Office of Water Services (Ofwat) Reviews 83

Horrendous experience, a totally usless Ombudsman that is powerless and useless, they are ineffective and have been designed to be so, like having an old toothles chihuaha guard dog to protect you

They are poweless and restricted in what they can and cannot do

Nearly a year ago, we were promised a powerful new regulator to replace Ofwat.

This is yet to materialise, and water bosses are still pocketing millions while infrastructure crumbles and nearly two million hours of sewage has been dumped into our waterways in a single year.

According to Ofwat's website it states that its duties include "to secure that they [the water companies] take steps to enable them, in the long term, to meet the need for water supplies and wastewater services."
This, I would have thought. requires Ofwat to be proactive. Currently there us a water leak in a water supply pipe in a road between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth within a 100 metres a Severn Trent Water sewerage plant. The leak has been going on for over a week but nothing has been done repair the broken pipe. And what is galling is that the water bills have gone up by more than 40% since the beginning of February last year.
What is Ofwat doing?

What is the point of Ofwat?
They stand idly by whilst water companies shovel our money to shareholders and CEO bonuses, while the infrastructure crumbles.
Then allow bills to rise above inflation to sort the mess out.
My bill has risen steeply, and in that time I've been threatened with fines if I dare use my hose during a ban.
I now pay a lot more, for a lot less.
Thanks for that. Absolute joke, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Ofwat seems to give water companies a free hand to do exactly what they want and is of little benefit to the paying customers

is there any point in this inept organization that cannot even act? or investigate serious complaints ?

I whistle blew the CEO past and present in respect of a case where as disabled pensioner I had been bullied and threatened by a water company. that company sent a bill clearly inaccurate of in excess of £2000.00 . I complained. Threaten with engineers visit and if I did not agree , they would enforce access. despite the fact I was vacating that flat in a week or so . Worse bailiffs threatened. I complained on numerous occasions to the CEO by email eventually CEO responded , weeks later to waybill in correct , error account in credit for in excess of£80.00. despite requesting my money back. refused . ofwat from the CEO downwards done nothing despite the law. is this not their job?Not once has the CEO or any of the directors ever replied. this is disgraceful at every level

Irrelevant.
The concept of *doing* anything, e.g. take action against a water company, seems to be foreign to Ofwat. I am baffled as to what purpose the organisation serve(d). I understand it is to be replaced with an integrated single regulator. We can only hope that the replacement will perform better or even perform at all. I am not confident, particularly if the same senior staff are re-employed.

Can someone please tell me the point of Ofwat?? There is no regulation, they have no interest in the consumer and I imagine for most senior staff it's just a stepping stone to get a job paying far more with the useless water companies who we have no choice but to sign up with. There is no point in trying to take up any sort of complaint with them, they have no interest.

The very worst regulator, incompetence at the highest level. Cannot be relied on to manage a cup of tea.

No element of reasonableness regarding swimming in sewage and complaining to the worthless water companies regarding public nuisance of which Ofwat is blasé about. Apparently Ofwat allows CEO's of water companies to not respond to reasonable emails especially to SW!

What use are regulators when they don't prevent pollution?
What use are regulators when they don't work for the consumer ?
What use are regulators when they allow industry to hike prices to pay for infrastructure that these monopoly industries should have been investing in from day one not running up massive debts to pay shareholder dividends and huge bonuses to incompetent CEO's, Board Members and Managers /

My tap water comes out brownish. Left in glass to stand it separates with brown solution dropping to the bottom. I have just thrown away that water so cannot send you up-to-date photo. I will never drink tap water again and buy large bottles fresh water to drink, make coffee and tea, etc. I wont even use it for cooking - like potatoes or cabbage etc. i did not expect to be buying water at 86 years old!! Time of run down UK?

