I was sad enough to work out the percentage increase of my water bill last night - 7.8%, yet another year of inflation breaking rises. This lead to me have a sad look at my outgoings and it's clear that I am probably worse off now than I was a few years ago (thanks Blair, Brown, etc). I started thinking about which bill I wouldn't pay first if it came down to it and I remember someone telling me that the water companies couldn't legally cut you off, is this true?
Yes, it is, BUT, you will be taken to court for non-payment, and have a CCJ against you, which will stop you getting credit cards/mortgage/loans, as well as being unlikely to be accepted for a lot of public sector job vacancies.
I agree though, that SWW bills are a joke - there should be a national water grid (after all, we are not short of rain in the SW are we!). if it is any consolation mine increased by 8.7% this year, as I do not have a water meter. Mine is now ^657 p.a. (only a terraced house!). My parents, who live in a much bigger house in Gloucestershire 'only' pay ^378 p.a.
