Great Western Coffee Shop

I was sad enough to work out the percentage increase of my water bill last night - 7.8%, yet another year of inflation breaking rises.  This lead to me have a sad look at my outgoings and it's clear that I am probably worse off now than I was a few years ago (thanks Blair, Brown, etc).  I started thinking about which bill I wouldn't pay first if it came down to it and I remember someone telling me that the water companies couldn't legally cut you off, is this true?

Well we are simply paying for the tourists who ruin our beaches every year.

Yes, it is, BUT, you will be taken to court for non-payment, and have a CCJ against you, which will stop you getting credit cards/mortgage/loans, as well as being unlikely to be accepted for a lot of public sector job vacancies.

I agree though, that SWW bills are a joke - there should be a national water grid (after all, we are not short of rain in the SW are we!). if it is any consolation mine increased by 8.7% this year, as I do not  have a water meter. Mine is now ^657 p.a. (only a terraced house!). My parents, who live in a much bigger house in Gloucestershire 'only' pay ^378 p.a.

I'm not sure that pointing out that water bills in Glos are a lot cheaper is saying much after last summer. Either they had it up to the window ledges, or they didn't have any at all. 

Fair point John! Though my parents (luckily) did escape both.

I'm very glad to hear it!