Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
38% of older people (65+) living on a low household income (under £15k per year) in England and 29% in Wales are either finding it a constant struggle – or a struggle from time to time – to keep up with their water bills, according to new research by Independent Age. The charity has teamed…
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Water regulator Ofwat has announce that water bills in England and Wales are set to rise by an average £94 over the next five years. The average bill increase for water and wastewater companies will be £19 a year over five years (£94 in total), excluding inflation. Companies’ business plans proposed increases averaging £144 over…
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Ofwat has announced that water companies face fines for poor customer service, which could see the regulator impose fines of up to 10% of the company’s turnover. Ofwat expects all water companies to be focused on delivering a high level of customer service – from resolving complaints to making sure customers are informed and supported…
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Average water bills are set to rise by 6% in April to around £473 annually for combined services according to suppliers’ trade body Water UK. Water UK said, was below inflation and represents a real-term reduction since 2019, however, consumer body CCW urged the sector to go further in support of households struggling to pay.…
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Millions of eligible householders are not receiving financial support that is available through their water company due to low awareness, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). The water watchdog has urged low-income households are not to miss out on financial support from their water company to help absorb the impact of looming energy…
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The annual bill for an average household in England and Wales will hit £448, industry body Water UK has said. The 7.5% increase means customers will mean that bills will rise by an average of £31 to £448 a year. It has also been announced that support for low-income households will also be increased to…
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The largest rise in the average household water and sewerage bill for almost 20 years could prove a tipping point for the one in five customers already struggling to pay. The Consumer Council for Water (CCW), the independent voice of water consumers, has issued the warning in response to Water UK confirming the average household…
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Information from Ofwat and CCW has shown that water companies are increasing financial support for their customers, with record numbers benefiting from discounted water bills. However, both organisations are calling on companies to do even more to help in the face of immediate and urgent cost of living pressures. In October 2022, Ofwat and CCW…
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Ofwat and CCW have asked water company executives to set out how they will support households struggling with affordability, particularly as inflation hits customers who would not be eligible for social tariff or other financial support mechanisms. In a joint letter to water and wastewater company CEOs, David Black, Chief Executive of Ofwat and Emma…
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Water regulator, Ofwat is calling on water companies to trial creative and targeted ways in calculating customers’ charges to help make sure those who need support can get it. In the midst of cost of living concerns, the regulator is pushing companies to think differently about how they work with customers and develop models of…
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A new white paper from industry body Water UK has highlighted the concerns around water bull affordability. The report sets out the sector’s vision for an improved water system in England by 2050. With water companies facing unprecedented challenges over the next three decades, the sector is calling for urgent action to avoid future generations…
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New research from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has found that two-thirds of complaints to water companies involve concerns over bills. CCW says that households have a right to expect clear and accurate water bills and be treated with empathy by water companies if they slip into debt. Bill concerns dominated two-thirds of the…
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