Do you want to be able to choose your water company?

RobDewar

Yes yes yes! I'm so sick of my water company. They don't provide paperless billing which is so wasteful (and send my bill 3 times by post every time it's due!)

They don't offer discount for direct debit like energy companies do. I asked them what the benefit was of me having a direct debit with them and they couldn't offer an answer so I cancelled it.

They seem completely unable to request a reading, send a bill and let me pay it without some sort of 'system issue' or complication.

Their customer service is really poor. What are my options? Not a lot. Would really like the option to vote with my feet and find a better supplier who will do a better job with more competition.

stmartinsdiver

This question is akin to asking if we would prefer to buy our groceries at Tesco but pay the bill to Waitrose - Asda if they're cheaper of course!
Same pipes, same water same reservoir - where is the logic in all this?
All UK utility companies should either be state-owned or owned by UK companies obliged to work to the same standards and charge the same rate for the product be it gas, water or electricity.

Smodlet

stmartinsdiver wrote: »

This question is akin to asking if we would prefer to buy our groceries at Tesco but pay the bill to Waitrose - Asda if they're cheaper of course!
Same pipes, same water same reservoir - where is the logic in all this?
All UK utility companies should either be state-owned or owned by UK companies obliged to work to the same standards and charge the same rate for the product be it gas, water or electricity.

Absolutely, so long as they are heavily regulated and fat cats' salaries are capped. Unfortunately, not only will this never happen, all this BS about "bundled solutions" is going to happen, whether we like it or not. I really don't know why Ofwat even bothered to ask what we think as it will make all the difference it usually does, i.e. none.

allan2006

this sounds like an awful idea.

All this hassle to save a minimal amount, and the the water companies will be spending large sums advertising to win customers back.

The regulator should just regulate the prices...
more choice doesn't always mean better prices or better service.

gatita

I would just LOVE to be able to change water company, South West Waters charges are absolutely OUTRAGEOUS.

I was away for 3 months, and was presented with a bill of £56......for WHAT? meter hadn't moved. I was informed it was for "standing Charges!". How DARE they. So, in answer to the question, you bet I would change companies in a heartbeat!

matelodave

You'd still have standing charges but from a different company - there's no reason to believe that they be less, possibly even more by the time everyone has passed the costs about.

And what about problems, I can't see Anglian or any one else sending a bloke down to the Southwest to sort out a problem.

It would be much like it is with broadband, it's the local company who onw the pipes & reservoirs, so it's them that will decide the prices that they'll charge the "service provider" who'll just pass it on.

Similar to Open Reach who own the cabling and ducting and who do the maintenance for the broadband service providers.

badmemory

How are they going to pay for all the extra customer service people? If they say it will be from economies they will make, then why don't they make them now and bring the bills down now & save us all the bother of having to change suppliers.

footyguy

badmemory wrote: »

How are they going to pay for all the extra customer service people? If they say it will be from economies they will make, then why don't they make them now and bring the bills down now & save us all the bother of having to change suppliers.

What extra customer service people?

A company would only need extra company service people if they have a larger customer base (and even then that is not necessarily the case). If a company gains extra customers, it must be at the expense of an alternative company or companys.

Your argument is akin to asking 50 years ago how the big supermarket chains ever thought they could underprice the local corner shop :cool:

ztxgpsman

I live in what I think is the UK's most expensive water area (South West Water), I don't use a lot but pay per month what friends in other parts of the UK pay per 6 months.

The ability to switch suppliers would be valuable, particularly for those on lower pay, plus would 'incentivise' suppliers to stop leaks and to provide a better service.

I think the model of the gas industry where the infrastructure and service providers are separate and one can change the service provider as desired.

Thanks

Cameron1590_2

Im all for a bit of market competition, at the moment if you have a disagreement with the water company then tuff! You have to get on with it, perhaps the water companies would act on leaks and customer complaints if they had more competition!

I would like to see some of the huge profits reduced!!!! Abolish the surface water charge while your at it!