Yorkshire Water unveils protection from debt collectors for struggling households

Yorkshire Water has unveiled plans to cover 60 days of water charges for its customers who are struggling to pay their water bills. Under the scheme they will halt action to pursue debt and freeze all charges from the company during the debt respite period.

Customer watchdog, CCW said Yorkshire’s move “Sends a clear message [to customers] that their water company is on their side”.

The move falls under the government’s Debt Respite scheme (Breathing Space) introduced in 2020 to give time to all consumers in debt to engage with debt support. It It gives them “legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days. The protections include pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors and freezing most interest and charges on their debts.”

Yorkshire Water said its announcement is among a series of measures to help its customers who may be struggling with the current cost of living increase, including a £15m package funded by its shareholders.