A Russian city wrests overdue debts blocking sewage

Newsru.com (in Russian) ^ | October, 20, 2011

[Freelance Warrior]

A campaign for collecting overdue utility payments has started in a Russian city of Yekaterinburg. A city dweller having 4-years long overdue bills was chosen as a guinea pig for an experiment in using a sewage-blocking system "Sproot" ("Octopus"). That person had been holding out for 5 days before he gave in and paid all his debt, the city's utility company's "Oblcommunenergo" PR department said.

This action for collecting 235 000 roubles debt ($7580) started on October, 14. The sewage tube to the apartment No 52, Old Boshevicks Street was blocked with that device. They also planned to block sewage for another negligent debtor with 80 000 overdue debt. His electricity supply had been cut for 5 times, but of no effect. Having received the notice the deadbeat paid 60 000 roubles at once.

The Sproot functions in this way: at first, a probe is inserted inside a sewage system through a vent hole to test the whole system for leakage. They go on if only no leakage found. Otherwise they push a blocking pad inside the debtor's tube using a clutchpencil-like tool. The pad allows water to flow inside the system, but the more thich substance is stuck in the tube. After the case is settled the former debtor can use his loo again.

The system is designed and patented in Russia and is been used in several provinces: Novgorodskaya, Nizhegorodskaya, Yakootia, cities of Moscow, Perm and St.Petersburg. The single foreign user is Ukraine.

"Oblcommunenergo" says that 10-15% of the customers have overdue bills.

[agere_contra]

Russian debt-collection agencies don’t take any cr*p.

[flaglady47]

My what a clever (and obviously very effective) idea. Hats off (along with the plumbing off) to the Russians.