Last week, I received my water rates for 2006-2007. Surprise, surprise, another increase, this time only 6.45 per cent.

I emailed Southern Water to ask how they could justify such an increase.

I received an electronic reply saying how committed SW are to customer satisfaction and that somebody would contact me within 24 hours to deal with my query.

That was eight days ago. No doubt the staff are too busy checking their share options and bonuses to bother with "mere" customers.

-MP Lawes, Brighton