If you have a complaint, you should first contact your water company. This gives them the chance to put things right. It also ensures that the company is aware of the problem you are experiencing. Details of how to contact your company are shown on the back of your bill or you can find your companies’ contact details here.
Your company should deal with your complaint using its complaints procedure. This explains the process the company will follow in handling your complaint. You can ask your company for a free copy of its complaints procedure.
Our expectation of water companies
We expect water companies to own the relationships with their customers. We consider that the companies are best placed to deal with complaints as and when they arise, being the front line providers of the water and sewerage service. We see our intervention only as a matter of last resort and only being necessary where parties fail to achieve a resolution themselves.
If you are not satisfied with your company’s response
If you are not satisfied with the initial response from the company’s staff, you should tell the company and ask for it to be escalated to someone more senior in the company who has not previously been involved with your complaint.
Ask the Consumer Council for Water to investigate
If you are still not happy with the response you get from the company you can ask the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) to investigate. Its services are free. For more information on CCWater, its website is at http:/www.ccw.org.uk
CCWater is the statutory body that represents the interests of customers in the water sector. It is independent of the water companies, and of Ofwat. Its role is to make sure customers receive a good level of service from their water company, to offer advice and where appropriate to intervene on customers’ behalf. CCWater can help customers with their water companies’ complaints procedure or formally investigate when matters remain unresolved, after the company has had a reasonable chance to deal with any concerns.
You will need to tell CCWater why you are not happy with the company’s response and how you want the matter resolved. If possible, send CCWater copies of any correspondence relating to your complaint.
CCWater will not normally deal with your complaint until the water company has first had an opportunity to resolve it.
You can contact CCWater by calling them on 0300 034 2222 (for English Customers), 0300 034 3333 (for Welsh Customers) or by writing to them at:
23 Stephenson Street
Birmingham
B2 4BH
Email: [email protected]
Following consultation with us, CCWater will advise you if your complaint is one that should be formally referred to us for resolution.
Refer your complaint for independent dispute resolution
If it has not been possible to find a resolution, you may be eligible to ask an adjudicator to make a final, binding decision. // There are different adjudication providers in the water industry and the one who would make a decision on your complaint depends on who supplies your service. Your Advisor at CCW will discuss this with you, including what you need to do, the level of support we can offer you and your likelihood of the adjudication outcome finding in your favour.