Utility Warehouse. Why did I switch?

DaveW007

I have been with SWALEC for a good number of years for my gas & electricity.

Towards the end of last year I read an article about the Utility Warehouse. After speaking to them they certainly did appear cheaper than SWALEC so I signed up with them.

Just before Christmas I received a letter from the Utility Warehouse asking me to provide meter readings for Gas & Electricity, which I did.

Today (23rd January) I have received my first bill and am horrified to find it almost 3 times more expensive than what I had been paying to SWALEC. On examining the bill the Gas readings they quoted are nothing like the ones I provided. Their readings are over 40,000 units out in their favour. They don't quote any readings at all for Electricity! After spending some 35 minutes on the phone to them they have admitted they have made an error but it will be corrected for my 2nd bill!! I've told them there won't be a 2nd bill as I'm going back to SWALEC.

Whilst SWALEC may not be the cheapest for Gas & Electricity I certainly did not have any problems with them.

KimYeovil

So what would the cost be for the correct readings? Why cut off your nose? I am sure SWALEC do not have a 100% billing department. I'd wait for a sample size of more than one bill.

(Blast! Can't believe I wrote that.)

Cardew

Are you sure that UW have not charged you for an Imperial gas meter, instead of a Metric meter. That would mean that they would 'think' you have used 2.83 times mor gas than you have actually used.

Customer service on UW is supposed to be excellent - so their reps assure us!

To be fair to UW that error can be sorted - what matters is the price you pay.

Plushchris

DaveW007 wrote: »

Towards the end of last year I read an article about the Utility Warehouse. After speaking to them they certainly did appear cheaper than SWALEC so I signed up with them..

To be honest, you could speak to any energy provider and they would make it appear they are cheaper than your current provider.

auntynet

Cardew wrote: »

Are you sure that UW have not charged you for an Imperial gas meter, instead of a Metric meter. That would mean that they would 'think' you have used 2.83 times mor gas than you have actually used.

Customer service on UW is supposed to be excellent - so their reps assure us!

To be fair to UW that error can be sorted - what matters is the price you pay.

This exact problem was sorted out for us by UW within 3 weeks which included the xmas & New year and all monies were refunded, not credited to our account!

Give them a chance to rectify the problem, if they let you down again, then you're justified in looking elsewhere but everyone can make a mistake.

1carminestocky

Even if you switch back you will almost certainly get a second bill (and probably a third one) due to the amount of time it takes for a switch to be completed. See what happens with that? At least you get a monthly paper bill with UW (as far as I know?) to remind you of usage, many are now moving to 6 monthly billing, which for people who don't read their meters can end up being a very expensive thing.

Ricgardc

They have never put a foot wrong on my account, quoted me 3 days to setup an 0800 number, all done in three hours

Absolutely brilliant customer service


Richard

Cardew

Ricgardc wrote: »

They have never put a foot wrong on my account, quoted me 3 days to setup an 0800 number, all done in three hours

Absolutely brilliant customer service


Richard

Have you ever heard of Mandy Rice-Davies? Look it up!!!

This is what you wrote in another thread:

I am an agent for a utility company, I can't say which one but it is really painfull reading about the antics of "the big six"


There are some good ones out there but you have to look


rich

Your post is exactly why people dislike UW reps tactics so much. Your post in praise of the organisation you work for is absolutely worthless - yet it happens all the time.

You must declare your interest.

linseedbayleaf

I recently had a call from someone i worked with 10 years ago, who has never phoned me before. Very chatty but sounded like she was reading from a script, especially when it came to talking about my gas/elec bills. I have never heard of utility warehouse and when i google them all i get is advertising stuff. Am instantly suspicious of calls from people who never took an interest in me before. What is in it for them? Is it really cheaper? Your experience Dave makes me feel even more uncomfortable.

DaveW007 wrote: »

I have been with SWALEC for a good number of years for my gas & electricity.

Towards the end of last year I read an article about the Utility Warehouse. After speaking to them they certainly did appear cheaper than SWALEC so I signed up with them.

Just before Christmas I received a letter from the Utility Warehouse asking me to provide meter readings for Gas & Electricity, which I did.

Today (23rd January) I have received my first bill and am horrified to find it almost 3 times more expensive than what I had been paying to SWALEC. On examining the bill the Gas readings they quoted are nothing like the ones I provided. Their readings are over 40,000 units out in their favour. They don't quote any readings at all for Electricity! After spending some 35 minutes on the phone to them they have admitted they have made an error but it will be corrected for my 2nd bill!! I've told them there won't be a 2nd bill as I'm going back to SWALEC.

Whilst SWALEC may not be the cheapest for Gas & Electricity I certainly did not have any problems with them.

Cardew

linseedbayleaf wrote: »

I recently had a call from someone i worked with 10 years ago, who has never phoned me before. Very chatty but sounded like she was reading from a script, especially when it came to talking about my gas/elec bills. I have never heard of utility warehouse and when i google them all i get is advertising stuff. Am instantly suspicious of calls from people who never took an interest in me before. What is in it for them? Is it really cheaper? Your experience Dave makes me feel even more uncomfortable.

This is the modus operandi of so many UW reps.

Just enter your consumption details in any comparison website and you will see that UW has some of the most expensive gas and electricity on the market.

Full of gimmicks and misleading adverts like their 'triple guarantee'

If it were cheaper, we all would ignore the selling techniques and join 'The Club'

Quentin

Ricgardc wrote: »

They have never put a foot wrong on my account..................

In your first post, you told us you were a uw rep, broke the site rules, broke the Which rules and brought your company into disrepute.

That post was deleted.

Now you try again, this time posing as a highly satisfied customer.

Your contempt for our intelligence is typical of many who have come (and gone) before you who mistakenly see this forum as ideal fishing grounds for gullibles to join your club.