South Staffs Water Reviews 

214
•
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.7

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 49 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Consumers frequently struggle with massive, unexpected price spikes on their utility bills and are deeply frustrated by receiving estimated charges instead of actual consumption measurements. Furthermore, people often describe customer service as completely unhelpful, incredibly difficult to reach by phone, and plagued by rude staff behaviors when addressing legitimate complaints. Some reviewers were happy with specific staff members who acted promptly and resolved their urgent water supply issues efficiently. A few customers also mentioned that certain advisors proved to be polite, professional, and ultimately successful in sorting out complicated billing queries.

What people talk about most

Customer service

Users describe negative interactions with customer service, highlighting long hold times, unhelpful staff,... See more

Payment

Customers expressed deep dissatisfaction with payment processes, frequently reporting unexpected spikes in... See more

Staff

Clients share ambiguous opinions on staff, with some reviewers praising field engineers and advisors for... See more

Price

Reviewers highlight deep frustration regarding unexpected price hikes and sudden massive increases in their... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Bills spike up without a warning. Charged us for estimate readings for a while without taking actual meter readings, and then sent us a huge bill after getting the actual readings. That kept us in a... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Having being forced onto a water meter their App constantly crashes and their online account site fails to recognise my username or password? Despite customer service resetting this numerous times!!!... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

My 96 year old mother phoned to report that following work in her road her water pressure had dropped to the point that it takes ages to fill a kettle. The operator then told her she had dementia at w... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

As many other people have said their service is just appalling. My bill has more than doubled each month because I was £60 in debit due to the huge price increases they inflicted on everyone earl... See more


Company details

  1. Water utility company

Written by the company

Providing high-quality water, great service and value for money.


Contact info

1.7

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

214 reviews

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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 76% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 24 hours

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1.7

All reviews

(214)

48 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely disgusting service

This company has serious flaws in it's system that the customer gets the blame for ,I was paying weekly for my bill and always was Infront with my payments,I started to get emails ,text messages and letters saying you owe X amount,so I called them up after waiting an hour on hold ,the lady on phone said oh I'm sorry about this it's our system because you have paid early it's registered that you haven't paid the week after ,I said how can it when I am Infront with my payments, she said I can only apologise it won't happen again , so I carried on paying Infront as I always do , and once again loads of messages and emails and letters saying I owe them money , this time they said we are passing on to dept collection,once again contacted them and they said exactly the same this won't happen again , and again after I had been making my payments in advance I had more letters , I emails them as couldn't be patient again waiting for over an hour to get to speak to them, they still said the same ,I said well should you update you system so this does keep happening it's your fault not mine ,no answer from them , I sent another email telling them if this happens again you can take me to court as I'm not contacting you again when it's your systems fault not mine , and they will look foolish at court when I have all my proof of payment well before it was due , they are a very poor run company that we as the customer have no choice but to be there customer as there is no alternative as well they know , probably why they have such bad customer service,and an out of date not fit for purpose system,south staffs water you should be ashamed of your self disgusting how you have treated me with your threats of action for something that was your fault !!!!!!!!!!

23 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

USELESS APP USELESS COMPANY

Trying to access the app and fails, told to use account number WHICH IS IN THE APP!!
Eventually managed to access and unable to use the links as the APP DOES NOT WORK!!
All I want to say is I DO NOT WANT A WATER METER FITTING. IF YOU DO WITHOUT MY CONSENT I WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION!!

6 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Appalling Company

Having being forced onto a water meter their App constantly crashes and their online account site fails to recognise my username or password? Despite customer service resetting this numerous times!!!
How on earth can I upload meter readings to a system I cannot access? They only intend to read the meter once a year? What good is that for a customer who wants to make sure they are not running up a massive bill? Simply not fit for purpose.

5 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Black slime and shards of stone

I did want to leave pictures and videos I have of this problem but unfortunately it doesn't seem like I can leave any .
I have had black slime through my taps also lots of shards of stone.
I have been getting this for the last 14 years I've lived in two properties on the street and had the same problem in both properties.
Iv contacted South staff's water every single year when I have received letters asking if somebody is living at this property because they are supplying clean water
So I've rang explaining every year refusing to pay but also explained why I don't pay my bill (because of the black slime and the shards of stone I get coming through my taps) and said to them once again if you clean or replace the pipes so I get clean safe water then ill pay what I owe and start to paying my bills .
But again I get this same thing Dudley council are the ones who have to change the pipes so I called Dudley council just to hear them say what I already now it's south staffs that has to change the pipes so I explained once again to the lady on the phone from South staffs water that they will have to argue amongst theirselves and get the job done because until then they are not getting a penny off me
It's like talking to a brick wall honestly....
I am absolutely sick and tired of it...

29 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible customer service from south…

Terrible customer service from south staffs , ring this morning waited in a queue for 35 mins to speak someone about my DD being cancelled and they had pay whole bill now or speak collection department, waited another 15 mins spoke gentleman and he said could pay by DD again . I said ok the same amount he said no it’ll be more coz missed payment but this payment going 30 percent more !

