SWW — South West Water Bank Charge Explained

SWW on your bank statement is a transaction descriptor for South West Water, a utilities company. South West Water supplies water and wastewater services across Devon, Cornwall and parts of Dorset and Somerset. A recurring charge is your water bill, paid monthly or in instalments by Direct Debit.

What Is the SWW Charge?

SWW is a transaction descriptor for South West Water, a utilities company.

South West Water supplies water and wastewater services across Devon, Cornwall and parts of Dorset and Somerset. A recurring charge is your water bill, paid monthly or in instalments by Direct Debit. It typically appears as SOUTH WEST WATER on your statement.

This code appears on your bank statement because banks display a short payment reference — set by the merchant's payment processor — rather than the company's full trading name. The code SWW is the official identifier that South West Water registered with Visa or Mastercard.

Is the SWW Charge Legitimate?

South West Water is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your South West Water account to review recent activity.

How Do I Cancel or Dispute a SWW Charge?

  1. Identify the charge: Confirm the charge is from South West Water by checking your email for a receipt or logging into your account on their website.
  2. Cancel your subscription: If you no longer want the service, log in to South West Water and cancel your subscription through account settings before the next billing date.
  3. Contact the merchant: If you do not recognise the charge, contact South West Water customer support and ask for an explanation and refund.
  4. Dispute with your bank: If the merchant does not resolve the issue, call the number on the back of your card and ask to raise a chargeback on the SWW transaction. Provide the transaction date and amount.
  5. Section 75 rights: If you paid by credit card and the amount was over £100, you may have additional protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

What Other Names Does South West Water Use on Bank Statements?

South West Water may also appear on your statement as:

Frequently Asked Questions About SWW

What is SWW on my bank statement?

SWW is a bank statement transaction code for South West Water, a utilities company. South West Water supplies water and wastewater services across Devon, Cornwall and parts of Dorset and Somerset. A recurring charge is your water bill, paid monthly or in instalments by Direct Debit. It typically appears as SOUTH WEST WATER on your statement. This descriptor appears because banks display a shortened payment code instead of the full company name.

Is SWW a scam?

South West Water is a well-known, legitimate company. Most charges from this merchant are authorised and relate to purchases or subscriptions you signed up for. If you don't recognise the charge, check your email for a receipt or log into your South West Water account to review recent activity.

Why is SWW on my bank statement?

SWW appears on your statement because South West Water processed a payment through their card payment provider. The code is set by their payment processor and is the official descriptor registered with Visa or Mastercard. Common reasons include a subscription renewal, a one-off purchase, or a trial period that has converted to a paid plan.

How do I cancel SWW?

To stop SWW charges from appearing on your statement, you need to cancel your South West Water subscription or account. Log in to the South West Water website, go to your account settings, and cancel your subscription. If you cannot find the cancellation option or do not recognise the charge, contact your bank to dispute it and block future payments.

How do I get a refund for a SWW charge?

If you believe you have been charged incorrectly by South West Water, first contact their customer support to request a refund. If they are unresponsive or unhelpful, contact your bank and ask to raise a chargeback. You typically have up to 120 days from the transaction date to raise a chargeback claim. For credit card purchases over £100, you may also be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

For more information about South West Water and all its known transaction codes, visit the South West Water merchant page.