Supporting customers in vulnerable circumstances
Research we commissioned shows that there has been a big increase in support for water customers who are potentially in circumstances that make them vulnerable, yet the sector still has a long way to go to meet customers’ needs.
To accompany the report, we created a practitioners’ pack which consolidates the research, advice and resources gained throughout the course of the research conducted for our vulnerability focus report. The aim of this pack is to help companies to:
- define their starting point when it comes to working with customers in circumstances that make them vulnerable;
- identify the key areas to focus on; provide examples of what good looks like when it comes to dealing with specific customer needs; and
- provide examples of practices that water companies have found useful in assisting their customers who have found themselves in circumstances that make them vulnerable.
Supporting customers that need special assistance
Water companies are required to maintain a register of customers that need special assistance to access services – particularly in emergencies.
Every company is aiming to have at least 7% of customers on their priority services register by 2025. Some companies also have specific service promises (‘performance commitments’) in how they treat customers in vulnerable circumstances.
Our work to protect consumers
We carry out a range of work to protect residential consumers in England and Wales.
This includes developing a new licence condition for water companies to focus on their customers.
Find out more about our consumer policy work.