Domestic complaints for water customers watchdogs have reached nine years high after the highest number of bills have increased since privatization of the industry.
Consumer Council for Water (CCW) complained to domestic customers England And Wales The third consecutive year, from 7,977 to three percent in 2023-24, the number of most complaints in about a decade.
Increase in complaints The total number of complaints made directly to water companies declined despite a decline of eight percent – from 222,956 to 205,853.
Customers should give their water company two opportunities to solve one issue, after which they can increase it to CCW for review.
CCW Nominated Temes WaterThis is based on last year’s complaints as the poorest performance firms in the form of Yorkshire Water, South West Water, Affinity Water and SES Water.
However, Wessex Water, Partsmouth Water and Bristol Water placed the top of the ranking.
Billing is responsible for most complaints in problems, in which 63 percent of complaints made to water companies have been represented and 66 percent of people have increased to CCW.
Complaints about the scale of the bill in those recorded with CCW increased by 138 percent, while the number of people said that they could not increase high allegations by 39 percent.
Spikes followed the largest single-year growth in domestic water allegations since privatization, declared in January, which increased the average domestic water and sewerage bill to more than £ 600 £ 600 by more than £ 600.
However, the houses have become particularly difficult since April, which increases the small percentage in each of the next four years, with an average increase of £ 86 or 20 percent front-loaded in the coming year.
Factoring in inflation, which is added to bills each year, an increase of 2025–26 in the average bill is £ 123, or 26 percent.
In turn, the region has promised a record five -year package of investment to improve services and clean rivers, streams and seas.
CCW reported significant increase in complaints about poor experiences with smart meter installation – up to 48 percent in the previous year.
While the complaints handled by CCW about environmental issues fell 31 percent, they remained above the previous levels, which continued to rage on pollution due to the overflow of the storm.
“Although it is encouraging water companies to look at the complaints of falling, more houses have been transformed into houses to help in more houses than any point in the last nine years, CCW CEO said Mike Kail.
“Bill is a top concern for homes, and we can see that the unprecedented price growth of April is already harming many people.
“Clear communication from companies can help many of these complaints to understand how their money is being spent and if they are struggling then what support is available.
“Seeing it is believing: If people are paying more for their water, they need to see the real improvement in the services they receive.”
A Water UK spokesperson, who represents firms, said: “The decline in complaints, in which 8 percent of the overall decrease of 8 percent, the first attempt in the first attempt and 31 percent less pollution related matters, companies are progressing to customers.
“This year enhancement for the consumer council for water reflects concerns with high bills, which are necessary to secure our water supply, enter our rivers and seas and support economic growth.
“We understand that the increase in the bill welcomes anytime and believes that they are difficult for many homes. That is why water companies are more than doubling the available help, with £ 4.1 billion in financial assistance in the next five years.
“Industry is committed to improving communication with customers and showing clearly that their money is being used to give improvements that they expect.”
Latest complaints follow data regulator Fear Stating that the UK water firms will have to pay more than £ 86 million on the failures associated with the spread of waste water.
In maintaining the overflow of the storm, Vitwett by Anglian Water and South West Water said and their sewage networks were “unacceptable”.