Business retail complaints fall for first time since market opening

Customer complaints to the Consumer Council for Water fell by a fifth in the first quarter of 2018/19 compared with the final quarter of 2017/18, from 968 to 766. The watchdog said this was the first time complaints have fallen since the market opened in April 2017.

Policy manager, Evan Joanette, said: “It’s too early to say whether the poor performing retailers on complaints have turned a corner but we’re encouraged to see this improvement which is long overdue.”

However, complaints are still double what they were during the first three months of the market and CCWater has warned some retailers have much more to do. It particularly wants to see retailers providing more support and information to micro and small businesses who accounted for nine out of ten non-household contacts.