[Hypnodisc]

Received my yearly water bill the other day and it got me thinking;

I'm aware of quite a few people who do not pay their water bill despite reminders - some have never even had a reminder.

I've read that water companies cannot disconnect you (although I've also seen things to counter this) and also that unofficially they rarely chase up non-payers as it's supposedly more trouble than it's worth.

So, are there any here who successfully get away with not paying their water bill?

I will be paying mine - it's cheap as I'm only in a 1 bedroom place, but I can see the justification for not paying, I'm not particularly happy with Thames Water myself because of the hosepipe ban (yet they waste ridiculously high volumes of water a year due to leaks) and have abysmal customer service but I'd rather a quiet life

[johnnybgoode83]

We don't have water bills in NI

It's included in our rates bill.

[Hypnodisc]

Originally Posted by johnnybgoode83

We don't have water bills in NI

It's included in our rates bill.

I like it!

I've learned something new today!

[Belligerence]

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

So, are there any here who successfully get away with not paying their water bill?

Now that would be telling.

My neighbour hadn't paid her water bill over four years yet never has been chased up.

[Radiomaniac]

It's impossible to not pay a water bill in the part of London I live in, it's included in the rates, as Johnny said. I wouldn't try to 'get away' without paying anyway.

[zx50]

Of course we do, otherwise we wouldn't have running water. I'm pretty sure that our water supply would be stopped if we didn't pay our water bill.

[swingaleg]

Mines included in my housing rent so I don't get a seperate water bill

[posh1]

Originally Posted by zx50

Of course we do, otherwise we wouldn't have running water. I'm pretty sure that our water supply would be stopped if we didn't pay our water bill.

They cannot disconnect your water supply.

They can chase you for payment though.

[johnnybgoode83]

Isn't clean water a basic human right?

[far2cool]

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

I will be paying mine - it's cheap as I'm only in a 1 bedroom place, but I can see the justification for not paying, I'm not particularly happy with Thames Water myself because of the hosepipe ban (yet they waste ridiculously high volumes of water a year due to leaks) and have abysmal customer service but I'd rather a quiet life

Somebody was watching 'Watchdog' a couple of weeks ago :L

[DaisyBumbleroot]

Wtf!? I've never heard of people not paying their bill, and I'd have thought they'd get chased up! Is this true then, lots of people actually get away with not paying!?

[posh1]

Originally Posted by DaisyBumbleroot

Wtf!? I've never heard of people not paying their bill, and I'd have thought they'd get chased up! Is this true then, lots of people actually get away with not paying!?

You do seem very naive may I say.

[far2cool]

Originally Posted by johnnybgoode83

Isn't clean water a basic human right?

so's food and shelter

But I doubt we'll be getting let off rent and supermarket bills...

[far2cool]

Originally Posted by DaisyBumbleroot

Wtf!? I've never heard of people not paying their bill, and I'd have thought they'd get chased up! Is this true then, lots of people actually get away with not paying!?

Originally Posted by posh1

You do seem very naive may I say.

I've never heard of it either

[HenryBane]

I do, I pay in instalments each month. I would like a water meter though, I don't think I use as much as the guy upstairs who has his girlfriend living with him and I don't see why I should pay the same as him. Not sure if a water meter is possible as the property is a renovated house and I think I'd need to have a separate pipe to the mains which may cost me more money than I'd save.

I didn't pay one month and my arrangement was cancelled and what I owed sent to bailiffs to collect. Took a few phone calls to get the arrangement back on and the bailiffs off my back.

[posh1]

Originally Posted by far2cool

so's food and shelter

No they arent.

[Hypnodisc]

Originally Posted by far2cool

Somebody was watching 'Watchdog' a couple of weeks ago :L

No not at all, I don't watch Watchdog - I thought it was common knowledge (ie. I have heard this from time to time over the last few years) that Thames Water in particular has leaks all over the shop which they never seem to want to patch up

I must admit though I did see a picture the other day of a Thames Water van driver washing his van with what looked like a fire hydrant More than a little ignorant given the drought and bans

[elke21]

Originally Posted by Radiomaniac

It's impossible to not pay a water bill in the part of London I live in, it's included in the rates, as Johnny said. I wouldn't try to 'get away' without paying anyway.

Didn't rates get abolished in England, many years ago?

Have never had to pay water-bills, due to where I live

[InkyPinky]

I used to live next door to a fella who hadn't payed a water bill in 8 years. He had moved around a lot and if he got a reminder he ignored it. It does happen.

[TimMcTVUser]

So don't pay your bill, don't get chased up for it, but end up with a bad credit report. Cant see them just writing it off without at least letting experian know. Downward spiral from there on.

[far2cool]

Originally Posted by posh1

No they arent.

...

[Dare Devil]

Is this why water bills are so high then, because of non-payers not being chased for the payment?

.... Oh and I pay each month over 10 months.

[Mrs Teapot]

I pay my monthly, once got behind with it and they were like a dog with a bone, not worth the hassle of not paying it.

[Radiomaniac]

Originally Posted by elke21

Didn't rates get abolished in England, many years ago?

Have never had to pay water-bills, due to where I live

Then it comes under council tax (or whatever it's called these days).

[Lain Andrews]

I pay 15 every month instalments for a 1 bedroom flat