Samaritans Reviews 

477
•
TrustScore 2 out of 5

1.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 126 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. People frequently mention that customer service lacks empathy, with many feeling dismissed or abruptly cut off during their most vulnerable moments. Consumers also noted severe difficulties in getting through to someone by phone, often experiencing frustrating delays, unhelpful communication, and robotic responses from the volunteers. Some people were satisfied with the support they received, describing the staff as kind, attentive, and genuinely caring during times of distress. Reviewers truly appreciated when volunteers patiently took the time to listen, offering comforting advice that made a positive difference in their day.

What people talk about most

Customer service

Users describe negative interactions with customer service, reporting that reviewers often feel dismissed,... See more

Staff

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with staff, ranging from deeply disappointing encounters... See more

Service

People report ambiguous experiences with service, as some reviewers describe the staff as lovely and praise... See more

Customer communications

Reviewers express profound dissatisfaction regarding customer communications, highlighting frustrating... See more

Ethics

Clients share dissatisfaction regarding ethics, expressing frustration over policies concerning support... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Many of them seem to prefer you being really low and self-destructive. Randomly ask if you're suicidal, when you say no they sound disappointed. Asking this when you're just talking generally is upset... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I just called them, 10 minutes ago, 14:33 on Tuesday, September 29-th 2026 to get some help with my suicidal tendencies after years of drugs and alcohol abuse. I spoke with Audrey, (asked her a... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If you talk for any reasonable length of time( even as little as 20 minutes sometimes)they'll just dismiss you and end the call which leaves you feeling rejected and often feel worse than before you... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I called yesterday as I was feeling really low and upset and needed someone to talk to. The volunteer I spoke with appeared disinterested throughout the call and showed very little empathy. It felt as... See more


Company details

About Samaritans

Written by the company

Samaritans cannot respond to you on TrustPilot, so we encourage you to share your feedback with us directly. Samaritans aims to give the best experience to everyone who uses our support, in every conversation. But if you have had a negative experience of any kind or wish to share some feedback, please do so using the links below: Share your feedback directly via our complaints form visit our website Samaritans is a registered charity in the UK and Ireland that provides emotional support for people struggling to cope.

About our service

Samaritans believes that people are the experts on their own lives and situations, and have the right to find their own solutions. Therefore, volunteers will never provide advice or tell people what to do. They can however signpost people to other organisations.

view our privacy policy
If you are struggling to cope, remember you can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, any time of the day or night.

Contact info

1.8

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

477 reviews

5-star
4-star
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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

Hasn’t replied to negative reviews

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1.8

All reviews

(477)

116 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I'm very impressed by the outstanding…

I'm very impressed by the outstanding listening skills of one of their team.We were in a call for almost an hour as a lit is going on in my life atm. I did not have to repeat myself to feel understood and found that he managed to organise my thoughts so I could think in a more positive way. Thank u so much R. Highly recommend.

January 14, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Basically like screaming for help into a void

They clearly say you can email them on their website if you're not comfortable calling. They mention it multiple times, and since I still live at home, I didn't want anyone else to hear my call, so I emailed.

Haven't gotten a reply for months.

Yes, I double checked I got the right address.

Yes, I have checked all my spam folders.

No, they really just have not replied.

That's exactly what someone who feels isolated and alone needs; to feel they're screaming for help into a void.

November 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This company have saved my life several…

This company have saved my life several times now.
Tony was the name of the superhero tonight. But let me just say these guys are incredible.
They give up their free time they could use for anything else. Not for money but because they just want to make the world a little brighter. Tony. You made mine a little brighter tonight.

Much Love,
Harrison Barrett.

December 29, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No response

When you're feeling really low, listening to a phone ring for 10 minutes without an answer isn't helpful. Neither is being told to call back because they are too busy to take your call.

December 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dreadful experience

Dreadful experience. The person on the phone. Understood nothing. Condescending. Demeaning. If any of these people visited deprived towns. Then they MAY have some insight. I should have taken notice of the other reviews. And published samaritans scandals

December 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I had never called Samaritans before

I had never called Samaritans before. On Saturday I realised I was carrying everyone’s emotional baggage. My marriage was ending, I was struggling to help my son with chronic illness. I was dealing with a lot of health issues myself but trying to get through Christmas without collapsing. I have absolutely no support network. I was in a very dark place. The call would have been great in a black comedy. I explained through sobbing that I didn’t feel I could cope anymore with all the weight on me. He made some sympathetic noises, expressed surprise at never having heard the health condition my son suffers from. Then I sensed it was all very much too complex for him to deal with and he said “well, do you think you could get through Christmas and give everyone a nice time”. That was sobering and I realised that no one was coming to save me so I better try to do it myself. There is no shame in being in a state of collapse but have no expectations that the person on the end of the line will be able to pick you up. I realisation that you’re better equipped to do that for yourself wasn’t, on reflection, a bad thing. However, it’s shocking that some people will have spiral too far to be able to do this.

