Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

HappyMJ

No one has mentioned the new tariffs released by Utility Warehouse today or have I missed something?

Fixed price tariffs? Anyone willing to comment?

Maz

Quentin wrote: »

The UW is (again) misleading by claiming they provide line rental for "just £10.75".

They don't. But no surprise their rep doesn't point this out!

You have to also join their club (minimum charge £1.50 or £2.50 if you want a paper bill) AND theor is a minimum charge of £1 a month!

So £10.75 is really at least £13.25/month!

What Quentin also fails to point out is, that the Club membership fee of £2.50 per month also includes accidental death cover of £10,000, plus access to UW's 'findmethecheapest' website, which also offers cashback from a large number of retailers.

Meeper

The line rental is £10.75.

The other charges are for other things. Line rental is £10.75. If you think it's misleading, complain to the ASA, don't whine on a faceless forum like a coward.

Meeper

HappyMJ wrote: »

No one has mentioned the new tariffs released by Utility Warehouse today or have I missed something?

Fixed price tariffs? Anyone willing to comment?

Fixed price energy tariffs have been available for a couple of months now.

Quentin

Maz wrote: »

What Quentin also fails to point out is, that the Club membership fee of £2.50 per month also includes accidental death cover of £10,000, plus access to UW's 'findmethecheapest' website, which also offers cashback from a large number of retailers.

The UW do have these misleading attention grabbing prices and claims on their website, such as:

"Just £10.75" for line rental (just not true - you cannot get "just" line rental for £10.75 at all), no matter how you try and dress it up after being exposed!

But include in this their misleading claims to supply the "cheapest UK standard gas", and " the cheapest UK standard electricity", (both just not true), and you begin to get a picture of deliberate false advertising.

Though when told these attention getting quotes by your good friend or relative who is a UW rep, you'd expect not to be mislead!

Meeper

The_Forum wrote:

This message is hidden because Quentin is on your ignore list.

Such a blissful state.

HappyMJ

Meeper wrote: »

Fixed price energy tariffs have been available for a couple of months now.

I would have thought someone here would have mentioned them considering they are cheaper than UW's standard rates.

Meeper

I haven't had that experience, to be honest.

HappyMJ

If I were you I would recommend your customers switch to it then. I like the maths myself and plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet. I've always found the tariffs very confusing.

On gas usage from 0kWh to 3780kWh per year the Low user tariff is cheapest.
On gas usage from 3790kWh to 4040kWh per year the Medium user tariff is cheapest.
On gas usage above 4050kWh per year the Fixed rate tariff is cheapest.
The high user gas tariff is never the cheapest and should never be selected.

On electric usage from 0kWh to 1170kWh the Low user tariff is cheapest.
On electric usage from 1180kWh to 3570kWh per year the Fixed rate is cheapest.
Above 3580kWh the High user tariff is cheapest.
The medium user electric tariff is never the cheapest and should never be selected.

Because neither the Medium or High user tariff is cheapest on one or the other of gas or electric UW should never be used for duel fuel. A customer must always mix and match the tariffs to get the cheapest combined rate. Just to confuse the customer I think. So if gas usage is above about 4,050kWh and someone can keep their electric usage within that band of 1180kWh to 3570kWh then UW's Fixed rate can be used for duel fuel and will always be quite cheap. No other combination works unless their usage is extremely low.

Cardew

HappyMJ wrote: »

If I were you I would recommend your customers switch to it then. I like the maths myself and plugged the numbers into a spreadsheet. I've always found the tariffs very confusing.

On gas usage from 0kWh to 3780kWh per year the Low user tariff is cheapest.
On gas usage from 3790kWh to 4040kWh per year the Medium user tariff is cheapest.
On gas usage above 4050kWh per year the Fixed rate tariff is cheapest.
The high user gas tariff is never the cheapest and should never be selected.

On electric usage from 0kWh to 1170kWh the Low user tariff is cheapest.
On electric usage from 1180kWh to 3570kWh per year the Fixed rate is cheapest.
Above 3580kWh the High user tariff is cheapest.
The medium user electric tariff is never the cheapest and should never be selected.

Because neither the Medium or High user tariff is cheapest on one or the other of gas or electric UW should never be used for duel fuel. A customer must always mix and match the tariffs to get the cheapest combined rate. Just to confuse the customer I think. So if gas usage is above about 4,050kWh and someone can keep their electric usage within that band of 1180kWh to 3570kWh then UW's Fixed rate can be used for duel fuel and will always be quite cheap. No other combination works unless their usage is extremely low.

'Just to confuse the customer I think'


How dare you insinuate that UW would stoop to such a tactic.

Are you surprised that Meeper wasn't aware....... period!