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I'm currently on JSA and already have my income squeezed via gas and electricity (pre-payment meters) and council tax deductions from my benefits. Water bills are not a "priority debt" as I understand it, although they can still threaten court action etc. I've tried talking to them before and the woman on the phone wanted ridiculous levels of weekly payment - £6 a week, plus another £6 a week on top to clear arrears. This is ridiculous and leaves me with about £30 a week for food with all the other deductions going on. I've had major problems with my diabetes lately but seem to be on the mend again and I'm trying my hardest to find work, as what little is left of my savings has been depleted, but you all know the state of the job market.
Now surely the whole point of making an offer is that you make an offer that you can actually afford, isn't it? I think the very best I can offer is £5 a month, which they have point blank refused. So we seem to be in deadlock. Their latest threatogram gives a deadline of tomorrow before they "may" start legal proceedings, which they say will automatically result in court costs being added. But surely if I've made a reasonable offer, then the courts would waive the costs if they find the water company have been unreasonable?
Now surely the whole point of making an offer is that you make an offer that you can actually afford, isn't it? I think the very best I can offer is £5 a month, which they have point blank refused. So we seem to be in deadlock. Their latest threatogram gives a deadline of tomorrow before they "may" start legal proceedings, which they say will automatically result in court costs being added. But surely if I've made a reasonable offer, then the courts would waive the costs if they find the water company have been unreasonable?
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