Homeowners with high water bills in Northern Ireland could be driven into the arms of loan sharks, an Assembly committee heard today.
Advice Northern Ireland said they were concerned that many low-income households were teetering on the edge of crisis with impending bills.
Policy officer Kevin Higgins testified that some could face mandatory payments from their wages if they fell into debt.
During a Regional Development committee meeting at Stormont, North Antrim SDLP member John Dallat said some private lenders 'are like leeches, descending on working-class households charging exorbitant rates and pressuring people to take more money.'
The committee is carrying out an inquiry into water rates which will influence the broader review ordered by minister Conor Murphy.
Advice NI is seeking assurances from private collection agency Crystal Alliance about what tactics it will use to recover debt.
A possibility is court action to seize homes and possessions or even an order to make repayments directly out of pay packets.
Some people could be facing rates of 40-60%, according to Cathal Boylan, an Assemblymember from Newry Armagh.
The Consumer Council published a report today about water privatisation in the North.
It found that 92% of people do not support the privatisation of water and sewerage services - and believe that water should not be bought and sold for profit.
