renationalize water services

[meursault22]

With the recent aggressive and predatory behaviour of privatized water companies in which they are profiting by abusing legal loopholes to seize homes etc... renationalization is overdue. Anyone have any ideas on how to campaign? I'll be starting a petition on the No 10 Downing Street website when it's back up and running in a week.
What else can be done? Force them into bankruptcy, Leave your taps running 24/7 ? Don't pay your bill if you live in rented accommodation? Any ideas? At least some of these companies are harassing and abusing their customers and need to be brought to task. At the moment, there is no process in place to do this and they are getting away with all sorts of unacceptable behaviour.

Turns out there is already a relevant petition here

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/waterutility/#detail

[Steward]

You can use Google to search the web using these links below:-

[old_andrew2007]

What if anything will nationalisation of the water industry change how will this benefit consumers.

Andy

[meursault22]

I would have thought this is obvious. It would stop consumers being held to ransom by large untouchable international companies who have a monopoly over water services. These companies sit in the grey area between statutory charges and a goods/services contract and pick and choose laws between the two to suit themselves. Renationalization would also stop profit from being the driving force for water supply. England and Wales are the only countries worldwide where the government does not have a controlling share over water supply.
At least with water under governmental control, we would have a vote whereas at the moment, we have no say at all about the companies with total control over our most precious comodity.

[old_andrew2007]

Too move to a government monopoly, I dont think so, what about beefing up regulatory powers instead. Then there is the NRA what would happen here.
andy

[meursault22]

Well something has to be done. At the moment, it's tantamount to private taxation but with the stronger punitive powers of a goods/services contract and to top it off, it's just about completely self regulated. How would it be, if suddently food were only available from one private company?

Where I'm coming from on this issue is that private water companies are repossessing homes based solely on their own judgement, and that is just completely wrong and open to abuse. Yes, it has to go through court, but an individual is no match to such a large multinational company.

NRA?

[old_andrew2007]

Any action taken by a company would require a court order, sorry you have totally lost me when you talk about repossession of homes. I cant see what nationalisation water supply and treatment services has to do with this.

Andy

[meursault22]

At least one of the private water companies are repossessing homes by use of charging orders and orders of sale. I know because it's happenning to me and just being in court, I have come across quite a few more. This is very profitable for the water company involved and would not be hapenning if water were still a government concern. It would be interesting to see how many properties were taken in this way pre-privatization; I'm betting none!

Yes, court orders are required, but it's a sad fact that if you can afford the most cunning solicitors, as a large company can, you are at a strong advantage. The judge cannot possibly know all the background, and it's very easy for things to get swept along.

So, why are you so pro-privatization of water? So far I've not heard any good arguments but only criticism of mine.

[meursault22]

Too move to a government monopoly, I dont think so,

"I don't think so" doesn't strike me as an argument that holds much water!

[old_andrew2007]

Hi I like the pun about holding water, lets be clear the water industry will not be nationalised, even if it were it only water supply and treatment services would enter government control.
Their land and property holdoings would most likely be placed under control of a new company.
NRA = national rivers authority, you've not stated if its all water compnies you have an issue with or just one.

Andy