Thousands of people could qualify for little-known scheme to write off water bill debts

THOUSANDS of billpayers could get help paying off water debts through a little-known scheme – and even get the balance written off.

The household bill is the second most common arrears for people in debt, behind only Council Tax.

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And the average water bill debt adds up to £988, according to debt charity Stepchange.

But water companies across the country offer matching schemes that could help you write off some of the debt and clear it quicker.

They are known as matching schemes and for every £1 you pay off, your water company will wipe out the equivalent amount.

Customers need to stick to a payment plan to get the match. If they do, it could help households get back on track faster.

StepChange debt expert Andy Shaw said: “If you fall behind on your water bills, some water companies will offer to match any contributions you make towards the arrears.

“The idea is that it gets the customer into a habit of making regular payments so that they don’t fall behind again.

“The precise terms and eligibility criteria do vary between companies, so do get in touch with your water company to see if you qualify for this type of help.”

Thames Water says that it will work out an affordable payment plan based on income and outgoings, if customers are eligible.

In an example it says that if you had £800 in outstanding bills it could agree paying £10 on top of your normal water bill of £30 a month.

The supplier would also pay £10 a month. After two years you and the supplier would have cleared £240 each – £480 in total – and Thames Water could then wipe the remaining £320 via a final grant.

Meanwhile South West Water’s scheme, called ReStart, works in phases.

Through each phase you pay off £1 of the debt, but the amount the supplier pays climbs by 50p, from £1 up to £2.50 in phase four.

United Utilities says that it will match £1 for every £1 you pay and increase that to £2 if you continue making payments.

It comes as millions of people face far higher bills and everyday costs, including food and energy bills.

The cost of living crisis has seen inflation soar to 7% and it could go higher yet piling more pressure on people’s finances.

Nearly a quarter of adults had difficulty paying household bills last month compared to last year, new official figures show.

How to get water bill debts written off and cleared quicker with matching

If you’re struggling with your water bill you should get in touch with your supplier as soon as possible.

They can’t cut you off from the water supply, but in the worst case they could take you to court.

There are other ways they can help too, like putting you on a social tariff or installing a water meter to reduce your bills.

You can also come to an agreement with your water company to pay back the debt over time with a payment plan and some will offer matching schemes.

This will depend on where you live and each water company will have it’s own rules for matching.

You can find out who your local water supplier is using the tool on WaterUK – just enter your postcode.

Unfortunately you can’t switch water supplier like you can with other services, like broadband.

Eligibility for the scheme will depend on your supplier, but you’ll generally need to show that you can afford your ongoing water bill.

For instance Thames Water say you need to be on means-tested benefits and have at least £120 outstanding debts from previous bills among other criteria.

Wessex Water’s scheme requires that you get independent debt advice, and Severn Trent says you must have had arrears on your account for at least two years for its scheme, called Matching Plus.

If you don’t qualify for matching there could be other help your supplier can offer, like grants and bill discounts.

Water bills are considered a non-priority debt, so if you’ve fallen behind on other bills that are priority ones, like council tax, you should put those first.

A priority bill means that the consequences of not paying are more serious.

You can find out more about priority debts from the government’s Money Helper website.

More help you can get with water bills

Water companies offer a range of support to struggling households, including a cap on bills for large families and those with certain medical conditions through the WaterSure scheme.

To qualify for the scheme you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.

Bills are capped at the average amount for your supplier, so the amount you could save will vary.

The Consumer Council for Water estimates that bills are reduced by £270 on average through the scheme.

Yorkshire Water says its low income customers can save £534 per year on average using WaterSure.

Social tariffs are also an option for those on Universal Credit and you can find out more about who is eligible for both schemes and how to apply in our guide.

Moving to a water meter along could save you cash and you can check if it’s worth it using the consumer council for water’s calculator.

Many water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills.

Contact your supplier or check out savewatersavemoney.co.uk.

Freebies include shower timers and buffalo bags, which save water with every flush.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk