Our five year business planPayment terms
Non-household accounts encompass different property types and payment terms are applied according to the property type. They are defined as follows:
|
Type A |
Agricultural |
|
Types M, R and S |
Mixed Use (pubs, restaurants etc with accommodation attached), Retirement Homes, Hostels, Student accommodation, Hospital accommodation |
|
Type C |
Sole Business use |
Type A
All bills are issued on 14 day terms. Non-payment may result in disconnection of supply and will incur further charges.
Type M, R and S
All bills are issued on 30 day terms and non-payment may result in further action being taken as follows:
First Reminder (one day overdue)
Second Reminder (seven days overdue)
Personal Contact
If abill is not paid in accordance with the terms of the supply, we will telephone the customer at any stage. Following the issue of a second reminder we will visit them at their premises. The object of this contact is to:
• Provide advice on payment generally by helping the customer complete a income & expenditure form
• Find out why payment has not been made
• Collect all money, some money, or agree a repayment plan
• Discuss options for independent advice (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau)
• Collect relevant information which may enable us to arrange for payments to be deducted from income support
• Find out if the customer is eligible for special tariffs, or ought to have a meter installed to reduce the size of their bills
We will also provide an information pack for customers covering the issues above.
Account Review (14 days overdue)
If we do not receive payment or a promise to pay as a result of our actions we may pass the account to a Debt Collection Company. As a consequence of their activity they may proceed with further legal action as detailed below.
Type C
All bills are issued on 30 day terms. Non payment will result in disconnection of supply. Supply will only be reconnected on full settlement of outstanding bills and any additional charges and/or interest applied to the account.
Legal action
County Court Claim
If no payment is made, we may ask the county court to order payment. They will issue a Court Claim.
County Court Judgment
If we receive the court judgment, and no payment/arrangement to pay is made further legal action will take place. A County Court judgement, if issued, will result in an entry being made in the court register and any future applications for credit may be refused because of this.
1) Warrant of Execution
The Bailiff of the Court is instructed to levy on goods belonging to the customer in order to satisfy the Judgment. After instruction, the Bailiff writes to the customer giving details of the warrant of execution and endeavours to obtain payment before visiting. During the visit, it is still possible for payment to be made in full, to apply or to pay by instalments. If an initial payment is made (the amount varies depending on the size of the claim) and an arrangement is agreed, we will suspend the warrant until final payment has been received unless the arrangement is not kept up-to-date.
2) Attachment of Earnings Order
We may apply to the court for an Order to be made to the customer's employers to deduct an amount each week/month to settle the Judgement. The court initially sends the form, to the debtor. If the debtor can afford it after his protected earnings rate is calculated, a Suspended Order is made. As long as the payments outlined in the Order are kept up-to-date, the Order will not be forwarded to the employers. If payment is not kept up, the Order will go to the employers and deductions made at source.
3) Third Party Debt Order
An application is made to the court for an Order to be made to have funds deducted from the customer's bank account or similar source. This involves a hearing before the District Judge.
Disconnection of supplies
Cambridge Water will not disconnect supplies for non-payment of water bills, to certain types of property, as defined by Water Industry Act 1999.
Properties that are protected from disconnection are:
• Private dwelling houses, caravans, houseboats, houses in multiple occupation and sheltered accommodation
• Children's homes, residential care homes
• Prisons and detention centres
• Schools, premises used for children's day care, institutions of further and higher education
• Hospitals, nursing homes, GPs and dentists; surgeries and premises occupied by the emergency services
Other properties will be disconnected for non-payment of bills. Full details of the process involved in disconnection are included in Cambridge Water's Code of Practice.
