60 year old widow needs some advice to survive

Marisco

xylophone wrote: »

If this is the total charge for a year then the OP is not paying £13 a week for her water but £8.25?

Yes, but that is over 52 weeks, for reasons unknown (op hasn't explained!!) she is paying over 8 months, which is 32 weeks. So that does work out as 13 quid a week. OP, why are you paying over 8 months?

As has been said, give them a ring and explain that you're having a problem with the bill, most utility companies will try and come to an agreement. I'm sure in the present economic climate, they will have contingency plans for folk who are having problems.

itch_for_a_glitch

Marisco wrote: »

Yes, but that is over 52 weeks, for reasons unknown (op hasn't explained!!) she is paying over 8 months, which is 32 weeks. So that does work out as 13 quid a week. OP, why are you paying over 8 months?

As has been said, give them a ring and explain that you're having a problem with the bill, most utility companies will try and come to an agreement. I'm sure in the present economic climate, they will have contingency plans for folk who are having problems.

I pay over 8 months too, they wont take monthly payments (South Staffs) and their systems are abysmal, I've never missed a payment in 26 years but they have "lost it " in their system four times in recent years.

Marisco

itch_for_a_glitch wrote: »

I pay over 8 months too, they wont take monthly payments (South Staffs) and their systems are abysmal, I've never missed a payment in 26 years but they have "lost it " in their system four times in recent years.

That doesn't make sense!!!! You pay £xx a month for 8 months and then pay nowt for 4??? Why won't they let you pay over 12 months? I pay mine over 10, but as it's only £29 pm, it's not worth fighting over 2 months!! But I pay my CT over 12 and am always in credit at the end of the "council" year.

Shovel_Lad

Marisco wrote: »

That doesn't make sense!!!! You pay £xx a month for 8 months and then pay nowt for 4??? Why won't they let you pay over 12 months? I pay mine over 10, but as it's only £29 pm, it's not worth fighting over 2 months!! But I pay my CT over 12 and am always in credit at the end of the "council" year.

Makes perfect sense to me as it's what my water company does too.
The bill is split into 8 and paid April - November.

Marisco

Shovel_Lad wrote: »

Makes perfect sense to me as it's what my water company does too.
The bill is split into 8 and paid April - November.

No, she said she pays over 8 months, but they won't take monthly payments, that's the bit I can't understand!! In other words how can you pay over 8 months but not pay monthly?

FBaby

Whether it's paid over 8 or 12 months is irrelevant, what is her budget. She should budget on the basis of 52 weeks, not 8 months. The months she doesn't pay, she put the weekly amount aside so she has enough to pay for the 8 months.

Marisco

FBaby wrote: »

Whether it's paid over 8 or 12 months is irrelevant, what is her budget. She should budget on the basis of 52 weeks, not 8 months. The months she doesn't pay, she put the weekly amount aside so she has enough to pay for the 8 months.

Quite agree FB, but things don't always work like that though!! If she knows she has to pay every month, then it'll get paid, but if you just put it in a "pot", then it's odds on it'll get spent on other things. I'm sure we've all done it, I know I have, a lot of years ago when I first got married and money was very tight, and you think "well, I'll not put it away this week, I'll do it next" But then something else comes along and before you know it you're stuffed!! :eek:

Chrissiew

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

If you dont pay the water you will not get cut off, if you have a large debt with them you can apply for something called the Yorkshire Water Community Trust- which will often significantly lessen the debt and arrange for more achievable weekly payments.
If you cant afford to pay them contact the water and ask what help is available and what your options are. I know someone who hadnt pid their water for 2 years and nothing was done about it.

This is very true, I know someone who has never paid a water bill, for about 2 years she kept getting bills and reminders but she just ignored them, she hasn't heard anything from them in over 3 years now, she knows they won't cut her water supply off as she has been told they are not allowed to do this due to needing water to survive, yea you can buy bottled water but you still need water to bath, wash and flush the loo.

FBaby

Marisco wrote: »

Quite agree FB, but things don't always work like that though!! If she knows she has to pay every month, then it'll get paid, but if you just put it in a "pot", then it's odds on it'll get spent on other things. I'm sure we've all done it, I know I have, a lot of years ago when I first got married and money was very tight, and you think "well, I'll not put it away this week, I'll do it next" But then something else comes along and before you know it you're stuffed!! :eek:

I know what you mean, but this is someone who has worked for many years, held a family budget, and is now a very tight one. If she can't manage not to spend money that she knows need to be kept for paying bills, then she had an issue with budget management and needs help with it. I don't think it is the case though.

oliveoil99

Shovel_Lad wrote: »

Makes perfect sense to me as it's what my water company does too.
The bill is split into 8 and paid April - November.

Yes that's how I paid it in my last property so just carried on. The 4months when I don't pay water charges is used for the bigger winter fuel bill.