Yorkshire Water offers advice after surge in calls on Frozen Pipes

YORKSHIRE WATER has seen a huge surge in customer calls asking for advice about frozen pipes over the weekend.

In the 24 hours from Saturday 18th December morning through to Sunday 19th December morning, the company has received approximately 700 customer calls – a two fold increase on normal levels. With sub-zero temperatures forecast across the region for the foreseeable future, the company has almost doubled its call centre staff to field the increase in calls coming in from customers and get the right help and advice out to those who need it.

It has also assembled a team of volunteers to manage the impact of frozen pipes on any vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and people who require water for medication, and ensure that if required, bottled water reaches them wherever possible.

Pat Hargreaves, Yorkshire Water’s customer experience manager, comments: "We've seen a huge increase in calls coming in from customers about frozen pipes in the last 24 hours and we’re working really hard to help them by getting advice to them about how they can thaw any frozen pipes and make sure they’re well protected from the elements.

“There are a few simple measures any customer who is suffering from a frozen pipe can take to hopefully resolve the problem. We’re advising customers to apply a gentle heat to any frozen pipes, using a hairdryer or similar heat appliance to carefully direct the heat to where it is needed, thawing the pipe at the end nearest the tap first. It’s important a gentle heat is used and it’s applied gradually, rather than a sharp extreme burst which could result in the pipe bursting. We’re also stressing to customers that a naked flame should never be used to thaw pipes.”

For further information and an audio guide on what to do if you have a frozen pipe and how to protect your pipes this winter, visit yorkshirewater.com/frost.

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Benefits - Senior Citizens Urged to Contact Council

EAST RIDING COUNCIL’s pensioner benefit help team (part of the Benefit and Money Advice Service) is urging senior citizens who pay council tax to contact them. The team provides a home visiting service for customers aged 60 or over to help them claim council tax/housing benefit and other welfare benefits.

The pensioner benefit help team has since 2006 helped over 2,500 pensioners claim more than £5 million in benefits. If you pay council tax and either receive Pension Credit Guaranteed Credit or have savings or investments that are worth less than £16,000, and are resident in East Riding, then you should call the pensioner benefit help team.

Those with savings of more than £16,000 would not qualify for council tax/housing benefit but may still be entitled to Pension Credit or one of a range of benefits and entitlements designed to help older people

£1.8 billion of council tax benefit goes unclaimed each year

In these difficult times, everyone is feeling the strain of rising prices and household bills and the team is urging pensioners to check they are receiving all benefits to which they are entitled. Government estimates suggest nationally that £1.8 billion of council tax benefit goes unclaimed each year. The Commission for Rural Communities has further suggested that a culture of self–reliance tends to exist amongst older people living in more rural communities, resulting in lower take–up of benefits, and delays in seeking the help that they are entitled to.

People can contact the Benefit and Money Advice Service free on telephone 0800 91 50 381. You won’t have any complicated forms to fill in and the team will visit you in your own home.

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