Do you have to pay Water Rates in USA?

[Herr Lipp]

out of interest. It's a bit of a joke "selling" water to people, but obviously teh pipes need to be maintained and shit and someone needs to foot the bill.

[El Loto]

Free(zing) water in Scotland!!!!

[Squirrel]

They have water rates over here in Canada, but ours are included in our rent so I have no idea how much they are. Same for heating.

[El Loto]

Scottish Gas (part of British Gas) have been increasing their rates over the past months. Now there is this fiasco with Gazprom shutting off Ukraine's gas and then Ukraine stealing gas. Everyone knows that Putin did not want Yushchenko in power due to his pro-West beliefs. It's all a big hoo-ha.

[XenonDreams]

I was talking to this guy at work, and he was claiming the novel thing about your water in the western world (he was just saying america but i assume this applies to europe and such) isn't that you can get it heated year round but that it always comes out cold in the summer. Apparently, the trick is burying pipes, which, since the ground is a pretty uniform tempature year, means water is easier to heat in the winter but also always cold in the summer. And thats kinda weird, to think about water coming from a tap warm, but apparently thats the case in the summer in most places with running water. The other weird thing is that it's apparently terribly expensive to bury pipes (and by extension, maintain them).


But yeah we pay for our water in the US. In some apartments and other places with rent it's included, but the property owner pays if nothing else. It's not terribly expensive given the benefit of running water. The only thing I can't figure out is why my mom has to pay the annual sewer fee even though we have a septic system. It's not included in the taxes, it's a seperate fee, and it doesn't make sense. I mean it would make sense if the company that comes and pumps out your septic system every three of four years included the fee (equivalent to however much waste you have) in the charges for their services. Dunno.

[vordabois]

Originally posted by Herr Lipp
out of interest. It's a bit of a joke "selling" water to people, but obviously the pipes need to be maintained and shit and someone needs to foot the bill.

In the cities, yes. Out in the rural areas, people have wells in each house, and you don't hafta pay for that of course.

In addition to paying for the maintenance, you are also paying for water treatment.

Well water sucks.

[Herr Lipp]

Wanna know an interesting fact? I used to have an elderly neighbour who was a bit of an alcoholic/drug addict and she never had any money basically. She would frequently run out of electricity to put on the meter, and even gas for the heating, but the government absolutely could not cut off her water, as it is a human right or something like that, a basic civil liberty. I dont think it was because she was old either, I'm pretty sure they can;t cut anybody off.

I 'm not a homeowner so I can;t test it out, but I might when I do own a house/flat.

And Euan: Luckily we've got our North Sea ting still going on, for a few years yet anyway. We have an electric cooker anyway!

[El Loto]

The only problem is when the North Sea runs dry. Aberdeen will go downhill then as all the oil firms will leave. I can't believe people still think Scotland could be independant. Once the oil goes the only industry we'd have would be tourism. The Ukraine vs Gazprom episode is entirely politically motivated. I can't believe the Ukraine pinched the gas. How obvious was that, although they deny it France actually said for some reason they received less gas through the pipeline on New Years Day than usual.

[Herr Lipp]

I read that there is a caluse in Ukraine's contract saying that when the temperatures fall below 3degrees C, they can take gas from the lines - Im not sure whether it has to be announced - and I imagine the reasoning behind it is that it is a privilege they can enjoy for letting Russia run its pipes through Ukraine, perhaps Ukraine people maintain the lines? I dont know its very complicated.

You know what pisses me off about the BBC news site? Their "Have Your Say" page is for the most part un-edited, which means you get the stupidest, most bias, ridiculous comments you've ever seen on their.

[ramblingrose]

Originally posted by El Loto
I can't believe people still think Scotland could be independant. Once the oil goes the only industry we'd have would be tourism.

What about crofting? Shortbread? Frying things? Honestly, you lot in the east have no idea.

[El Loto]

Originally posted by ramblingrose
What about crofting? Shortbread? Frying things? Honestly, you lot in the east have no idea.

The World's Number 1 Cleg Killing Service. Midges are bearable, clegs are a pain in the arse. In the East we have theme parks and not much else for daft people. There are castles and the countryside for us intelligent folk. Yes Scotland is the frying capital of the world. Should be called Fatland.

