Utility Warehouse. Why did I switch?

1carminestocky

These threads seem equally populated by first time posters raising doubts about UW as first time posters praising it. Weird, or what? LOL.

It is of course, never as simple as people are attempting to make out. I suspect, for instance, that there are probably millions of regular Sainsburys shoppers who would pay less for their gas, electricity, phone line, or broadband than they could get enywhere else by joining UW. A family spending, say, an average of £150 per week on groceries and fuel from that phoenix of a retail group (plus the other stores including Argos etc) would make substantial savings by even signing up for a couple of UW's services. And that can't really be argued against (unless you're Quentin, of course, lol). I wonder how many families in the UK actually DO spend £150 a week at Sainsburys? It would be interesting to find out. We certainly often spend that amount (and sometimes more) at our local supermarket/fuel forecourt (which unfortunately is not Sainsburys). UW as a niche player seems to be have to be more innovative than the big players...and they certainly are.

In short, there must be a decently-sized group of customer who would be better off signing up to UW. And that's not even including the 33% of households in the UK who still don't have the internet. No?

NigeWick

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.

This is the old fashioned way that many Multi Level Marketing (MLM) companies still get new distributors to try and gather customers. Phoning or writing to everybody "on my list" was the way I was taught. It is outdated because people do not like being "sold to" these days, and have not for many years come to that. MLM has moved on to new non confrontational methods.

Nigel

Quentin

NigeWick wrote: »

This is the old fashioned way that many Multi Level Marketing (MLM) companies still get new distributors to try and gather customers................ MLM has moved on to new non confrontational methods.

If this is the case, why haven't uw moved on as well?

Linseedbayleaf's call from someone he knew 10 years ago came from one of your reps, didn't it?

NigeWick

Cardew wrote: »

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.

On average, I spend a bit under three hundred pounds per month at Sainsbury's and using the pre payment card, I am about £4.50 per month better off with UW than quoted "best buys" on another thread. Yes, their electricity and gas may be more expensive than many other companies, but, their little card means that I end up paying less each month. That benefit to me includes paying the monthly membership fees for just those two services + the card, and, would look a little better if I spread that fee over all the utilities I take with them. I occasionally shop at other places the card is useful and would obviously save more on my utility bill those months too.

Nigel (UW Distributor)

NigeWick

Quentin wrote: »

If this is the case, why haven't uw moved on as well?

It's not the company, it's the distributor who has advised his/her new sign up. You must remember that the company supplies the services and the distributors are pretty well independent in how they work as long as they remain within company guidelines regarding advertising, sign up procedures and etc. There are still some old methods out there. The same as some older teachers in schools will stick to getting pupils to read a book and write stock answers to questions with virtually no interaction and discussion.

Nigel.

1carminestocky

If only they had Asda, Tesco or Morrisons included on the cashback card this would be an absolute no-brainer for us. As a family we spend at least £150/week at Asda on groceries and petrol plus I've just been looking at my online bank account and realised we spent almost £300 at Argos last Xmas! £150 a week on that card would equate to approx a £340 saving on the UW utility bill over the course of a year. On my usage (15000 Gas, 6000 Electric) that discount would bring my total annual gas and electric bill from UW down to £954. Which would be unbeatable, including online tariffs.

I would also very probably take the phone line/unlimited broadband product as well for an extra £25/mth (the club fee is already included in the £954 figure, btw). That would get us free 24/7 global calls as well for free. Total monthly DD would be £104.50 for the lot. Excellent deal. There must be a massive number of people who would qualify for this deal.

pirate66

Firstly - I'm not a UW rep!!

Have been with them for 4 years and pay a little under £100 pm for gas/electic/telephone/broadband. Bill varys from £90-98.

I missed them for around 2 months when I moved house 2 years ago, my bills for electric and gas for that period were double what I was paying to UW.

I like them.

Last bill....356(e) units of leccy = £41.74
32(e) units of gas = £39.45
Those charges included standing charges and Vat.

Quentin

You seem to be saying you like them because their bills are cheap.

But if you are interested in saving money, then why not input your useage into a comparison site and see how much you could save by using a cheaper on line tariff (or dual fuel tariff) elsewhere. The comparison sites will show you how far down the list the uw comes!

And you seem to be wrong in the figures you give us. You tell us your max. bill for all 4 services is £98. Then tell us your last bill for energy alone was £81.19.

As the cheapest charge for bb/phone is £20, (provided you have LLU, otherwise its £27), plus you have to pay your membership fee, then this makes that bill in excess of £100!

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

You seem to be saying you like them because their bills are cheap.

But if you are interested in saving money, then why not input your useage into a comparison site and see how much you could save by using a cheaper on line tariff (or dual fuel tariff) elsewhere. The comparison sites will show you how far down the list the uw comes!

And you seem to be wrong in the figures you give us. You tell us your max. bill for all 4 services is £98. Then tell us your last bill for energy alone was £81.19.

As the cheapest charge for bb/phone is £20, (provided you have LLU, otherwise its £27), plus you have to pay your membership fee, then this makes that bill in excess of £100!

Maybe he/she shops at Sainsburys, Argos, Boots, Burton, Comet, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Goldsmiths, Halfords, Homebase, House of Fraser, JJB Sports, Marriott Hotels, Miss Selfridge, Mothercare, Outfit, Principles, River Island, TGI Fridays, Thorntons, Topshop, Topman, Virgin Experience, Wallis, and/or Warehouse?

NigeWick

Quentin wrote: »

You seem to be saying you like them because their bills are cheap.

I like them because I pay less for my utilities each and every month than a "best buy" quoted at me, and, I have had good service over a number of years. I have had a couple of problems with the company but they were sorted out to my satisfaction in the end. They may not be the cheapest when just prices are looked at, but, because of the pre payment card, I save money. You appear to believe that nobody can benefit by using them. I readily admit that Utility Warehouse may not be for everybody. But, if I save money every month, I am sure others can too.

Nigel (Utility Warehouse Distributor and proud of it)