Are Ofwat corrupt, masquerading as a regulated body? Consider this, Ofwat generate huge profits in what can only be described as the "Great Water scam". When they are forced to take action against water companies, such as Severn Trent Water, for unashamedly poisoning the public and our environment, these criminal water companies are fined. And, here's the real and ultimate insult, the water companies pay the fine by making the victims pay it. Yep, that's right. They poison us and your children, causing deformities, terminal illness, disabilities and perhaps premature deaths and Ofcom literally tell them, "Put the prices up and make the public pay the fine" and increase your profits. Perhaps, Ofcom take a back hander too.

Severn Trent put my charges up by 41% . Contacted Ofwat and yes you guessed no reply. This quango need removing.

How on earth do you justify the massive price hikes?
My water bill in Maidstone has gone from £43 to £66 per month, on the premis that South East Water are improving my drinking water!
I've contacted them and because you've agreed it and they have the monopoly, we the public are just going to be extorted.
The water companies need to go back into public ownership and you need to be held accountable for your decisions.
The water companies have fleeced us for years making huge profits and bonuses. I was under the impression I was paying for drinkable water.
Me and my friends and neighbours are mortified. Plus the closing line from SE water was, if you are on a social tariff you can get discounts. Unfortunately I'm not, I work full time, so as usual we have to pay for everything.
As a governing body, your decision in allowing this massive price hike, whilst sitting back watching the bosses and shareholders fill their pockets, whilst our infrastructure went to pot is disgusting!

Explain why in the South our bills are so high? Did the water companies mess up more here?

Water needs to go back into public hands and unfortunately Ofwat needs to be scrutinised!

ALL I CAN SAY IS IWNL is not a TRUSTQWORTHY COMPANY. THEY ARE SCAMMERS AND LIARS. THEY TELL ME WE READ YOUR METER. NOT SHOWING ON THE WEBSITE OR INVOICES. .

HOW CAN YOU SELL THE RIGHTS TO SELL WATER TO A COMPANY THAT IS RUN BY CRIMINALS THAT TELL LIES, SCAM PEOPLE.

At very very long last.They have fined Thames Water for sewage spills.
Q why did it take so long

Simply useless. Received a water bil from Affinity Water £60. Used 1 unit of water £1. Standin charge £59.
Water Companies -legalised robbery, added and abetted by Ofwat.

38 Degrees Logo
A few days ago, you signed a petition demanding a block on bonuses for Thames Water bosses, Thomas. [1] We’ve just had some great news - the Government heard us and has stepped in! [2]

sky news headline that reads Thames Water drops £1m bonuses for top bosses after government criticism

The decision is promising news and shows that Steve Reed MP, the government minister responsible, is listening to you! He pushed hard to make water companies do the right thing.

Here's a message the Secretary of State for Environment wanted me to personally pass on to you:

“Thames Water appeared to be trying to circumvent that ban by calling their bonuses something different so they can continue to pay them. As 38 Degrees supporters and countless others pointed out, that was the wrong thing to do."

“I am very happy indeed that Thames have now dropped those proposals. I was very, very clear that the government would take any action necessary to prevent them trying to circumvent the ban we have put in law. It is right that they have now withdrawn their proposal to make those payments."

There’s still so much more to do, but seeing real, firm action on this is a massive lift for all of us who care about clean rivers and seas.

Thanks for being part of this win, Thomas.

Matthew, Anna, Tom and the 38 Degrees sewage crisis team

What is it that they do? The water companies have spent our money in shareholder dividends and not invested it, then you allow them to put our bills up. Not to mention pump their poop into our rivers, streams and oceans. Not fit for purpose, you regulate nothing.

What regulation of the water industry are they doing ??
South West Water have just increased my water only domestic bill by 54%! That in itself should be unlawful but is supported by a so called regulator. The water companies are monopolies so they can behave appallingly to consumers and customers with no consequences. I know they have issued fines for pollution because that is where blatant abuse has been taking place, but bills going up by this amount would not be feasible for any other private company that I can think of, overseen by a sleepy regulator. Awful inactivity on behalf of us customers of water companies. Water is a licence to print money !