[ramblingrose]

Where my ancient relatives live (Irvine) the main industry appears to be claiming benefits and slapping your wains round Ethel Austin while you shoplift tights and true crime books.

[El Loto]

Originally posted by ramblingrose
Where my ancient relatives live (Irvine) the main industry appears to be claiming benefits and slapping your wains round Ethel Austin while you shoplift tights and true crime books.

That only happens in some parts of Aberdeen. I was in Somerfield shopping for work and all I heard from a blonde dolly was: "Levi far are ya? Come here Levi"

[ramblingrose]

I like it when the children have posh names, there's a woman on this road who shouts in Sophie for her tea every night like "suuuuurrrrfehhh", it sounds grand.

[El Loto]

I hate kids with daft names such as Levi or Brooklyn. Stupid parents. I like your name because i've never heard of it before.

[Fab]

Originally posted by Herr Lipp
Wanna know an interesting fact? I used to have an elderly neighbour who was a bit of an alcoholic/drug addict and she never had any money basically. She would frequently run out of electricity to put on the meter, and even gas for the heating, but the government absolutely could not cut off her water, as it is a human right or something like that, a basic civil liberty. I dont think it was because she was old either, I'm pretty sure they can;t cut anybody off. It's true, an extension of the law is if someone who needs it knocks at your door and asks for water, you're legally obliged to give them some. It's also why bars have to offer free tapwater

[vordabois]

Originally posted by Herr Lipp
Wanna know an interesting fact? I used to have an elderly neighbour who was a bit of an alcoholic/drug addict and she never had any money basically. She would frequently run out of electricity to put on the meter, and even gas for the heating, but the government absolutely could not cut off her water, as it is a human right or something like that, a basic civil liberty. I dont think it was because she was old either, I'm pretty sure they can;t cut anybody off.

I 'm not a homeowner so I can;t test it out, but I might when I do own a house/flat.

Yeah, something like that exists here. But the states are the ones that have the power in that situation, so like so many things, the laws vary from state to state.

I'm not completely sure on what Ohio's laws are in practice (because luckily, it's never been an issue for me), but I do know that the state can step in and enforce its legislation after a water company gives a person a 14-day notice. What leads up to that warning is something I'm not real sure on.

In reality, I get the feeling that the legal fight to take someone's water away (and electricity, which applies in the same manner) is a long and drawn out process. It's littered with red tape that makes it nearly impossible for the state to take such a drastic action. I've actually heard of people keeping those utilities for years after they stopped paying the fees, though those might be rumors. I've also heard that the state is very generous if a person wishes to set up a payment plan.

I think the more prevalent action is to hit a person's credit rating really bad after the incurred debt is shifted to a state-contracted collections agency. Because of the fact that our entire market is almost completely dependent upon consumer debt, many find themselves needing to pay their bill if they ever want a new credit card, a loan for a house or to buy a car (or anything else that requires financing) among many other things.

[Herr Lipp]

Hi Matt. State-to-state laws must make it hard to keep on top of USA policies as a whole (but then I guess it wouldnt really be called for), you should ask Queen Elizabeth to take you back, we wont tax you too much this time :)

On a more serious note, on the subject of consumer debt, I heard on the news that the people of the UK now owe 1 trillion pounds (1.7 trillion dollars) in debt combined. That's incomprehendible.

[ramblingrose]

Ugh, consumer debt...I often wonder if anyone ever buys anything with cash these days. I owe money on credit cards but not too much, I mean it is too much obviously since I owe it, but it doesn't keep me awake at night. I cut my cards into pieces as well so I can only use them to buy stuff off the internet.
I didn't know that you were legally obliged to supply drinks to passing folk, when I was little my mum always used to give the gypsies lemonade but I think that was a kinship thing.

[Herr Lipp]

It would be pretty hard to have someone punished for not giving you water, but to tell the truth, if someone sent me on my way when I was gasping I would definitely come back when I had had a drink and piss through the letterbox.

I want to get a credit card, I would be sensible with it though, its just a good back up if you run out of money for the month.