20 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely dreadful company

Absolutely dreadful company. I can't get through to them, I spend 30 minutes waiting and then they put the phone down on me. Trying to put a complaint in but can't get through to anyone.

30 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Satisfied SSW customer

I've been a SSW customer since moving into my flat in late 2019 and I've not had a single issue with the service that I can note. As a single occupant in a two-bed flat my usage isn't that high, and I have never found my bills to be excessive. Granted, the App does log me out from time to time, but I've never not been able to regain access. It helps me see how much I've paid in a certain period and when my next bill will be taken. It also gives updates on service impacts up and down the country. On the whole SSW are just one of my utilities that tick along in the background and have yet to give me cause to worry. Long may that continue.

29 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They deleted my account after I…

They deleted my account after I complained that I haven't opted for their ebill. The company they subcontract never comes to check the current meter reading and always estimate.

11 March 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

70 years old was told to lift a manhole to read meter

I had a new bill from South Staffordshire this morning and my bill was £23 and now it went up to £61 per month. I rang South Staffordshire water and I was told that I used more water. Fair enough it was summer and may be true. I love having a relaxing bath.
This guy from South Staffordshire water informed me that I should read the meter regular and send them the bill. I explained that the meter is on the road and he informed me that I should lift the manhole and read the meter to send them the reading. My words were"Are you bloody joking? as I dont even know what this manhole looks like and more important I am 70 years old" the cheeky man words were "OK I don't expect a 70 year old to open the manhole and I suggest that you ask a neighbour to do this for you" I was disgusted with his advise. What the hell do i pay my water rate for that I have to go and lift a manhole myself to read the meter.
I cannot get my head around what that guy told me to do.
I wish that I had a choice as I would go to another provider. South Staffordshire I am disgusted with you!!!

22 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

We are devastated by the service we…

We are devastated by the service we have received from South Staffs Water. We have had an absolutely terrible time. Over 3 months of stress and worry and still ongoing!

We had our driveway dug up for no reason at all after we were told that there was a leak under our driveway, when in fact the leak was under the public footpath, and the leak was repaired under the footpath by South Staffs Water 2 days ago.

No one has ever apologised. We have heard nothing. Our block-paved drive is damaged. We had to pay for the costs of our driveway to be excavated, and a professional independent report to say that the leak was not under our driveway. But still South Staffs Water wouldn't accept responsibility. The South Staffs engineer who originally came out and wrongly told us that there was a leak on a driveway, didn't use any equipment to check for a leak. Someone at South Staffs Water made up a false story, trying to cover their own back, which now that they have fixed the leak on the footpath looks completely false and stupid. We have so much evidence.

Who is accountable for us this? Whats going on? There has been so much go on, to much to type here. We are devastated.

We have sent emails in and they have just been ignored. Shame on you South Staffs Water. You completely let us down. 

17 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Has anybody else tried to contact South…

Has anybody else tried to contact South Staffs via the app regarding their bill?
Did you receive a response and, if so, how long did it take?
After having a water meter fitted two weeks ago and querying my bill, I've had no comeback.

17 September 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding response

I would like to specially say thank you to south staff for the swift response on emergency water at Blackheath, Rowley Regis. The engineer who came not just sorted our problem out but went out of his way to resolved it in like 15 mins. Many thanks to the engineer and the gentleman who took the call out over the phone in the emergency water call line. Out standing service especially from the engineer a true asset to the company. Thank you one again

13 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service from Arif

I've always had excellent customer service from South Staffs Water and this morning was no different when I spoke to Arif.
Arif was very polite, pleasant and extremely helpful when I phoned about a number of things and he took the time to explain everything, and instead of me filling out forms Arif very kindly completed everything for me over the phone.
Thank you Arif.

12 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Appalling customer service

Appalling customer service - I guess that is what happens when you are tied to a water company and have no opportunity to leave!!!

Locked out of app and web site. Requested new password for both even though it was a saved passed so was correct. No email received.

Called customer service line and waited for 35 minutes until after 6pm before hanging up - they close at 6pm.

Worst website and app I have ever encountered - does not deliver what is promised.

11 August 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Incompetent company,telephone operators…

Incompetent company,telephone operators and most of all people in charge of billing.
Looks like a company from the poorest third world country on earth
Unfortunately got to stay with them because there is no other around
Gladly would pay double just to get rid of
Nightmare!!!!

21 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless company

Useless company. Had no water, tried their 'emergency line': automated voice said 'there are no incidents in your area'. Then left hanging on for over twenty minutes until an operator answered. Operator then took a long time to do anything and clearly did not treat the report as an emergency. Left hanging on again while she tried to speak to someone else. Meantime, no water supply. What kind of customer service do you call this?

7 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had a lovely polite man

I had a lovely polite man, from customer service. He listened to my concerns, and dealt with them. Organised, an engineer who called to today. This was within the time frame I was given. Well, 👍 a fantastic engineer name mark came. He was a true gent. Sorted the problem no bother. I haven't ever received such a good service, when it's fee payable. So well done south staffs

23 June 2025
Unprompted review

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