Timberrrrrrrr wrote: » If a house is unmetered then they will charge a flat rate, If you refuse to pay this flat rate then you will be taken to court and a judgement will be made against you to pay. If you still refuse to pay then the sheriff will come a knocking and take possessions to the value of the money owed.
Daith wrote: » Huh? So there's no point conserving water if you are on a meter for the first six months?
aidan24326 wrote: » I haven't read the 'application pack' yet, but Gene Kerrigan writing in The Sunday Indo mentioned a section where the contract you enter into allows them to share your personal information (and pps is linked to just about everything) with unspecified third parties. Meaning just about anyone, as they please. He suggested that they're looking to use your personal details as a 'commercial asset'. Anyone come across that bit in the application?
Irish Water will also request Personal Public Service numbers (PPS numbers) from customers. This information will only be used to verify and validate that customers are entitled to any relevant water allowances and will only be shared with the Department of Social Protection for this verification purpose. Irish Water may keep the customer's data for a reasonable period after the customer ceases to be supplied with Water Services but will not keep it for any longer than is necessary and/or as required by law. Irish Water may share the customer's data with agents or third parties who act on behalf of Irish Water in connection with the activities referred to above. Such agents or third parties are only permitted to use the customer's data as instructed by Irish Water. They are also required to keep the customer's data safe and secure.
Data that we collect from you may be transferred to a destination outside the European Economic Area ("EEA"). Where this is the case, Irish Water shall be responsible for ensuring that all relevant laws are complied with to secure the data. It may also be processed by staff operating outside the EEA who works for us or for one of our suppliers. Such staff maybe engaged in, among other things, the processing of your request for information and the provision of support services. By submitting data to Irish Water, the customer agrees to this transfer or processing. Irish Water will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely.
Mrs Garth Brooks wrote: » So the interest rate is the only charge they're giving people for now. Not the cost per unit of water. Sign away guys, it'll be €1.50 per litre because that's what the shops charge for it.
Banjo String wrote: » All time consuming, and not generating Revenue for Irish Water. As previously stated, there are 16 sheriffs covering the 26 counties. Shouldn't take them long though.
Timberrrrrrrr wrote: » Yeah because it will be hard to hire more, And it will pay because there will be penalties and interest added onto the bill. A €120 bill could easily become a €1200 bill by playing that game.
iguana wrote: » They could still be capped above what some people will use once they know they are being charged. And they start charging from October 1st, which nobody I've spoken to seems to be aware of. Everyone seems to be focused on the fact that bills will be coming in January and not realising that means that the metering/billing starts from next week.
Ogham wrote: » That interest rate is on unpaid /overdue new connection charges - not on unpaid water charges - as far as I can see.
geeksauce wrote: » That's their own fault tbh, how they wouldn't be aware of this by now is beyond me.
Banjo String wrote: » I'm prepared to take that 'risk'. I don't think I'm alone either.
Daith wrote: » I was aware that billing starts in Oct but not that everyone would be charged the assessed charge for the first six months even if you have a meter.
Mrs Garth Brooks wrote: » What is the assessed charge?
Ogham wrote: » No - Metered bills will be CAPPED at the assessed charge - if your usage is lower - you will be charged less.
Timberrrrrrrr wrote: » Of course you're not alone, many naive people in this country think the same and thought the same about bin charges, LPT etc.
Banjo String wrote: » Here it is from their own website.
Irish Water will also request Personal Public Service numbers (PPS numbers) from customers. This information will only be used to verify and validate that customers are entitled to any relevant water allowances and will only be shared with the Department of Social Protection for this verification purpose. Irish Water may share the customer's data with agents or third parties who act on behalf of Irish Water in connection with the activities referred to above.
So countries with much more lax data protection laws possibly?
Naivety is giving one of the most personal and private pieces of information of not just themselves, but that of their children over unquestionably to a commercial entity, who even state in their own terms and conditions that they reserve the right to treat that info as an 'asset' , and they can give it over to 3rd parties, even outside the EEA.
Banjo String wrote: » Naivety is giving one of the most personal and private pieces of information of not just themselves, but that of their children over unquestionably to a commercial entity, who even state in their own terms and conditions that they reserve the right to treat that info as an 'asset' , and they can give it over to 3rd parties, even outside the EEA. as a poster on this very thread stated yesterday, the best way to predict future behaviour is to go by past behaviour. What were we told the lpt was for, and where did it eventually end up? You sign up. I'll choose not to.http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/490m-meant-for-local-services-diverted-to-irish-water-255608.html Naive indeed.
dxhound2005 wrote: » What do you mean there was nobody to have a contract with. What about your local authority who had charge of water supply before? This place is full of legal experts. I have no training in the law myself. Using your knowledge of contract law, can you cast your eyes over this little lot. Am I right in thinking that interest of 4.5% will be added each month on amounts outstanding to Irish Water?http://www.water.ie/docs/General-Conditions-for-a-Water-and-Wastewater-connection.pdf1.12 Payment: Payment of the Connection Charge and any other amounts agreed between Irish Water and the Customer shall be made on the due date for payment. Any overdue accounts shall be subject to an interest payment at the rate of 4.5% per month or part thereof until payment.
animaal wrote: » If the government had just given us all a flat tax/charge, we'd have had to pay it and that would be that.
We could add it to the list of existing taxes and charges, and it would at least be transparent. The government could use as much of it as they like to fix the creaky water infrastructure. And the money spent on the quango and metering installation could instead be used to cushion us from pay-per-use charges.
seamus wrote: » "That would be that"? Look at this thread, and the amount of whingers complaining that this is a stealth tax, or an illegitimate charge. Creating a flat water charge would be an even worse solution because it would mean that light users pay as much as heavy users, a wholly unfair set up. Hell, I'd protest a flat water charge because it's neither fair nor transparent. A flat charge paid into a central fund is "more transparent"? Do you even understand the meaning of the word? The fact that we know how much has been spent on these quangos and that we will pay-per-use makes this kind of water charge far more transparent. Not only do you know how much you are paying, but you also know what that money is being used for. A flat charge going anonymously into a central exchequer fund is the exact opposite of transparent.
shruikan2553 wrote: » A flat charge for water tax is what many of us are getting.
seamus wrote: » Temporarily.
seamus wrote: » "That would be that"? Look at this thread, and the amount of whingers complaining that this is a stealth tax, or an illegitimate charge. Creating a flat water charge would be an even worse solution because it would mean that light users pay as much as heavy users, a wholly unfair set up. Hell, I'd protest a flat water charge because it's neither fair nor transparent.
seamus wrote: » A flat charge paid into a central fund is "more transparent"? Do you even understand the meaning of the word?
animaal wrote: » As for fair, not all state-provided services are funded in a pay-as-you-use manner. People can have different opinions, and I think that services like health care, water, or education can be fine without a pay-as-you-go model. But I wouldn't argue over it, and I'll respect your opinion if you think different.
I think knowing how much I'll be paying next month, and every month after that is more transparent than some quango telling me that my bill will be a surprise every quarter, and the price will go up if we conserve too much.
Where the money goes afterwards doesn't affect the transparency of the charge. And even if it did, while Irish Water will (hopefully) be very open about how much they spend on maintaining infrastructure, I doubt we'll know where the rest goes.
