Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

johnjames1

Steve, if I was you I would do a lot of research into the company and what you will find. They are into more than 100 businesses they can trade in. Plus they have been dragged in front of consumer focus as well for their customer services when things go wrong. Plus they keep on changing their terms and conditions without telling customers, so beware especially when a company states that the OWN your mobile telephone number. As to the one bill, if you have a dispute they have the upper hand and a dangerous situation that people do not think about, and they use it to their advantage. I don’t know how long you have been a ID but a company that breaks every promise to its ID’s they make, is not one to trust. You are better off with multiple streams of income than staying with T+. In other words don’t put your eggs into one basket, and watch their terms and conditions on their website like a hawk. All they are about is money and the call centre has been described like a sweatshop. (insider) Also you may find that customers leaving are not far behind those joining. I know what you are going to say, they are the cheapest etc cash back card etc, but you have no guarantee that the ID’s will not go at any time. I have seen it all before.

ChoopieandDavid

Good Evening
Does anyone know whether Utility Warehouse require a Consumer Credit Licence?
Many thanks

ChoopieandDavid

This is a reply from UW regarding Consumer Credit licence.

"Companies only need to hold a Consumer Credit Licence if they are offering Credit or Hire Purchase agreements to customers. As UW does not offer either product then we do not need to have a Consumer Credit Licence."

I've contacted the OFT to double-check, and will post their reply asap.

johnjames1

Now thats interesting because the UWDC have a Consumer Credit Licence, and according to the OFT only agreements that have less than four payments a year do not have to have a licence. The problem they have is when they were told they had to get a licence they would not pay to have all the accounts back dated and put on to it.
The only thing they dont need a CCL for is Gas and Electricity.
Dont forget this is a company who stated that they "had a special dispensation to be put three VAT numbers on an invoice" in other words they "appear" to think themselves above HMRC!

ChoopieandDavid

Hello John

I'm interested because of the treatment I received recently after moving my services from Utility Warehouse

Everything seemed fine until I received two aggressive letters threatening legal proceedings etc, from a debt collection company on Utilty Warehouses behalf.

I checked and found there had been a mix-up with the direct debit between their bank and mine.

There wasn't one word from UW saying there was a problem, just the heavy treatment from the debt collection company. I paid the bill immediately, as I've never had a problem like this in my life.

I then checked and found that the OFT have warned this debt collection company for failing to meet satisfactory standards. IE Sending out threatening legal letters to consumers.

I contacted the OFT, and below is a copy of a letter they sent to Trading Standards London Borough of Brent & Harrow, and copied to me.
Fax (020) 7211 8877
Email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk



Dear Sir/Madam


Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act)
Complaint Against: Utility Warehouse Limited & 1st Credit Limited
Licence No: 474343


The OFT has received a complaint about the above mentioned trader. Please see the attached correspondence which gives further details about this.

Traders who are engaged in activities relating to consumer credit or hire, the collection of consumer debt, or commercial debt management need a consumer credit licence. However, according to our records, this trader does not hold a consumer credit licence.

Since this trader (Utility Warehouse Limited) appears to be based in your local authority’s area you may wish to investigate whether this trader has been engaging in unlicensed trading.


Name & Registered Office
UTILITY WAREHOUSE LIMITED
DRYDEN HOUSE
THE EDGE BUSINESS CENTRE
HUMBER ROAD
LONDON
NW2 6EW
Company No. 04594421

Yours sincerely


Olushola Egbowon
Enquiries and Reporting Centre
Office of Fair Trading

Ypaymore

See http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/credit-licensing/credit-licence/requiring
as to when you normally need a licence.

What services did you have with UW.

14wrence

I am an independent distributor with Utility Warehouse and would warn any one off becoming one also - unless your fully committed to it.

It costs you about £250 (Can't remeber the exact figure) to become one - This should have put me off straight away... I was sold this by a friend stating that if I got 6 customers within a set timeframe, i get that back, and also once i get 6 customers I start to get comission on all their usages.

Sounded good - I was also told that I could do this at my own leisure and even if I didn't do it in time to get my £250 back it didn't matter how long it took me to get all the customers. I am not really a salesperson, and I did miss the short deadline to get the starter fee back but thought no worries, i would eventually get 6 customers, maybe more and start to profit off them.

I still havent got the 6 customers, after being sold the idea, I soon lost interest.. However I started noticing an extra £4 a week coming on my bank statement from telecom plus. I rang to question them, and they said after 1 year, they take either £4 or 3% of your commission - whichever is more. Well as I make no earnings I have had this extra £4 added. I also then found out, that if I don't get 1 customer every month, I lose all the comission from Electricity and Gas and only get 1/2 the comission for phones?????

My 'friend' never told me any of this!!!!! and made out it could be like a hobby second income, and told me he was thinking of retiring in 3 years (this was over a year ago, and he is no where near btw) also hows he supposed to retire when he has to keep getting a customer every month.

Before anyone says anything - just like the snotty UW woman on the phone - I know I am an idiot for not reading all the business manual and trusting my 'friend' to fill me in on something as important as that.

That annoyed me and spurred me to look on here, to which I find they are not even as cheap as they lead you to belive when a customer. I am going to disconnect all association with them ASAP, and warn all the people (not quite 6) I recruited about them too. Do not touch with a barge pole if you ask me.. you will also notice positive comments, are nearly always from independant suppliers.

Regards, a trusting numpty £250 = 4 x £4 worse off!!!

missterryshopper

Your find it costs £199.99p to join them not £250.

Not that i would recommend it.;)

mochyn88

Still happy with UW but was drawn to them by the WHICH magazine report and the fact that many of my friends are happy customers.
Not the cheapest for many but the cheapest for me!

threedee

Who owns landlines that UW sell as bundled internet+phone ?

I'm helping some people to move to LLU internet, which UW rep told thay can do, even though there are only 2 companies that supply LLU in Dungannon O2 and TalkTalk(via CPW).

My question is - can UW be a middleman in supplying LLU internet in that area ?

I'm asking this with a hope to avoid "reconnection ripoff" fee from BT, to move the line back to them... (does it even cost anything ? moving non-bt line back to bt ?)...