Southwest Water Advance Payments Demand

[Southwester]

Hi,

perhaps someone here might have some good advice.

 

Southwest Water has just sent us a demand for advance payment for water supplies (probably estimated) , payable in two instalments.

 

Up til now we've always paid weekly or monthly,

but we've never trusted direct debits to anyone , and with good reason.

 

Now suddenly Southwest Water want to take nearly my entire pension for two months.

 

What do these people think folk are supposed to live on?

 

I would like to ask if they can demand the whole amount like this, and what can we do?

 

To be absolutely honest they have always been difficult and a right pain, for many years.

 

We're also now aware they've been the "second worst for complaints" in the past. No surprises there.

 

Two questions if we may:

1) Should we set up a standing order (SO) for a corresponding monthly amount amount from our bank to our Southwest Water account.

 

Or b) There is no way they are getting my pension for two months, so what can Southwest Water do about our choosing to pay monthly by standing order?

 

Thanks and kind regards.

[BankFodder]

I think you should start off telephoning them and discussing it and finding out more information about why they are asking this, do they say that is obligatory and if so can they send you the written terms and conditions which explain this.

 

Before you phone them, read our customer services guide and implement the advice there. This is very important.

[dx100uk]

as far as i'm aware you can pay monthly

Anglia water used to demand this just rang them up and told 'em what i'd be doing..

 

 

cant see why they have changed this if you've been doing it all these past years?

[Southwester]

Many thanks for the quick responses above.

 

 

SWW won't get the amounts they're demanding, anyway, because we simply can't afford it.

 

 

Energy companies provide pre-payment cards which are really very useful ways to budget.

 

 

We can't risk losing money if they take too much from our account,

and having asked SWW about a card in the past,

SWW do not offer a savers card facility.

 

 

We're worried as SWW can be very intimidating.

 

Thankyou all very much.

[dx100uk]

use an SO and they can only get what you pay and when.

[Southwester]

use an SO and they can only get what you pay and when.

 

Yes, and our bank has recommended SO payments in the past, for the same reasons. First, SWW will be told by registered letter that they aren't getting two instalments for the full amount, but that we will be paying monthly out of our pension, to avoid hardship.

 

Difficult to see how they could argue.

 

According to the SWW website "other ways to pay" there are no SO options, but they do state several methods.

 

It seems one must use their published account number and sort code; the reference is our 10 digit Customer Reference number (found on the first page of the bill).

 

SWW will not be controlling our life or causing trouble in future; we'll take it to OFWAT if necessary.

 

Regards.

[AndyOrch]

You can pay weekly ..fortnightly or monthly.......as per the following.

 

http://www.southwestwater.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1594

[kjun]

Sounds like you are charged on an RV basis (no meter at the property) and you have received your annual bill which won't be estimated as supply is not measured.

 

Payment options are available if you don't want to pay in 2 instalments as the link below shows (weekly, two weekly or 10 monthly instalments)

 

http://www.southwesPiers Morganer.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1594

 

I would take DX's advice and call them to say your going to set a Standing Order then divide the bill by 10 for the monthly figure.

 

As most RV bills have the first half due by 01st April I would have your first Standing Order payment set for that date so there is no doubt as to which payment option you have chosen...

[dx100uk]

how I always did it with anglia was select the bi-weekly and paid by bacs every month never had an issue

[mikeymack2002]

You can also consider the 'watersure' application and if you are having difficulties in paying there are other option open as well. Also you have the option of an assessed charge too.

 

I will link to them for you when I am on a PC ..