Are you eligible for additional help and services?

18/05/2006

The Consumer Council for Water Eastern is making water customers across the region aware of services and additional help provided by their water company.  The local water watchdog is advising customers to find out what help is available to them regarding tariffs, payment methods and special services. 

Some water customers can receive financial help under Government regulations in the form of the Vulnerable Groups Scheme.  All appointed water companies operating wholly or mainly in England offer this scheme to those who are eligible.

This scheme assists metered customers receiving certain benefits who either have a large family (three or more children under the age of 19 who are in full-time education and living in the property) or a medical condition which results in them using more water.  For an application form and further information about this scheme contact your water company.

Catherine Harvey, Chairman of CCWater Eastern, said: “Many customers do not realise what help is available to them and they continue to struggle when they may not need to. 

“The most important message to customers is to urge them to contact their water company as soon as possible if they are having problems, whether that be with payments, reading bills, or understanding what schemes and services are available to them.”

Water companies also offer help and advice to their customers about debt.  If you have recently received a ‘reminder’ from your water company and you know that you will have difficulty paying your bill contact the company immediately to discuss the possible options of spreading the cost to avoid debt mounting up.  All water companies in the Eastern region offer a range of payment options and arrangements for customers. 

For customers who have difficulty reading their bill water companies will arrange for the bill to be printed in large print.  Another option is having the bill read to you over the phone or it can be sent to a nominated friend or relative who can relay the information to you.  Customers of Essex and Suffolk Water, Anglian Water and Cambridge Water can arrange for the bill to be sent in Braille.  Essex and Suffolk Water also offer to supply a magnifying sheet and Cambridge Water and Tendring Hundred Water can deliver the bill as an audiocassette. 

Anglian Water also offers a special tariff to very low users - those who use less than 75 cubic metres of water a year.  To register or find out more information about this and other services including password schemes and meter readings contact your water company. 

Local media enquiries: contact Christine MacDonald, Regional Manager of CCWater Eastern on 01223 323 889.

Notes for editors
1. CCWater Eastern represents consumers of Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk Water and Tendring Hundred Water.
2.  CCWater is the statutory water consumer body, and operates as a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Government.
3. At regional level, it is supported by nine regional committees in England and one for Wales.
4. Our national website is www.ccwater.org.uk.

Media enquiries to Andrew Marsh on 0121 345 1005 or 07778 160 803 (out of hours) or Karen Blanchette on 0121 345 1006 or 07778 160 808.