Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

MillicentBystander

HappyMJ wrote: »

Npower Price Protector still beats it. UW Fixed price is £165 more expensive. It's not really a valid comparison any more as Price Protector is closed to new customers. I was just really wondering yesterday why no one had ever mentioned it for the reasons you state. Long term fix no cancellation charges. Cheaper than UW's standard rates.

Even on your usage? Doesn't it end August 2012 as well?

HappyMJ

Quentin wrote: »

That 10% back on their expensive energy is another misleading UW "attention grabber"!

The 10% is only available if you meet their ts + cs. (And is impossible for fixed tariff customers)

THe ts + cs also include you having to take at least 4 services from them, and not move house, supply 3 meter readings within a 5 day window either side of set dates etc.

Not sure about the impossible as I can't see the T's and C's that aaply to the fix but it's not in the calculation anyway so it doesn't matter.

You are saying it's an expensive tariff and on the whole I do agree with you unless the customer fits a very narrow profile.

What is the cheapest 3 year fixed rate on the market?

EDF's price protection June 2014 also comes in at £1,188 per year and that is the closest comparable. It has a cancellation charge but they give you a £75 account credit after 30 days which will cover any cancellation charge payable. The £75 is not in the annual costs. If a customer did stay for 3 years then it's £25 a year cheaper than UW. It is the only 3 year tariff I can find that is cheaper.

MillicentBystander

Oh dear, why do I get the feeling we are going to see the Spanish teachers video appear again?

HappyMJ

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Even on your usage? Doesn't it end August 2012 as well?

It's not fair to use my usage. I don't fit the profile. I have gas central heating but the boiler is broken and needs replacing. I can't afford to fix it so I use electric heating very frugally heating only 1 room at a time to 18 degrees. My usage is very low on the gas. Last year about 1000kWh on gas but as I mostly use electric heating it's quite high at about 4000kWh per year but most of that's on an E7 rate so it mucks up the calculations so I can't use my details to compare.

If I were to fix it I would still be a low user so using UKPower's low user profile of 11,000kWh of gas and 2,100kWh of electric. Price Protector is still cheaper by £81 per year.

Yes it ends in August 2012 at which time I will switch but always on the lookout for a good deal.

Quentin

HappyMJ wrote: »

Not sure about the impossible as I can't see the T's and C's that aaply to the fix but it's not in the calculation anyway so it doesn't matter.

You would have thought someone from the UW would have come clean, rather than let this perpetuate. Though they do like to avoid getting unto any detail when discussing tariffs! (Have you seen their training videos?)

It is impossible to get the cashback on fixed tariffs because they exclude it in their ts + cs!

MillicentBystander

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's not fair to use my usage. I don't fit the profile. I have gas central heating but the boiler is broken and needs replacing. I can't afford to fix it so I use electric heating very frugally heating only 1 room at a time to 18 degrees. My usage is very low on the gas. Last year about 1000kWh on gas but as I mostly use electric heating it's quite high at about 4000kWh per year but most of that's on an E7 rate so it mucks up the calculations so I can't use my details to compare.

If I were to fix it I would still be a low user so using UKPower's low user profile of 11,000kWh of gas and 2,100kWh of electric. Price Protector is still cheaper by £81 per year.

Yes it ends in August 2012 at which time I will switch but always on the lookout for a good deal.

I see what you mean, yes. Have to say, on 11,000 gas and 2100 electric consumption level it seems like easily the cheapest 3 year fix available. Of course, to get this fix you need to take 4 service total so that would probably mean taking Broadcall as well, which would come with 24/7 inclusive land line calls and international option included. Add in the 10% first year refund and the fact that there is no cancellation fee and you can see why there's been a significant increase in the %tage of new UW punters taking at least 4 services on sign up, can't you?

HappyMJ

Quentin wrote: »

You would have thought someone from the UW would have come clean, rather than let this perpetuate. Though they do like to avoid getting unto any detail when discussing tariffs! (Have you seen their training videos?)

It is impossible to get the cashback on fixed tariffs because they exclude it in their ts + cs!

That's exactly what I've been wondering.

Yes seen the training videos. Quite well ummm not really misleading but avoiding the fine points. i.e How much do you and your family spend on groceries? £500 a month. Well that's £15 a month you will get in cash back. How about petrol? £200? That's another £6 cash back. (Oh....forgot to mention it's got to be at Sainsburys or ASDA and the fuel can only be at Sainsburys fuel after £50 has been spent at Sainsburys and also failing to mention the £10 per card fee and the £1 PER CARD monthly fee.)

Oooo you have a copy of the T's and C's in regards to the fixed rate. I've yet to find them. Fair enough about the cashback anyway it's not in the calculation.

HappyMJ

MillicentBystander wrote: »

I see what you mean, yes. Have to say, on 11,000 gas and 2100 electric consumption level it seems like easily the cheapest 3 year fix available. Of course, to get this fix you need to take 4 service total so that would probably mean taking Broadcall as well, which would come with 24/7 inclusive land line calls and international option included. Add in the 10% first year refund and the fact that there is no cancellation fee and you can see why there's been a significant increase in the %tage of new UW punters taking at least 4 services on sign up, can't you?

And that's exactly what I mean UW is OK for low users but just not too low. The usage must be within the band I posted yesterday. It's poor value for high users. If you use the UKPower high user profile UW looks awful.

Quentin

HappyMJ wrote: »

...... (Oh....forgot to mention it's got to be at Sainsburys or ASDA and the fuel can only be at Sainsburys fuel after £50 has been spent at Sainsburys and also failing to mention the £10 per card fee and the £1 PER CARD monthly fee.).....

Don't think you could ever get any cashback on fuel at Asda (who are pulling out of the UW scheme anyway at the end of next month, though don't suppose the reps mention that here either!)

(And I see Millie/Carmine still happy to perpetuate mentioning the misleading "10% cashback" alongside promoting the "3 year fix" - the truth is you don't get any 10% back on fixed tariffs, as Millie/Carmine will know)

MillicentBystander

HappyMJ wrote: »

And that's exactly what I mean UW is OK for low users but just not too low. The usage must be within the band I posted yesterday. It's poor value for high users. If you use the UKPower high user profile UW looks awful.

But the UW Fixed Until August 2014 deal on average consumption (16,500 and 3,300) is seemingly the cheapest deal of that length on the market in your area. And that's including the £1.50/mth club fee and NO cancellation fees Granted, you have to take 4 services to qualify for that extra year but if you could get up to 20mb BB, 40gb monthly d/l allowance, phone line rental, no min. contract commitment, 24/7 inclusive 01, 02, 03, 0870 AND International calls, guaranteed UK call centre, one inclusive 1 minute call to a competition/mucky 09xxx phone line , chance of unlimited cash back etc etc for £20.99/mth why would anyone not want to?