 or would have done if I'd paid it, no amount of phone calls to them would get them to change there minds, so they didnt get a penny, then last month some woman from YW knocked on the door, saying she had called earlier, I said your lying as I am housebound, twit, she said they wanted to sort it out, so I said ok then make me an offer that I can afford to pay and I'll pay you what I owe you for the 7 years that I have been in this property, they said £6 a week set up by standing order, if I dont default on this after 12 months they will wright off the debt, I said yes ok then, at least I wont have to pay them the money even though I dont owe them it in the first place, so they are wrighting off £1800 in 12 months time, well we will have to wait and see, what happens then I suppose, but they wont do much if you dont pay, but they also dont listen when you call them to try and sort it out,
I truly feel for you as they are a bunch of idiots to deal with,
apparently this thing they have put me on is called a hardship scheme or something,
cw

deanos

1882 wrote: »

Water cannot be cut off - that's not to say they can't/wont take stringent measures to get the cash tho'

But they can restrict the water to a trickle !

iceicebaby

Where do you get the figure of 99 pounds of water in 6 weeks if you dont have a meter ??

Have you checked that you are getting all you are entitled to ? Does you or partner work?? If so can you get overtime or a second job?

Sorry to sound harsh but you need to help yourself too.

I would still be interested in where that 99 pound figure came from

Mobeer

deanos wrote: »

But they can restrict the water to a trickle !

No - partial deconnection is used in Australia, and the House of Lords want it introduced here, but the government isn't interested.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldsctech/21/2103.htm