Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay a debt I owe?

60 replies

WaterSucksAnyway · 09/02/2018 18:52

Because they don't seem to want to let me?
I was in debt with my water company and went onto a payment plan. At the time the plan was agreed I was £300 in arrears. I then built up further arrears and due to a miscalculation didn't pay it, as far as I'm aware this debt stands at circa £400 now.

I left the UK 10 months ago but the same month I left I rang the water company from abroad and said look I know I owe it can you tell me how to pay it? I'll need your IBN or another payment method but I'll pay it.
The person on the phone refused to give me it, citing they'd contact me by letter. I handed over my address but heard nothing so 6 weeks later I called again. The lady on the phone found no record of this call but did confirm I owe a debt but stated she'd send me a letter stating how much and how to pay.

I did then receive the letter citing I owe £411.
They offered 3 payment methods.

Direct debit (not possible, as I can't set up a DD to a foreign bank. I have tried.)
Cash at a post office. Not going to work for obvious reasons.
Online with my water card number. This may be possible as I still have a common card (MasterCard) only I do not have the number for the water card

Rang again and asked for it. They refused, but said they'd send me a new water card. I wanted to tell them that it was pointless as I'd never use it I just needed the number but I was so exhasperated I said thanks and bye. This was 6 months ago.

However I never received the card and every time I ring they're just rehashing it with me and nothing changes. I've tried ringing 7 times and emailed 3x and sent a recorded letter that was received and signed for since being told I would receive a new water card to my current address (ie, overseas). I even said if they weren't able to send it to me as I'm abroad they could have my mums address but this wasn't allowed.
I've made a huge effort to pay off all debts in the UK either before I left or within a month of leaving as the UK will always be my home so I do not want to leave any mess behind for me to walk in on when I get back.
But I'm at the point now where I want to give up. They don't appear to be pursuing it but if they do I have proof that I've tried chasing it including several emails. I may send a last email as a last ditch attempt and also proof if required in future that I really did try but it's just feeling pointless now as they don't seem to want me to pay!

Aibu and if you've experienced similar what did you do?

OP posts:
category12 · 09/02/2018 19:14

Give your mum the money to pay it.

BigChocFrenzy · 09/02/2018 19:15

I'm surprised you have such problems paying a water bill.

I moved to Germany in 2016 and sold my Uk property, so I knew I would have final bills for all utilities, council tax etc and I checked them off as I paid them.
I had an online account with each company, where I could see my bills and pay easily.

I have kept one UK current account
Always advisable as final utility bills may take months to arrive
and unless you are certain you'll never return to the UK in your lifetime, it is easier to keep an account rather than having to open a new one where you don't have a recent credit history.

VioletCharlotte · 09/02/2018 19:16

Which water company is it?

Normally you can pay online and just need your account number, which will be any letter you've got from them.

Personally, I wouldn't bother though.

TellsEveryoneRealFacts · 09/02/2018 19:18

I literally googled 'southern water IBAN' and got the IBAN of southern water. Try it with your water company. Then just pay it.

www.ssebusiness.co.uk/SSEInternet/uploadedFiles/BusinessEnergyCentre/Public/DocumentLibrary/PaymentDetails.pdf

Viviennemary · 09/02/2018 19:19

Of course you can pay this debt. Just send a cheque or pay by card.

Original poster
WaterSucksAnyway · 09/02/2018 19:21

I can't get somebody to pay for me.
I have explained why several times.
I really, really can't. The only way I could do that would be if they'd be willing to send my water card to somebody else but they won't. I have offered this.
Goodness me... I'm glad I posted as I have had a very useful suggestion which I didn't think of (given cheques have been near obsolete since before I even had a bank account.) but I do wonder how many of you have reached the conclusion I'm refusing to pay for this and I'm not trying to pay. Or that I'm "making excuses".

Thanks all but I think I've got what I need from this thread.... cheers.

OP posts:
TwoBlueFish · 09/02/2018 19:28

Can’t you pay the money to your mum then ask her to pay at the post office? There are online currency transfer companies or you could use something like western union to get the money to your mum.

lazyarse123 · 09/02/2018 19:30

Which bit of she doesn't have the number required for either herself or her mum to pay are pp not getting. Why bother putting "you should have paid before you left". It's not exactly helpful. I would try once more and then forget it. I had the same with virgin I owe £70 from when we changed suppliers about 5 years ago. Apparently I have never been on their system with my a/c number or address so have no way to pay. Fair enough I'll keep it.

