South East Water UK Reviews 

381
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.4

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 113 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Consumers frequently complain about shocking price hikes, continuous billing increases, and severe disruptions to their daily water supply without receiving adequate support or reliable information. Reviewers also feel deeply frustrated by poor communication, long waiting times, and a complete lack of management accountability regarding ongoing infrastructure failures. However, some customers also noted that specific staff members provided polite, helpful, and exceptionally professional assistance during their phone calls. A few reviewers additionally experienced efficient handling of account inquiries, successful billing adjustments, and quick resolutions provided by supportive employees. People appreciated these rare instances of excellent customer service when dealing with the company.

What people talk about most

Service

Customers had negative experiences with service, noting prolonged water outages and rising bills. Consumers... See more

Price

Reviewers express profound dissatisfaction with the soaring price of water, describing bills as excessively... See more

Customer service

People report negative experiences with customer service, describing it as disorganised and ineffective.... See more

Staff

Users describe negative interactions with staff, expressing widespread frustration over poor communication,... See more

Location

Consumers express deep frustration with location-based water shortages and supply failures affecting multiple... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Hosepipe ban since July 2025 last year & still in force as of 13.01 .2026. This company has no resiliency whatsoever as they have sold off their estates for house building etc. Their website need a lo... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

How can a company possibly justify the answer we don't know when the water outage will end. Clueless bunch of muppets who think it is acceptable to increase bills by 40%. It's not as though you can... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

It’s not just south east water that’s useless. The subcontractors are just as bad. Poor communication, no work ethic, unreasonable attitude. Not fit for purpose. It’s rotten all the way from top to bo... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Just had a phone call from SEW about our ongoing low pressure, they still will not admit there is a problem even though two of their staff own visited us admitted there was a problem supplying our co... See more


Company details

  1. Water Utility Company

Written by the company

Our aim is to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for. Manage your water account online 24/7 – View your bills, manage your move, make payments and manage your Direct Debit.


Contact info

1.4

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

381 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
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

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

1.4

All reviews

(381)

108 reviews in the last 12 months

Write a review
Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Monopoly provider of essential service failing its basic duty

South East Water has failed Tunbridge Wells. A “bad chemical batch” shut down Pembury Treatment Works, leaving 24,000 homes without safe water and businesses facing millions in losses. Communication has been muddled, slow, and often wrong; bottled-water stations were poorly placed, and residents have been left to fend for themselves.

Meanwhile, the CEO, David Hinton, earning nearly £500k a year, has refused to face the public or give a single interview. MPs are calling his behaviour “cowardly” and urging him to resign and rightly so.

This is a monopoly provider of an essential service failing in its most basic duty. It is not just a technical error but a total leadership collapse. Until South East Water accepts responsibility and repairs its broken systems, trust in the company will remain exactly where our water supply has been all week: down the drain.

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

Most terrible company to exist

Terrible terrible company, would give it 0 stars if possible, leaving customers without water for days and providing false hope making customers believe the water will be up and running when it hasn't and then creating an excuse to further delay the fix. If we could get this company closed down and have it replaced with something better i'm sure everybody would agree that we all would, poor service from the CEO and terrible business practise.

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

They are and have been thieves

They are and have been thieves. Taking our money and not investing in the network. Outrageous proof of stealing legally. The government are to blame for selling us out

December 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgrace to UK Public

You are such a disgrace to the UK. You have left thousands of people with no water for four days and still don't have an answer. You could cause deaths to people.

December 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Water Outage

How can a company possibly justify the answer we don't know when the water outage will end. Clueless bunch of muppets who think it is acceptable to increase bills by 40%.
It's not as though you can take your business elsewhere. Still, that's what you get from a business owned by overseas fund companies.

December 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company is a total joke .

This company is a total joke .. put my bill up from £19 to £28 a month and now .. NO WATER SINCE Sunday morning am it's now 8.45am Tuesday and still no water .. I have health issues so can't run up and down the stairs with 6lt of bottle water to fill the toilet up and you can Guarantee they will put bills up again next year

December 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

THE CEO SHOULD BE SACKED AS THE MP TW…

THE CEO SHOULD BE SACKED AS THE MP TW has called for no water day 4 Old lady could not carry water from shop shame on this company. They failed to support those most in need single older people who have major health issues . The CEO SAID THE LAST TIME I HAVE LEARNT FROM MISTAKES WELL CLEARLY NOT

December 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

APPALLING TREATMENT OF VULNERABLE PEOPLE WHEN IN NO WATER SUPPLY

I’m on priority register for water emergencies and in our area of TN2 there has been no water supply.
I was expecting a supply of water to me . Even after 2 calls to the emergency contact number of the company, no water was provided.
I have lost confidence in this company fully to look after the vulnerable people of society.

November 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Every drop doesn't count

This company's motto is 'Every Drop Counts' and they currently have a hosepipe ban in place.

However, the importance they attach to conserving the water supply is demonstrated by the speed with which they are dealing with the leak reported on 15th October at Dean Hill just off Stone Street reference 67642303 and which, guess what, is still waiting to be fixed by their contractor, more than a month later.

We're now at the time of year when wet roads are treacherous in cold and icy weather, but it seemingly makes no difference to South East Water.

Higher bills, lower service levels.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

NOT using ‘higher than average’

On my last few bills a SEW chart has indicated that compared to other similar households in our area we were using far more water than average. I queried this thinking it very strange as we are as frugal as we can be. I was told to ignore the chart because we were NOT in fact using more water than average 🙄 and their system was not pulling information through correctly. They added that it may not be possible to be correct this in time for our next bill in 6 months time! How long does a software adjustment take SEW?!!!

October 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Feedback for Joseph-South East Water

I recently spoke with Joseph regarding an issue about dirty and clean water, and I wanted to share how positive that experience was. Joseph was extremely polite, calm, and friendly throughout the conversation. He explained everything clearly and provided very helpful and practical advice that really helped me understand the situation better.
I truly appreciated the way he communicated – with patience, professionalism, and empathy. He is an excellent example of what great customer service should be and deserves recognition for the way he handles his work.

Thank you, Joseph, for your help and your positive attitude!

Keep it like that
Paula 😊

November 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Scammers

Impenetrable bills. They keep emailing me to say I owe them money (I don't). When I reply they continually misunderstand—at first I assumed they were overworked but now it looks like a deliberate ploy to overcharge people. Scammers.

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

Work with us not against us

We don’t want our waste dumped on our beautiful sea. So many lies and disappointments, our water bill is now more expensive than our electric energy bill!
Could this company get any worse?

October 4, 2025
Unprompted review

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look