Water watchdog meets in Stratford-upon-avon.

Media contact: Amy Weiser on 0121 345 1006 or 0777 816 0808

12 July 2010

The Consumer Council for Water Central and Eastern Committee is inviting members of the public to its next meeting on Wednesday 21 July in Stratford-upon-Avon, where it will discuss water companies’ special services for vulnerable customers.

Representatives from Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water, South Staffordshire Water, Cambridge Water, Veolia Water East and Essex & Suffolk Water will be at the meeting.

Sir James Perowne, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water Central and Eastern, said: “All water companies offer special services, such as password schemes to help protect against bogus callers, Braille, talking or large print bills, and if you meet certain criteria, the company can arrange to have bottled water delivered to your door if a water main bursts and your water supply is interrupted. But we know that only about a quarter of customers are aware that this kind of help is available.

“At the meeting, we will be speaking to local water companies about how they plan to advertise these schemes to their customers, and what can be done to make these services more helpful.

“Customers should contact their company directly to find out more, or to sign up for one of these services.”

The meeting will take place between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm on Wednesday 21 July in the Romeo Room of the Legacy Falcon Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HA.

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The Consumer Council for Water was set up in October 2005 to represent consumers in England and Wales.
2. The Consumer Council for Water costs each water customer 23p per year.
3. The Consumer Council for Water has gained £135 million from water companies in reduced prices and extra investments.
4. The Consumer Council for Water has to date taken up over 75,000 consumer complaints about water and sewerage companies, and secured £9.6 million in compensation and rebates for customers.
5. The Consumer Council for Water is a non-departmental public body reporting to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. It has a committee for Wales, and four regional committees in England.
6. Our website is www.ccwater.org.uk.

For public enquiries to the Consumer Council for Water, please contact via email on enquiries@ccwater.org.uk, our phone number, 0845 039 2837, or via minicom on 0121 345 1044.