Paying by standing order

Watercompanyvictim

Been paying my business water bill in installments via standing order since 2023 without any problems. 
In April 2025 they contacted me to say they wanted me to go on direct debit but I refused and carried on paying via standing order, mainly because the company are incompetent from previous experience. 
I've never refused to pay and indeed still pay weekly but now they have sent my account to a debt collection agency with all the costs that comes with that because and I quote "this is not their desired method of payment". 
CCW are taking on my case but wanted to know if there are any other avenues I can go down. 

la531983

You are building a rod for your own back. Whats your problem with direct debits? If they take the wrong amount you can claim it back.,

Voyager2002

Do you actually owe them any money? If not, their claim will be thrown out of court.

la531983

Surely the easy solution here would be to make double payments for a while to get ahead, and then revert to the usual amount.  Does your water company not offer the traditional quarterly billing anymore?

Hoenir

Watercompanyvictim said:

I've never refused to pay and indeed still pay weekly but now they have sent my account to a debt collection agency with all the costs that comes with that because and I quote "this is not their desired method of payment". 

Sounds as you are in constantly in arrears and not adhering to the contractual terms and conditions. Causing the water company unneccessary additional administration. You are beating yourself with your own self made stick. Solution is easy. Switch to direct debit. No amount of ranting is going to help you achieve anything. 

freesha

They can't take you to court unless there is a debt. That's what this is about, not how you pay.

Watercompanyvictim

la531983 said:

You are building a rod for your own back. Whats your problem with direct debits? If they take the wrong amount you can claim it back.,

Not in the habit of allowing incomplete companies access to my bank account. Took them over a year to get the correct address despite me contacting them saying I was recieving no bills. 

Isthisforreal99

Watercompanyvictim said:

la531983 said:

You are building a rod for your own back. Whats your problem with direct debits? If they take the wrong amount you can claim it back.,

Not in the habit of allowing incomplete companies access to my bank account. Took them over a year to get the correct address despite me contacting them saying I was recieving no bills. 

Doesn't answer the question if you are currently in arrears or not.

Watercompanyvictim

Hoenir said:

Watercompanyvictim said:

I've never refused to pay and indeed still pay weekly but now they have sent my account to a debt collection agency with all the costs that comes with that because and I quote "this is not their desired method of payment". 

Sounds as you are in constantly in arrears and not adhering to the contractual terms and conditions. Causing the water company unneccessary additional administration. You are beating yourself with your own self made stick. Solution is easy. Switch to direct debit. No amount of ranting is going to help you achieve anything. 

Been paying standing order since the start. 65 payments gone through without any problems at all. You are allowed to pay in installments so paying by direct debit would not change anything as utvwiyjd be the same amount paid on the same day to the same account it's just they would not have direct access to my bank account. 
The amount and date are not even in question just the method. 

Watercompanyvictim

la531983 said:

Surely the easy solution here would be to make double payments for a while to get ahead, and then revert to the usual amount.  Does your water company not offer the traditional quarterly billing anymore?

Paid standing order for 65 payments never missed or been late with any payments they even acknowledge I'm a consistent and reliable payer. 

la531983

In which case there is more to this then you are letting on. No company in the country takes someone legal if they dont actually owe any money.