December 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst helpline ever!

Feeling down? Call Samaritans, a sure fire way to be made to feel guilty and shame about your mental health, the best way to make your miserable life even more unbearable.

December 16, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

waste of time

Guy was clearly uninterested and relying on his PowerPoint training to “listen”

But then I’m tempted to give 5 stars, because I hung up and called one of my best friends and had one of the greatest conversations of my life… so is it intentional?

Anyways, what I’m saying is… if you have someone you can chat with - open up to them. It’ll be less scary than you think.

December 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I called the Samaritans today

I called the Samaritans today, with a lot of distressing issues. I felt the woman judged me. In the end she said I was like a washing machine going round and round and said she had to end the call. She offered me no solutions and seriously lacked empathy.
My advice to anyone feeling very distressed is talk to a good friend if you have one. If not find things in the community to join in where you have a much better chance of finding support face to face.
It saddens me, that Samaritans is a very random source of support. In the past I have talked to people who seemed to care, but after the last call, I dont think I would call them again. I honestly think it is better to find support elsewhere.

December 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have been blocked for 6 months now

I have been blocked for 6 months now. I rang Samaritans back then, they were very intolerant. Was going through a very difficult time. Still need to be able to call them. Rang the Support Team many many times got the voicemail, left a message. They never got back to me. Am left stranded.

December 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No use

I spent 30min of sharing my deepest darkest problems, completely exposed... Hoping to get a nudge in the right direction. Just to be asked is there anything else? I feel no difference before to after the call? Would prefer my 30min back tbh.

November 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

EMBARRASSING

I’ve been in a desperate situation for some time and I hit Rick bottom on Friday just gone. It was awful, absolutely terrible and thank goodness I wasn’t suicidal because after that experience I would have been.
I understand that mental illness is now a massive problem within the U.K. but if the Samaritans can’t find the proper and right people to answer the phones then honestly don’t bother. The person I spoke to was terrible, he was reading from a script, no empathy, no comprehension, zero compassion and was robotic. I hung up, he was so bloody awful and far too much background noise. How embarrassing for an organisation that advertises its call to help vulnerable people. JOKE 😢

November 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Better places to get help

Contacted twice in years, first time man was so impartial that he basically said'you're on your own, I can't help you make that decision' looking back,he should have told me to report something. Second time,same thing really, apart from a vague threat to report me if I was a danger to myself, I said I wasn't, job done. I am not in that place anymore, but I would not advise anyone to call them if in need of urgent mental health help, I'd advise calling a mental health crisis team,numbers are online, or going to A and E, as scary as that is,you at least feel hope.

November 22, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful service.

I'm a teenager who is having suicidal thoughts amd who doesn't have anyone to talk to and when I called, the lady with me was so nice and gave me some good advice. Also, I called at 1 in the morning and only had to wait about two minutes, which is pretty good. I'm so happy to have called them and they reassured me that I could call them at any time.

November 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had rung samaritans many times when i…

Had rung samaritans many times when i had been drinking had been feeling really down i allways felt worse the next day after ringing them more deppressed so i rang when i was compleatley sober one afternoon and i realised why i got a conndersending old woman on the phone who didnt want me to talk about how my nerves cause me to be sick and want to poo when i was outdoors due to my agriphobia i just seid to her i dont want to talk to you she sounded like she would want an argument so i hung up thay in my opinion have very little compassion all the times i have rang just dont bother you allways feel worse after you call them

November 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

MADE ME FEEL WORSE

The man i spoke to straight away said he can't give advice, I get that to a certain point but suggestions would help, they are probably limited by some guidelines if what they can and can't say. The guy said he would listen to me, well I might as well have talked to the mirror, mmm is not helpful , being on the phone basically talking to myself is not helpful if they think they are then they are wrong, I could hear people in the background, he wasn't really interested at all.

November 15, 2025
Unprompted review

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