World News
Water company offers help to householders in debt
5:50pm Monday 13th February 2012
HOUSEHOLDERS struggling with debt are being urged by their water company to seek help.
United Utilities funds an independant charitable trust to help customers in extreme financial difficulties.
The fund, set up in 2003, has so far helped 25,000 families by wiping clean their outstanding water bill debts and getting them back on track with regular affordable payments.
Iain Pilling of United Utilities, who is responsible for the trust fund, said: "Debt is a nightmare problem for many households, and it can lead to a vicious circle of mounting bills.
"We set up the charitable trust to help those who find themselves in genuine hardship, often through circumstances beyond their control like bereavement or redundancy.
"Tackling the problem is always the first step, and people can discuss the issue either direct with us, or with their local Citizens Advice Bureau."
Any United Utilities customer who has genuine financial problems, including outstanding water bill arrears, is eligible to apply for a grant.
Typically this will include clearing some or all of an outstanding water bill and setting up an easy payment scheme for the future.
For more details, call the trust fund on 0845 746 2034 .
