Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
Here you can apply for a grant (not repayable) in order to clear your utilities debts. There is an application form, and you need to send the bills to them, but they are willing to help people get back on track. So if you have an unpaid utilities bill including water / gas / elec and repaying them is causing you hardship then apply for help.
Remember, if no one applies for assistance then we run the chance of aid being retracted.
Here is a list of all the trust funds;
Water Trust Funds
A number of water companies operate charitable trust funds. Some offer help only with water and sewerage debt; others are prepared to help with other priority debts and even bankruptcy fees in certain situations. Others offer 'restart schemes'. These operate on the basis of you entering into a regular payment scheme, and payments made are then matched by the trust fund. If you maintain the arrangement, the remaining debt may be written off. You will need to contact the trust fund to find out how to apply. You will usually have to fill in a form. You may need an advice agency to help you. Phone us for advice.
CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDS
Anglian Water Trust Fund IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE ANGLIAN WATER TRUST FUND
PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE3 8XH. Telephone 01733 421 021. Email: awtf@charisgrants.com
As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.
Hartlepool Water, Cambridge Water, Three Valleys Water, Essex & Suffolk Water are either owned by Anglian Water or contribute towards its trust fund and you can also apply to the Anglian fund if you are a customer of one of these companies.
EOS FoundationEOS foundation - home page.
PO Box 42, Peterborough PE3 8XH
Telephone: 01733 421 021
Email: eos@charisgrants.com
Will help with water debts and other essential bills. You will need to fill in an application form with proof of income. You must be a customer of Portsmouth Water, Tendring Hundred Water, Folkestone and Dover Water, Mid Kent Water, Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water, South East Water
Severn Trent Water Trust FundSevern Trent Trust Fund - UK
Telephone: 0121 355 77 66
Email: office@sttf.org.uk
As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.
South Staffordshire Water Trust Fund Welcome to the South Staffs Water website. (water company website only)
Telephone: 01922 63 82 82
Only pay for water debts. You must show some commitment to pay £1.00 or more a week for 2 months. To apply you need a personal budget sheet completed by an adviser and a covering letter.
United Utilities Trust Fundwww.uutf.org.uk
Email: contact@uutf.org.uk Telephone: 0845 179 1791
PO Box 12658 Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B73 9DF
Yorkshire Water Community TrustYorkshire Water Community Trust
Telephone: 0845 1 24 24 26 info@ywct.org.uk
Only assist with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than £1000. You must have at least one priority debt as well as water arrears.
WATER COMPANIES OPERATING RESTART SCHEMES
(Trust fund matches your payments on your arrears)
Thames Waterwww.thames-water.com (water company website only)
Telephone: 0845 9200 888 (customer helpline)
"Customer Assistance Fund" only assists with water or sewerage charges and they prefer that you are referred by a local advice centre/NDL/CAB/Social Services/Age Concern. You may be visited in your home.
Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru
Telephone: 0800 052 0145
"Customer Assistance Fund" You must be referred by a money adviser and complete an application form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays half your water arrears. After another 6 months' payments the rest of the arrears will be paid.
Bristol WaterBristol Water plc - Proud to Serve You (water company website only)
Apply in writing to:
BWBSL, 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1WW.
You have to write to them to request to be considered for the restart scheme. You may then be visited in your home.
Wessex Water:Wessex Water ? delivering water and sewerage services within South West England
Telephone: 0845 600 3600
BWBSL 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 1WW.
Covers water or sewage charges. Scheme assists customers who have struggled to pay in the past and built up substantial arrears. If you keep to an agreed payment arrangement, Wessex Water may be able to help you with the arrears. You can write in, telephone or apply via an advice agency.
South West WaterSouth West Water - Home
Telephone: 0800 169 1133 (customer services)
"Special Assistance Scheme" helps with water charges only. Application forms from CAB's and Age Concern. You have to provide evidence that you are trying to pay or stick to a repayment programme.
An independent Charitable Trust established in September 2004 which aims to contribute to the fight against poverty. (To apply the applicant must be a customer of British Gas or Scottish Gas)
An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship to pay their energy bills. (To apply the applicant must be a customer of London Energy, SWEB Energy, SEEBOARD Energy or Virgin HomeEnergy.)
An independent Charitable Trust offering financial assistance to those in hardship to pay their water and sewerage bills (to be eligible applicants must be a customer of one of the donor companies.)
The list above is not meant to be exhaustive and represents the infomation found so far. There may be other trusts that can also help, please add details of any other organizations to this list.
If you are a member of a union it may be possible for them to offer assistance through their own welfare schemes.
For customers of Scottish and Southern who have fuel debt problems with them and /or may be suffering from fuel poverty.
I hope this helps someone. (let CAG know if it does)
energyplus Care:
energyplus Care is a new tariff for vulnerable customers who are worried about being cold because of acute housing, health or income issues. In other words, customers in ‘fuel poverty’.
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
· 20% discount on their current prices
· Free Energy Efficiency Advice
· Free Energy Efficiency measures from low energy light bulbs to an ‘A’ rated fridge
· Benefits entitlement check
HOW DO CUSTOMERS QUALIFY?
Each customer is assessed individually via a questionnaire by one of their energy efficiency advisors to determine the scale of ‘fuel poverty’. This is based on;
· Spending more than 10% of their total income on energy bills
· The type of property and how energy efficient it is
· Their household income / benefits received
· The customer’s disability / special needs
WHAT TO DO NEXT
· If you this applies to you, e:mail priorityservices@scottish-southern.co.uk .
· Their address isFreepost, Scottish & Southern Energy, Cosham, Portsmouth PO6 2FE.
· If you prefer, you can telephone 0800 0727207.
Please don't switch unless you are absolutely sure it is the best step for you.
A number of water companies operate charitable trust funds. Some offer help only with water and sewerage debt; others are prepared to help with other priority debts and even bankruptcy fees in certain situations. Others offer 'restart schemes'. These operate on the basis of you entering into a regular payment scheme, and payments made are then matched by the trust fund. If you maintain the arrangement, the remaining debt may be written off. You will need to contact the trust fund to find out how to apply. You will usually have to fill in a form. You may need an advice agency to help you. Phone us for advice.
CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDS
Anglian Water Trust Fund IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR THE ANGLIAN WATER TRUST FUND
PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE3 8XH. Telephone 01733 421 021. Email: awtf@charisgrants.com
As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.
Hartlepool Water, Cambridge Water, Three Valleys Water, Essex & Suffolk Water are either owned by Anglian Water or contribute towards its trust fund and you can also apply to the Anglian fund if you are a customer of one of these companies.
EOS FoundationEOS foundation - home page.
PO Box 42, Peterborough PE3 8XH
Telephone: 01733 421 021
Email: eos@charisgrants.com
Will help with water debts and other essential bills. You will need to fill in an application form with proof of income. You must be a customer of Portsmouth Water, Tendring Hundred Water, Folkestone and Dover Water, Mid Kent Water, Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water, South East Water
Severn Trent Water Trust FundSevern Trent Trust Fund - UK
Telephone: 0121 355 77 66
Email: office@sttf.org.uk
As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.
South Staffordshire Water Trust Fund Welcome to the South Staffs Water website. (water company website only)
Telephone: 01922 63 82 82
Only pay for water debts. You must show some commitment to pay £1.00 or more a week for 2 months. To apply you need a personal budget sheet completed by an adviser and a covering letter.
United Utilities Trust Fundwww.uutf.org.uk
Email: contact@uutf.org.uk Telephone: 0845 179 1791
PO Box 12658 Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B73 9DF
Yorkshire Water Community TrustYorkshire Water Community Trust
Telephone: 0845 1 24 24 26 info@ywct.org.uk
Only assist with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than £1000. You must have at least one priority debt as well as water arrears.
WATER COMPANIES OPERATING RESTART SCHEMES
(Trust fund matches your payments on your arrears)
Thames Waterwww.thames-water.com (water company website only)
Telephone: 0845 9200 888 (customer helpline)
"Customer Assistance Fund" only assists with water or sewerage charges and they prefer that you are referred by a local advice centre/NDL/CAB/Social Services/Age Concern. You may be visited in your home.
Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru
Telephone: 0800 052 0145
"Customer Assistance Fund" You must be referred by a money adviser and complete an application form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays half your water arrears. After another 6 months' payments the rest of the arrears will be paid.
Bristol WaterBristol Water plc - Proud to Serve You (water company website only)
Apply in writing to:
BWBSL, 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1WW.
You have to write to them to request to be considered for the restart scheme. You may then be visited in your home.
Wessex Water:Wessex Water ? delivering water and sewerage services within South West England
Telephone: 0845 600 3600
BWBSL 1 Clevedon Walk, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 1WW.
Covers water or sewage charges. Scheme assists customers who have struggled to pay in the past and built up substantial arrears. If you keep to an agreed payment arrangement, Wessex Water may be able to help you with the arrears. You can write in, telephone or apply via an advice agency.
South West WaterSouth West Water - Home
Telephone: 0800 169 1133 (customer services)
"Special Assistance Scheme" helps with water charges only. Application forms from CAB's and Age Concern. You have to provide evidence that you are trying to pay or stick to a repayment programme.
****Utilities Trust Fund****
towards its trust fund and you can also apply to the Anglian fund if you are a customer of one of these companies.
