UK households 'with three or more kids' getting '90 per cent off water bill'
UK households are having "90 per cent" taken off their water bills if they hit certain criteria. Water bills will rise by an average of £123 this year in the biggest hit to customer pockets since the industry was privatised 36 years ago, as the public pays to replace ageing infrastructure and cut record sewage pollution.
Sebrina McCullough, director of external relations at Money Wellness, said: “Many water companies offer discounts if you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits. Speak to your provider to see if you qualify for support.”
With Southern Water, households earning less than £21,000 (excluding certain benefits) and with savings below £16,000 may receive a discount of between 45% and 90%. Households qualifying only through Pension Credit receive a 45% discount.
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It says: "We know that being in debt can be stressful, but we’re here to help and support our customers. If you've missed payments on your water bill and owe us money, you can call our dedicated Collections team who will be able to discuss a payment plan to suit your needs.
"If you've been contacted by a debt collection agency the best thing to do is to get in touch with them as quickly as possible. Their friendly advisors will be on hand to work with you and help you get back on track. If you think your account has incorrectly been sent to a debt collection agency, please get in touch.
"You can call our Collections Team for free on 0800 027 0363 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)." You may be eligible for a reduction in your water bill if any of the following applies to you: your household income is low, everyone in your home gets a means-tested benefit, you’ve got three or more children under 19 living at home, someone living with you needs more water because of a medical condition and you haven’t made a payment for a while.