problem with utilities?

[devonwoody]

I have been having aggro with my local water supplier S.W.Water. YOu hang on to their 0345 number waiting for an agent and then they take ages to sort something out keeping you hanging on. (it was worse when it was an 0845 number)

Anyway I found how to get them to telephone me, tout suite. I altered my standing order to a payment of 1p. yes one penny.

They telephoned the day after the standing order date and said they would make out a cheque to me for £125 refund which I have been arguing with them for months.

So standing orders not direct debits are the way to go, you can change and then they ask you why. :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I did read somewhere that the time is coming that we can choose our supplier as with gas and electricity. If this is true, I can't see anyone at all staying with SWW - they're twice the price of everyone else.

 

[Adam9453]

if the water market is deregulated, I wouldn't be surprised if prices become as much of a lottery as gas and electric prices.
Because gas and electric prices are fundamentally driven by the wholesale oil price (which is controlled by the wealthy oil owners) its ridiculous how the prices fluctuate. The effect is extremely insulated against the domestic user as the big suppliers buy the energy in such vast volumes that you don't see the volatility. However large business consuming vast amounts of gas or electric will all know the woes of commercially utility cost volatility.

You could change your water supplier now but the cost of running the water pipes from your chosen supplier to your house could be a little pricey!! :twisted:

 

[Paul200]

I'll put Scottish Water up against SWW any day. They are truly the most appallingly run company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. And we've only just started dealing with them! I won't bore you with the details but it involved a new connection 70 metres from our house and has probably cost in the region of £3k (no invoice from the main contractor yet). So if the industry is deregulated I for one won't be shopping around too quickly - despite Scottish Water's shortcomings!

Interesting about the Standing Order though. I've cancelled DD's before to get big business to take notice but that option could backfire if you're not careful.

Cheers

Paul

 

[devonwoody]

Ah yes Paul, but things are so bad down here even the Government is giving us £50 back each year :wink:

 

[Lons]

Great to see you got a result DW.

The other approach is to look on the website http://www.ceoemail.com/ and find the CEO / MD who you then email direct. You can also often get a landline number if prefered instead of premium rate.

Has worked a number of times for me including BT and British Airways

 

[Paul200]

Ah yes Paul, but things are so bad down here even the Government is giving us £50 back each year :wink:

OK - that is bad :shock:

 

[RogerS]

Welsh Water. Excellent company, reasonable prices and very good customer service.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

So they should be reasonably priced - Wales is wet. Oh ... hang on a minute ... so's Cornwall...

 

[devonwoody]

It's having a long coastline in the south west and EU regulations , whereas many other regions have not had our expense perhaps.