[ramblingrose]

Originally posted by Herr Lipp
I want to get a credit card, I would be sensible with it though, its just a good back up if you run out of money for the month.

That's how it starts, then you get tipsy and spend millions of pounds on itunes downloading g4's version of Yellow/Westlife songs etc.

[Fab]

My bank card works fine for me for buying off the internet, I'm not sure if I'm allowed an overdraft on it though but I'd rather not find out.

[Herr Lipp]

I didnt think I had an overdraft, but I went 40 pounds over the other day and didnt get charged, so I must have an automatic one because of my regular monthly pay.

[ramblingrose]

Don't make assumptions about overdrafts, mine is only meant to be £50 but last year it let me go £120 overdrawn and then they charged me £25 for the "privilege". Swines.

[Herr Lipp]

thats how they make their paper, innit.

[Barbara]

Wow, here where I live water is one of the first things they'll shut off if you don't pay your bill. They give one warning notice with the date of shut-off and then you have to pay a 20 dollar fine along with whatever amount you owed on your bill to get it turned back on. Most places here have a covered hole in the ground with a dial, where you can turn the water on and off, I've heard of people just finding the dial after their water got shut off and flipping it back on, but the water company has this thing they can put on the dial to keep it from turning if someone gets caught doing that.

My water bill is about 32 dollars a month, not bad but they don't fuck around about getting your bill paid on time. The electric and gas companies here will actually work with you a lot more on bill payments. They've got no laws against shutting off water as far as I know, but there is a law about shutting off gas service during the winter, since most houses are gas-heated.

[Herr Lipp]

that seems stupid to me. You can live without heating, and it's not a civic right, but water isnt theirs to sell. I'd look into that......

[Barbara]

the city controls the water, the water department is at the city office and so in town they can pretty much fuck you out of water anytime. I'm not sure if it works different for people living in the country outside city limits, they might get service through a different water company. I think the gas thing started because there were old senile people who never leave the house freezing to death in their houses in the winter because they forgot to pay their gas bill and/or didn't have the money to pay, they'll still shut off your gas for not paying but now you have the option to get on the low-income list and they'll hold off on billing you until the cold months are over.

[Herr Lipp]

That's a good idea. Here they have a "Winter Heating Allowance" for the old fogies.

[Barbarian Love Elephant]

hehehe this will annoy you fras,northern irish people because of how it's structured up there pay in effect lower rates for water than mainland uk

[Herr Lipp]

doesnt annoy me. they're british people that have to live near Irish people, so I pity them :D

[Barbarian Love Elephant]

What a fine example of British people eh :P with their dramatic increases in wife beatings and racist attacks and so forth

'households in Northern Ireland pay substantially less on average in local taxes and charges – we pay about £509, compared to England and Wales (£1215) and Scotland (£1158).'

come on tell me that doesnt make you go bunch of cunts!

'"Public expenditure per head of population here is by far the highest figure for any region of the UK and is 29% higher than the overall average. By comparison, Scotland is 18% higher and Wales is 11% higher.

"The fiscal deficit in Northern Ireland, the amount by which total public spending exceeds taxes and revenues collected, exceeds £5 billion a year. The revenue we raise for local public services from the domestic rating system is only half the equivalent figure for the rest of the UK. And without water charges, we are having to divert up to £300 million a year from other public services to pay for the water service.'

[Herr Lipp]

they deserve it after the way your cuntish rebels treated them for years, blowing up fish shops etc. I dont begrudge my own countrymen anything man, but it would be nice for my parents to have to pay less council tax.

[Barbarian Love Elephant]

those cuntish rebels and their supporters are usually british/irish ;)and pft don't forget the other side :P

ps. taxation rates in the uk,tell me!

[Herr Lipp]

High Tax but I dont mind paying it and I can survive and dont really earn a lot compared to the national average (like £22k or something - I'll get there one day though!). You need the Armed Forces/NHS/Pensions/Benefits (well I dont but Ill be claiming Child Benefit definitely if I have a kid) and they all have to be paid for from somewhere.

Britain looks after a lot of people man, all moans aside. Theres a reason people wanna come here. And did you know 300 languages are spoken in London? Well now you do!