AIBU to panic about how to pay this debt?

[blackrabbitwhiterabbit]

I've been referred to a debt collection agency for non payment of a ?2000 water bill from my previous house. I was sent the bill out of the blue two years ago......when I rang the water company they said I must have some kind of leak. I paid for a plumber and he found there had been a leak on my toilet for around two years although I knew nothing about this.

I've been in touch with the debt agency now who tell me I only have 6 months to pay this bill, or I go to court with the view of getting prosecuted. This means payments of ?333 every month which I really can't afford (am single parent.) They did an affordability calulator thing with me and claim that I CAN afford it, but I know I can't.

Water company says I have to pay, and it's not their debt. I don't think I should have to pay so much over 6 months, if at all. AIBU?

is the debt agency part of the water company? when united utillities were messing me around they referred it to a 'debt agency ' that was actually part of united utillities!so you have £600 disposable income and the want you pay £333 of this ??definatley go through the consumer council as even if you do owe it i,m sure you could set up a more reasonable repayment.

Just pay them something that you think is acceptable.
Email them and the water company together and tell them you will be paying x on whatever day.
Then pay it.

Scare tactics is what they are using. Some of these companies are bastards. I had debt collectors scream in my daughters face (16 year old) that unless I paid 2k in the next two hours he was coming back to kick my fucking door in.

I emailed the tossers and the original company. I emailed them that I would pay x on x date every month unless I heard different.

I paid 2 months and they came
Back. With more threats. Head office just kept saying pay up. Every figure I gave they wanted more. Has to be within 6 months.

Phoned back original company who contacted debt collectors and they denied the call and denied the email. This showed them the Cowboys they had involved.

What saved me and got the
Original company on side was the email, sent to both companies. If I had sent a letter, even tracked they could have denied the wording.

The debt was reduced by original company. The remainder to be paid back over 18 months.

The collectors tried it on again. Wanting the increase telling me it was the law to pay within 6 months.. Asked to see the policy. Threatened me with court.. Said please go ahead then I can pay a pound a month.

As long as you are paying something every month they won't take you to court. What they gonna say to the judge? Erm yea we want the client to pay.. But your honor I am paying. I pay x every month whilst they agreed on something agreeable from both of us.

Also when you did you let attachment you did this after tax and ni?
Then included every single penny for childcare, travel, medical, all bills including Insurance. Clothing. Hair. Make up. Food. Pets. Holidays. Days out. Presents... Some
Stuff you spend every few month, you add it all and split it over the year.

and £333 is a ridiculous amount for them to expect you to pay back/month its a lot of money in anybodys book tell them to sod off i think £150 is too much tbh i would offer £50/month at the most.

Thanks for this, Bloodyteenagers - your story sounds scary! I don't want people knocking at my door, that's why I'm so scared!

When I said about money we spent on meals 'out' (per month) the woman at debt co said it didn't count but apparently cigarettes and booze do. I argued that all of them are a 'choice' but she said she would only take compulsory monthly payments as my expenditure. Since when were fags and booze compulsory things to pay for? I also mentioned presents i have to buy for endless kids parties but she said this also didn't count. EUUUUGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

x2boys - because i have ?600 (on paper anyway!) left over after all my 'essentials' are paid, she reckons this is what I must pay.

and she knows your lifestyle ? £600 isnt a huge amount even if you were spending it on frivolities which i,m sure your not !

Haven't had time to rtft but we had a similar situation where a leak led to a massive bill. We switched to a water meter after having an estimated bill for years and suddenly received a £700 bill for one quarter. We had suspected there was a leak under the driveway and had asked the water company to investigate, but they'd never managed to find a leak. There was a damp problem in the house.

Anyway, when the bill came we were really worried. They came back out and dug up the driveway. The leak was just inside our property. However, the water company didn't make us pay. In fact they said they were glad that the leak was now identified. All we had to do was get it fixed within a reasonable timescale and they wiped the debt. I'd contact the water company if I were you! It was Wessex Water in this case. Best of luck OP.

Sorry just realised in my original post I said i received the bill out of the blue 2 years ago - should have said 5 years ago!!

Mindthegap ,thanks for your post. I rang the water company a couple of hours ago, and they assured me, very kindly (ahem!) that ALL INTERNAL LEAKS MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE CUSTOMER.
Even the girl on the phone thought it was insanely unfair.

This happened to me - a bill for £1400 from water company. I disputed it, they passed it to a debt collection company. I refused to engage with the debt collection company, and went back to the water company.

The water company wrote the whole amount off so I didn't have to pay, and they sent an apology too.

Mine was caused by a constantly overrunning toilet cistern as well.

OP I have PMd you but wanted to add - write to the company and say what the vile debt collector said, this is beyond unethical, say you felt bullied into something you couldn't afford and you are changing the amount you're re-paying every month. Call your bank and cancel the payment, then file a formal complaint.

That's what these vultures rely on. Your fear.
They have no rights, just
People fear them and let them do whatever.

The second time I just shut the door in his face.. He kept banging to which he was told
To fuck off and deal with his
Company himself. I am on the phone to the police because I am getting threatened. No I didn't call, I walked into a station at a later time and was told if they come back without a court order, to call.

They have no right to come into your home unless you have been to court and a bailiff involved. A court won't send one because you are paying.

Child benefit and tax credits are also disregarded as income btw. Presents etc you don't have to say who for. These comes under miscellany spends. If they push say tampax and condoms (woman from council tax told me to say that one lol).

If you set up a dd/so if you do Internet banking log in a cancel it. Do this. Some of the really bastard ones take more than they are supposed to. I make a payment every single month.

When they call you back. Tell them you are paying this amount because it is under dispute, and dispute it. Not with the water company.

You can email both the debt collector and water company, and ask whilst it is being disputed you want the water company to take back the debt.. They can do this.

Oh and get to know your rights. They aren't allowed to harass either for the debt. They are allowed to make contact for x amounts of times. And even less can be charged for.

Make sure it is a standing order or direct debit and not a repeat payment as they only be cancelled by cancelling your card........... ask for all correspondence to be by mail as they phone repeatedly and withhold their numbers. I have had to change my number...........

I don't know who your supplier is but I googled 'who is responsible for the Bill on an internal water leak'. Southwest water have a booklet where they give you an allowance toward the cost of repair and seem to write out a good chunk of the 'extra' water you'd have 'used'. Might be worth checking with your supplier what their code of practice says. If it's less than southwest water ask them why?
Worst case scenario you're no better off. Your plumber should have a copy of your invoice, they normally keep six years of records in case the tax man audits them, or they should.