[Lee Clarke]

Hi all, I am hoping to get an idea on how other Councils (who are the water authority) handle debt recovery for unpaid water usage. Do you use flow restrictors, take legal action, or just send reminders. If you use restrictors or take legal action, what is the criteria. Thank you for assisting, lee

[David Grima]

Hi Lee,
WSC doesn’t use flow restrictors although I believe we did years back.
Debt recovery for sure – we go legal on arrears amounts >$600.
Dave

[Ian Clayton]

Hi Lee,

Mid-Western does restrict meters, and potentially disconnect as well.

Initially, there is the usual reminder, final notices issued, and our agent also does a field call to the property, or send a registered post letter before restriction action is considered.

If the above fails to get payment or an arrangement we restrict where there are at least 2 quarters unpaid, and the amount is over $200.

We will also take legal action after restriction, but this is fairly rare. The restriction process is pretty effective.

We will also consider disconnection of the service in extreme cases, usually where the restrictor is tampered with.

Our Debt Management and Recovery Policy sets out the framework :-
https://www.midwestern.nsw.gov.au/Council/Policies-plans-and-reporting/Policies/Debt-Management-and-Recovery-Policy

Cheers
Ian

[Cherie Muir]

Hi Lee

Shoalhaven does restrict meters … after Reminder > Final Reminder > Registered Letter > Notice of Intention to Install a Flow Restrictor (hand delivered).

Shoalhaven Water’s Debt Management Policy is prescriptive. https://doc.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/displaydoc.aspx?record=POL18/11

[Author]

Posts