Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

[calamity jane]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7829364.stm


Anglian Water has called for the law to be changed to allow it to bring in "trickle meters" for customers who refuse to pay their bills.
The devices would limit the supply of water to customers who can afford to pay but refuse to do so, Anglian said.
The company said it wanted to "inconvenience" those who exploit legislation to avoid paying bills.
By law water supplies cannot be cut off for non-payment. Anglian said the plan had the support of other water firms.
An Anglian Water spokesman said: "We are quite happy to work with those who can't, but it's those who can pay but won't that we want to tackle.
'£150m debts'
"At the moment, there's no incentive for them to pay because the law says we can't cut them off.
"If you inconvenience them by introducing trickle meters, which make it take longer for their toilet system to fill, for example, they might look at it differently."
The company, which outlined its plans on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme, said debts of £150m had been accumulated by people refusing to pay - adding £11 on to each customer's bill.
The spokesman said Anglian would lobby the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the hope of securing a change in the law.

[Amethyst]

Re: Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

I think its a good idea.

However there will have to be very strict and enforced rules in place re young families, illness, disability, elderly etc.

I think its a good idea cause having a reduced supply will be a pain in the bum and encourage people who CAN pay and just havent to pay without having the costs etc of baillifs and enforcement on them and passed on to other consumers.

Also the reconnection (removal of the trickle thing) would have to be quick and not cost a lot, like the BT reconnection charge.

Be interesting to see hwo the ideas received anyway.

[Amy]

Re: Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

How do the water companies know if you can pay but won't pay?

[righty]

Re: Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

Ame sorry to be blunt but knowing what you know about the abuses that go on with the banks DCa's AND utility companies I cannot believe your in favour of this abhorrent scheme designed to attack the less well off. If you don't think that even with so called safe guards there will be victims of such a regime then your kidding yourself

Perhaps a better idea would be if the reduced their extortionate bills so people on low incomes can afford to pay them in the 1st place............ or perhaps fix the leaks which cause them to lose millions of gallons of water each day rather then fill the pockets of the directors & shareholders.

They fitted meters in Japan & as soon as consumption dropped they, as predicted, raised the prices.......... nothing will get in the way of them maintianing thier profit level
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How do the water companies know if you can pay but won't pay?

Precisely You'll be in the hands of some snotty kid at the end of their premium rate 'help' line who decides if you & your family gets a normal water supply
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How do the water companies know if you can pay but won't pay?

Precisely. You'll be at the mercy of some snotty moralistic Muppet with a fancy name at the end of their premium rate telephone who'll decide your fate........ after you have poured your heart out (& revealed a lot of personal info) to be told sorry no can do cos they got out of the wrong side of bed that day
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Incidentally forget to mention Anglian Water are notorious for over billing & taking forever to sort it

[Amethyst]

Re: Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

I agree with all that too. In principle I think its an okay idea, but in practise it would indeed cause huge problems and need a hell of a lot of regulation. Wonder if they will do a sensible consultation first with people who count rather than just the government.

[righty]

Re: Water firm wants 'trickle meters'

Good you had me worried there for a moment AME. The problem is that will all these schemes is that the 'stakeholders' who will be consulted are not the actual people who will be directly affected by it. It'll be the utility companies & possibly 1 of the debt charities like CCCS. The real victims won't get a look in.

As for regulation forget it the DCA'a & the banks are supposed to be regulated but you wouldn't know it & look what abuses go on there.....pensioner dying in the street because some scum bag of a debt collector want's his commission