WESSEX Water has won a coveted hallmark award marking ten years of outstanding customer service.

The company has received Customer Service Excellence accreditation from independent inspection organisation SGS, an accolade it first picked up in 2008.

The SGS assessment report highlights Wessex’s commitment to helping people who are struggling to pay their bills, with an increasing number of customers benefitting from lower-rate tariffs or debt advice from partner organisations such as Citizens Advice and StepChange.

There is also praise for its “clear and effective customer focus” among staff, robust data protection policies and clear communication about the services provided.

The report says: “Following the assessment, Wessex Water was found to have a deep understanding of and commitment to customer service excellence.

“The commitment was displayed from senior management levels through to operations and frontline staff.”

Sue Lindsay, Wessex director of customer policy and regulation, said: “We’re thrilled and proud to be able to continue using the CSE hallmark.

“We are committed to providing the best levels of customer service, making it easy for our customers to get in touch and speak to a real person while ensuring they get value for money and services tailored to suit their individual needs.

“As customer expectations continue to rise, we’ll continue to encourage our staff to go the extra mile whenever they can.”