Trust fund offers debt help

Householders having New Year nightmares about debt are being encouraged by their water company to seek help.

United Utilities funds an independent charitable trust to help customers in extreme financial difficulties to get back on their feet.

The fund, set up in 2003, has so far helped some 25,000 families by wiping clean their outstanding water bill debts and getting them back on track with regular affordable payments.

Iain Pilling of United Utilities, who is responsible for the Trust Fund, urged people who are suffering in silence to contact the company. He explained: "Debt is a nightmare problem for many households, and it can lead to a vicious circle of mounting bills.

"We set up the charitable trust to help those who find themselves in genuine hardship, often through circumstances beyond their control like bereavement or redundancy.

"Tackling the problem is always the first step, and people can discuss the issue either direct with us, or with their local Citizens Advice Bureau if they prefer."

Any United Utilities customer in the North West who has genuine financial problems, including outstanding water bill arrears, is eligible to apply to the Trust and applicants go through a financial assessment procedure as part of the grants process.

The grant varies from applicant to applicant and the amount of debt they owe. Typically this will include clearing some or all of an outstanding water bill and setting up an easy payment scheme for the future.

To contact United Utilities for more information about grants from the Trust Fund, call 0845 746 2034.