Unemployment and water bill/rates

ennogs

ennogs

ennogs

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Anybody else unemployed who can answer my question?

I moved into my council flat on the 28th Feb this year. It is the first time I have lived in my own place in the UK. At the time of moving in my flat I was unemployed and I still am. When I moved into my flat one of them one stop shops helped me do all the paper work for council tax etc. I thought they had done everything for me except sorting out my gas and elecy supplier.

Cue to about 10 days ago I got a letter from the water company asking who lived in my flat. The letter said if they did not get a reply within 14 days they would assume the property is empty. So I filled the form in to say I was living there and also put I was unemployed. I have just got a bill from the water company saying I owe £443 for this year. They are going to take it in 3 monthly installments starting from the 1st Jan 2012. With buying Xmas presents I am now skint.

When you are unemployed do you not get any help with your water rates like you do with council tax? Finding money for the first payment on Jan 1st is going to be difficult for me.
 
As an unemployed person, no, you don't get any help with the water bill, though I do think that the bill you have received is a little high. Usually what they will do if you are unemployed is put a deduction onto your JSA which will pay off your arrears and pay off your next bill in advance.

My best advice is to call them and discuss it with them.
 
No, you don't get any help.

However, water companies are not allowed to disconnect you. This gives you more bargaining power when negotiating with them. £443 in three instalments when you're only on unemployment benefits is clearly unaffordable. Refuse to pay it, and instead offer to pay in twelve smaller instalments starting in February so you have a bit of time to sort it out.
 
My water rate is around £120 for the year so sounds like they are charging you for a previous persons usage. I'd give them a call as it's stupidly high. It's only a flat after all though it depends where you live.



M.
 
Thanks. I don't have a water meter. It is fixed. I will ask a neighbour what they pay. My parents live at the top of the street and my dad said he was paying about £600 for their 3 bedroomed house and it has gone down to £300 since getting a water meter installed. I am with united utilities. I have just spoken to a neighbour and she pays £240 a year but she does have a meter.
 
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WOW That is a lot.. i generally pay about £12 a month on a water meter... Just me on my own, showering daily, toilet flushing etc, drinks and once a week on the washing machine and dishwasher. I am generally in advance.
 
Skyline said:
WOW That is a lot.. i generally pay about £12 a month on a water meter... Just me on my own, showering daily, toilet flushing etc, drinks and once a week on the washing machine and dishwasher. I am generally in advance.
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~£48 a month. Non metered is expensive or cheap. It depends how much you use and how many live there. A lot of large family's bills increased, when meters first came in. But then people have changed and so has equipment, to be more efficient.
 
If you speak to your job centre, they will put you in contact with someone who will deal with this for you. They will work out a payment plan on your behalf and the money will be deducted directly from your JSA.

It will be paid off on a drip (excuse the pun) basis and should come to no more than £10 per week, with no large instalments.

It takes about 4-6 weeks to get sorted, but will keep the water board off your back for a while. :)
 
cm1179 said:
i've never heard of this ....
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just looking into it again

severn trent does run a discount scheme, but conditions state your not able to fit a meter, if so you will get a discount

last time i looked im sure it was 25% but cannot find mention of this now

but there is a chance or reduction, depending on what the water supplier offers

if could be backdated thats another matter
 
challengedavid said:
just looking into it again

severn trent does run a discount scheme, but conditions state your not able to fit a meter, if so you will get a discount

last time i looked im sure it was 25% but cannot find mention of this now

but there is a chance or reduction, depending on what the water supplier offers

if could be backdated thats another matter
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ah ok. i'm with severn trent and i enquired about a meter and it worked out cheaper to be on rates anyway so i guess i'm not eligable. 25% is probably about £40 but heck it'd be better than nothing!
 
I've never heard of the -25% single occupancy for water either, although you do get -30% single occupancy on council tax. £443 over 11 months is £40 which is definitely steep for 1 person. I pay £20/month as 1 person on a water meter. The OP might wanna get a break-down on costs, like the ones you get with 7 Trent Water and definitely consider a meter.

You don't get jobseeker's help with water though, nor any other utilities. You can get housing benefit though, which is equal to your council tax. On your bank statement, you don't see the c.tax going out or the housing benefit going in, as they're equal and they cancel each other out.
 
ennogs said:
When you are unemployed do you not get any help with your water rates like you do with council tax? Finding money for the first payment on Jan 1st is going to be difficult for me.
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No.

You use water, you pay for it. If you do not pay they cannot cut you off completely but they can install a trickle meter which will give you 2L per day I believe.
 
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