1⃣ Tell your water company as soon as possible
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Every water company in England and Wales must have a “customer support” or “affordability” policy, approved by Ofwat and monitored by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). If you tell your supplier you’re struggling, they’re required to:
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Discuss payment options with you,
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Avoid disconnecting your water supply (this is illegal for domestic customers), and
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Offer access to discounts, payment plans, or special tariffs depending on your circumstances.
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Even if you’ve already missed a payment, suppliers will usually freeze debt recovery while they assess your situation.
2⃣ Special tariffs and discounts
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Most companies offer at least one low-income support scheme or “social tariff.” These…