Water Direct Scheme United Utilities

samsmoot

Wobbly588 wrote: »

"All water companies have a charitable trust set up to help people who are unable to pay their water bill, so you should write to the water company, telling them you wish to apply to the charitable trust for this help and to put all recovery action on hold until a decision has been made. You do not have to be on benefit."


This is not correct as no Water Company is forced to set up a charitable trust. Some have them and others haven't. Many companies offer restart schemes or different tariffs to assist. Don't rely on schemes though, register and pay your bills and then you don't end up in arrears!

So what help is available from UU then, is the question to be answered. So my advice applies - write and ask.

samsmoot

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I thought you didnt have to pay water bills....

I don't, not sure about the rest of you. Depends on whether they can County Court you and subsequently get a charge on your property or deductions from your wages.

The poor have nothing to worry about. Other than unlawful TPDs.

Naf

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I thought you didnt have to pay water bills....

Why wouldn't you have to?

samsmoot

Naf wrote: »

Why wouldn't you have to?

Because no law compels it, perhaps?

Naf

samsmoot wrote: »

Because no law compels it, perhaps?

Really? This is new for me...

samsmoot

Naf wrote: »

Really? This is new for me...

Why? Are you under the impression that payment of water bills is somehow compulsory?

Cardew

samsmoot wrote: »

Why? Are you under the impression that payment of water bills is somehow compulsory?

For those who are not aware, Samsmoot had a problem with Severn Trent and instead of dealing with his own problem spends his time on MSE causing mischief and encouraging everyone not to pay their water bills.

Firstly, of course there is a law that people should pay their water bills. Like any other unpaid bills that debt can be pursued through the courts with credit record affected, and goods seized by court order etc.

Because they cannot cut-off water to premises, and samsmoot apparently doesn't care about the consequences, he wants everyone else to not pay, or generally be obstructive.

Of course the end result of bad debts and expensive action to recover monies owing, we all pay extra on our bills.

samsmoot

Oh! Hello Cardew! Wondered when you'd make an appearance.

How's it going?

Cardew wrote: »

of course there is a law that people should pay their water bills.

Can you quote it for me please?

Cardew

Wade through this lot!

History of the water industry 1945 -1999

Legislation that determines the organisation of the water industry

Water Act 1945
This brought together previous waterlegislation and introduced a waterworks code. It encouraged amalgamations ofwater companies and boards. A government survey 30 years earlier identified2,160 water undertakings including 786 local authorities.

By1963 the numbers had reduced to:

• • 100 water boards (each comprising two or more local authorities)
  • 50 local authorities; and
  • 29 privately owned statutory water companies.

The privately owned companies providedapproximately one quarter of the water supply in Englandand Wales.

WaterAct 1973
The Act created the ten waterauthorities that were later privatised. They took over from the localauthorities and water boards and their role was "to plan and control allusers of water in each river catchment area". They had responsibilitiesfor:

• • water conservation;
  • controlling pollution of inland and tidal waters;
  • land drainage and flood control;
  • fisheries; and
  • supply of water and sewerage services.

The Chairman was appointed by theSecretary of State and the majority of the members were from local authorities.The ten water authorities were subject to government targets and financial controllike nationalised industries. Customers' bills continued to be calculated onthe basis of rateable values.

WaterAct 1983
This changed the organisationalstructure of the water authorities. Local authorities lost some rights ofrepresentation and meetings were closed to the press and public. To compensatefor the reduction in public involvement consumer consultative committees (CCC)were set up in each authority with limited powers. The water authoritiesappointed CCC members from organisations invited to put names forward. Arepresentative of the water authority also sat on each committee.

Departmentof the Environment (DOE) White Paper - February 1986
A discussion paper was published on thepossible privatisation of the water industry. It proposed privatising the tenwater authorities in their existing form. This included responsibility forproviding water and sewerage services, and responsibility for river waterquality and the control of abstractions.

The paper stated "Privatisation itself will encouragethe water services plcs to compete effectively in fields where they can do so.Where this is not practical the Government's aim is to introduce a system ofregulation which will stimulate a competitive approach. Profit is a moreeffective incentive thanGovernmentcontrols".

DOE ConsultationPaper - July 1987
In response to the White Paper, manyorganisations expressed concern about privatising the regulatory aspects of thewater authorities. In response the DOE proposed privatising the water and sewerageprovision aspects of the boards and setting up the National Rivers Authority(now the Environment Agency) to take responsibilityfor water quality in rivers, lakes and bathing waters.

Water Act 1989 –Privatisation
The Director General of Water Services(the Director) was appointed to be the economic regulator of the industry. Hisduties include setting price limits to control the revenue companies cancollect from their customers in bills, and protecting customers. He set up tenregional Customer Service Committees (called WaterVoice committees since April2002), which are completely independent of the water industry, to representcustomers. The water only companies were brought under the same regulatorycontrol.

Tomeet European water quality and environmental standards the Government wroteoff £5 billion of the industry's debts and gave them a £1.6 billion cashinjection, known as the "green dowry".

Sharesin the holding companies of the ten water and sewerage companies were offeredfor sale in November 1989 at £1.00 on application with two further payments of70p in July1990 and July1991. The offer was oversubscribed.

Water Industry Act1991
This brought together seweragelegislation and consolidated the 1989 Act.

Hasthere been any additional legislation since privatisation?

Competition andService (Utilities) Act 1992
The Act applies to the regulatorybodies dealing with privatised utilities. It gave Ofwat increased powers todetermine disputes and to increase competition in the industry.

Environment Act1995
This placed a duty on the companies topromote the efficient use of water by customers.

Competition Act1998
The Director General of Fair Tradinghas the main responsibility for administering this Act. The regulators for eachof the utilities share this responsibility for the sectors they regulate. TheAct outlaws any agreements that have a damaging effect on competition. Itprohibits agreements between businesses that, or are intended to, prevent,restrict or distort competition. And conduct that amounts to the abuse of adominant position in a market that may affect trade in the UK.

Water Industry Act1999
The Act made several importantamendments to the Water Industry Act 1991. It removed the companies' ability todisconnect household customers for non-payment of charges. It also outlawed theuse of budget payment units that cut off customers' water supplies wherecustomers had insufficient credit on their payment cards. It also limited thecircumstances in which companies can compulsorily meter customers. It gives theDirector the task of approving companies' charges schemes. It also allows theSecretary of State to issue regulations setting out requirements that should beincluded in companies' charges schemes. This legislation also secured thatcompanies were able to continue to charge customers on the basis of rateablevalue.

Italso allows the Secretary of State to provide guidance to Ofwat on thetreatment of vulnerable customers. This is set out in 'Water Industry Act 1999 –Delivering the Government's objectives'.

I have highlighted in red one example where the legislation enables the company to charge customers.

You know perfectly well that water charges are legal and enshrined in Acts of Parliament and your rather silly attempts to play 'Barrack Room lawyer' are a nonsense.

samsmoot

That says they can charge - no mention of any compulsion to pay.