AIBU to be totally fed up by my water company

[nottatroll]

This is probably more of a rant than an AIBU. However, has anyone else experienced a significant rise in their water bill, that is not explained by higher usage; been annoyed that there is no other water provider to move to, and been upset that the company in question is responsible for significant water pollution issues in their local area?

I have tried (and failed) to resolve the bill related issues without losing my temper (albeit slightly).

They're all terrible and it's a service that should be nationalised.

You should make a formal complaint to your water company and then you can refer it to the CCW (Consumer Council for Water), which should help get the complaint resolved.

Thank you. The validation of my opinions has made me feel much better. I will start to draft a formal complaint.

Theres a whole movement going on where folk are refusing to pay the wastewater portion of their water bill in protest of all the sewage in local waterways etc

I don't want to name the company, but rivers and waterways in our area were polluted for 500,000 hours in 2023, and the company blamed the rain. However, it was its poorly maintained hydraulics and poorly managed assets that were really at fault.

If they could guarantee that the extra £20 per month they are charging me would be invested in stopping the pollution, I might be willing to pay, as a charitable donation. However I suspect this will not be the case especially if they have to pay large fines for mishandling of wastewater and underreporting pollution incidents.

@Lifeislikeaboxofmatches sorry, I cross posted. Thank you. I will look this up.

It reveals the nonsense of the privatisations, doesn’t it? “Private companies have to compete, therefore prices are lower.” Company B charges less than Company A, but you’re allowed to use only Company A.

Similarly “I prefer Pennine Express to Virgin, so I’ll go to Sheffield instead of Birmingham where my meeting is”.