Utility Warehouse - any good?

billsavings

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

Hi billsavings

The website makes the generic statement...

"Guaranteed savings compared to BT"

and the statement in the brochure and tariff guide.....

"Every month we compare the price we've charged for your calls against BT's current prices, and we will give you an additional credit if necessary to ensure we are the cheapest"

Mike.

Just found this

"Price promise applies to total cost of using our Home Phone service compared with BT, excluding club membership fees, short-term
promotions, special offers or surcharges but including charges levied by BT or ourselves to participate in any
relevant discount scheme on a comparable basis. Comparisons with BT are based on “BT Unlimited Weekend

Plan”, and with “International Saver” as applicable. “


https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/home/Misc/tacs/UWDC_small_print.pdf

So they dont really guarantee to be cheaper then BT for calls.

Quentin

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

when I go shopping at Sainsburys and spend £100, I love the fact that I will get £5 off my next UW Bill. At the end of the day, I am £5 better off.

This ignores all the "negative" aspects, such as cost of the card, cost of the top-up, potential loss of interest, less protection etc.

If you ignore these aspects, then you have fallen for the company line.

The cost of the card is £10, ongoing monthly charge £1, cost to top up (ie put your own cash on the card) 35p a time, the loss of protection means your money is lost if uw or the retailer goes bust before you get your goods.

So "at the end of the day" you will never be £5 better off!

But your colleague never mentioned any card in his post, he claimed that for utility warehouse customers "if you shop at sainsburys you can save on your shopping" - totally dishonest as I posted.

And you are not totally honest saying you spend £100 and are £5 better off!

As shown, ordinary customers of the uw can never be £5 better off - and if they are interested in saving money should go elsewhere for their services as they are NOT getting the cheapest deal at the uw anyway!

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

If you ignore these aspects, then you have fallen for the company line.

The cost of the card is £10, ongoing monthly charge £1, cost to top up (ie put your own cash on the card) 35p a time, the loss of protection means your money is lost if uw or the retailer goes bust before you get your goods.

So "at the end of the day" you will never be £5 better off!

But your colleague never mentioned any card in his post, he claimed that for utility warehouse customers "if you shop at sainsburys you can save on your shopping" - totally dishonest as I posted.

And you are not totally honest saying you spend £100 and are £5 better off!

As shown, ordinary customers of the uw can never be £5 better off - and if they are interested in saving money should go elsewhere for their services as they are NOT getting the cheapest deal at the uw anyway!

Someone who shops regularly at Sainsburys for petrol and groceries WILL, over the course of a year, be better off if they do it through the UW cashback card and take at least one service from the company. Yes or no?

PS For someone who claims to be a stickler for the small print, you've made a glaring error. I wonder if you can spot it (you've probably done it on purpose, anyway).

PS I do respect you for trying to discredit the cashback card, Quentin (even though you fail miserably). I haven't noticed Hugh Jeego/font of all knowledge/legend in his own lunchtime say anything about it. Funny that.

Cardew

billsavings wrote: »

So they dont really guarantee to be cheaper then BT for calls.

I haven't noticed a UW rep spring to the defence of The Troll about getting a Broadband/phone package for £150 pa cheaper either.

In fact looking into it closer my BT package is much much better than UW for about the same price - details in above posts.

Plus of course I don't have to spend £hundreds more on gas and electricity to get an inferior telecoms package.

Any UW rep want to dispute my contention?

NigeWick

Cardew wrote: »

Any UW rep want to dispute my contention?

Yes, me. I look every now and again to see if I can get a better deal for me in my circumstances. So far, I can't if I take the number of services from UW that I do. I am perfectly aware that it may just be a fluke of my location, but, if it works for me it will probably work for many others too. Now with the card, I get more off my UW bill than I spend on getting it and paying their fees. Especially now that the interest rate for savers is so low.

As has been pointed when good service has been mentioned, this site is all about cost cutting. *I* can't cut my costs by shifting providers. Therefore there will be other people who will benefit by becoming UW customers. There may well be more who would not be better off. I am happy to let them choose what suits their wants.

Quentin

You are a uw rep who presumably gets staff deals and discounts on their bills that ordinary joes cannot.

If not, then post up your circs and the combined brains who post here will show you better deals!

Cardew

NigeWick wrote: »

Yes, me. I look every now and again to see if I can get a better deal for me in my circumstances. So far, I can't if I take the number of services from UW that I do. I am perfectly aware that it may just be a fluke of my location, but, if it works for me it will probably work for many others too. Now with the card, I get more off my UW bill than I spend on getting it and paying their fees. Especially now that the interest rate for savers is so low.

Nigewick,
You have said this several times.

So let us have some figures!

I was specifically referring to the BT package that The Troll stated was £150pa more than UW.

However more than happy to have gas and electricity figures compared.

So a challenge - care to take it?

NigeWick

Quentin wrote: »

You are a uw rep who presumably gets staff deals and discounts on their bills that ordinary joes cannot.

Nope. Distributors pay the same for their services that other customers do.

NigeWick

Cardew wrote: »

However more than happy to have gas and electricity figures compared.

That's the problem. I take more services to get an overall package that I am happy with. I have electricity, gas, broadband, home phones, mobile phones and the card where I get 5% (less ongoing costs) from my utility bill when I shop at Sainsbury and some other stores. Because we do most of our grocery shopping at sainsbugs, the card is well worthwhile for us.

It has been conceded that many people can get cheaper electricity and gas elsewhere. Last summer, I actually got as far as starting the switching process because I could have got a better price with Southern Electric, but, then they put their prices up making it uneconomical for me.

Cardew

NigeWick wrote: »

That's the problem. I take more services to get an overall package that I am happy with. I have electricity, gas, broadband, home phones, mobile phones and the card where I get 5% (less ongoing costs) from my utility bill when I shop at Sainsbury and some other stores. Because we do most of our grocery shopping at sainsbugs, the card is well worthwhile for us.

It has been conceded that many people can get cheaper electricity and gas elsewhere. Last summer, I actually got as far as starting the switching process because I could have got a better price with Southern Electric, but, then they put their prices up making it uneconomical for me.

That really isn't good enough is it?

A UW distributer saying he has a "deal he is happy with" - Mandy Rice-Davies would have a field day!!

Let us have some figures and we will discuss the prices/savings etc.

Gas: Electricity: Phone: Broadband: Mobile: just give details.

P.S.
Not many people can get their gas and electricity cheaper - everyone can! usually £hundreds cheaper.