NoWordForFluffy · 09/02/2018 19:34

I've never heard of a water card before. If you have a paper bill there's normally a tear off section you can take to the Post Office to pay with. Or you can ring up to pay over the phone with your account number. Or you can register for an online account and pay that way.

It all seems terribly complicated and I think something is missing here.

Inertia · 09/02/2018 19:42

Paying by cheque is surely the way forward- send recorded delivery.

I still use cheques regularly.

Jenala · 09/02/2018 19:56

It wasn't clear from your op that you need the water card to pay cash at the post office. It looked like the water card was a third, separate option! Hence people's confusion.

WTFIsThisVirus · 09/02/2018 20:11

When you've called them, are you not able to pay by debit or credit card at the time? Have you tried that?

needmysleep75 · 09/02/2018 20:31

Oh god it sounds like the Water Company my dad had! He died, I was trying to settle everything, they refused to take a payment from me on phone as they needed the named bill payers permission lol this was after explaining the details.
The OP has explained several times that she can not pay without the water card number that although asking for several times they have no given her. Be careful sending a cheque, they may not link it up to your account without the ref number. Try emailing the CEO or find their twitter account, they are always more likely to sort it if you make it public

Lemontart25 · 09/02/2018 20:44

Call & ask them to send you a letter with the bank giro credit slip at the bottom? (the tear off slip). Then that can be sent to your mum/friend with cash to pay over the counter at p/o.

Lindah1 · 09/02/2018 20:47

I would pay it, we once got a final demand for a fuel bill that we knew nothing about until the final demand-it affected dh's credit score

lazyarse123 · 09/02/2018 21:29

Lindah she would pay it if she could. Is everybody hard of thinking tonight.

FadedRed · 09/02/2018 22:40

Water don't feel daft about not thinking about a cheque. As you said, most people don't use them anymore, but they do still exist as a means of payment.
Ask your bank, write a covering letter with all the details on, send it by registered post (i.e. to be a signed for on receipt) and keep a copy of the cheque and the letter and keep the proof of postage. Check your bank account to see when they take the payment and copy it to keep with the other evidence, just in case there is any further attempt to claim.
Sorted.

Red2017 · 09/02/2018 23:43

why don't you transfer the money to your mother .. she can then do a bank transfer using the reference number so the payment is allocated to your debt

this may be an option

MaitlandGirl · 09/02/2018 23:49

It’s really expensive getting an overseas bank to draw a cheque in £s. Your best bet would be to tweet the company and ask for their IBAN.

Good luck

stickytoffeevodka · 10/02/2018 00:10

Transfer the money to your mum, and she can transfer it to the water company using your reference or account number.

treeofhearts · 10/02/2018 00:31

How is it unclear that the card was needed to pay the bill? She said so three times! Plus anyone with an ounce of common sense would know that anyway. You can't just walk into a post office and ask to pay Joe Bloggs water bill. OP, I would try the cheque avenue, if that doesn't work out, try to write to the CEO. I would do everything in my power to pay it as it will trash your credit if you don't but if you really can't find a way then you will have to just send them one more email stating everything you have said here and that this is your final attempt to pay them and see if they respond. If they don't, that's their problem. I think if you don't hear from them in 6 years it would be statute barred anyway.

MyDcAreMarvel · 10/02/2018 00:37

Never mind writing a cheque op, you need to cancel the cheque.

JAMMFYesPlease · 10/02/2018 01:30

God! Read the fucking thread people. It's taken me a few minutes to realise the OPs problem and not have the urge to say "you should have paid it before you left or reiterate the impossible due to the situation. Some people just love to feel fucking superior. Instead you make yourselves sound like idiots!

OP could you tell them your living with your mum just to get them to send the card there? Then your mum can take it to pay It at the post office? You could also tweet them and make it clear if they don't send you this card or just give you the number then you can't pay it. Also out in an official complaint. If it still doesn't get resolved after 8 weeks you can then go to the ombudsmen. I think that's the case even though you're not in the UK.

Is there a chance you'll move back to the UK? If not with the amount of hassle you'd had I'd be tempted not to pay It. But it will affect your credit rating. And if you're going to do that you don't want to give them your mum's address or they'll come to her with bailiffs.

Good luck, OP! Ignore the twats.

Softkitty2 · 10/02/2018 01:36

You have a customer account ref number with most companies which ties your details with the account and used to identify you.

  1. Anyone in the uk can make an online payment for you stating that account no.
  1. Send a cheque and reference your water account number. Done!

Sounds like you are making this unnecessarily difficult for yourself

GnotherGnu · 10/02/2018 01:37

JAMMF, I'm surprised you're telling people to read the thread when you don't appear to realise that OP has resolved the problem.