Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Quentin

plainsong wrote: »

Anyone else had this?: my wife had her UW pre-paid card declined in Sainsburys yesterday. Knowing it had plenty of credit on it, she called the helpdesk. Words to the effect of: "Oh yes, sorry, we know about that, problem for all cardholders, just realised". So maybe naively, as card provider problems never last for more than 12 hours (do they?), she went into JS again just now... declined again.
No mention on the website, no contact number (now closed until Wednesday), and therefore no indication of when you can actually use your card again.
A few thoughts:
1. Any larger card provider would have moved double quick to prevent a PR disaster. Presumably because of the small number of card holders with UW, they don't care;
2. Really unimpressed that they are aware of it, but are taking no steps on the website to keep cardholders up to date with developments: if you don't have a credit/debit card with another provider, you have a real problem;
3. So the helpdesk is now unavailable until Wednesday: does that happen with other card providers?

The uw card is known in this thread as "the risky card".

If you read the contributions in this thread by many of their reps, PR is not a main concern of the UW!

stealthattack

seems to be a problem with most pre-paid cards at the moment.unable to deposit at moment...came back on last night for short while...but today is a no-go..can only presume they are trying to fix the problem..

MillicentBystander

Thanks for the info - I was going to Sainsburys tomorrow, I will wait now.

plainsong

Thanks - apologies for mis-post.

NigeWick

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Nothing to see here.

Moving along now.

Maz

Quentin wrote: »

The uw card is [STRIKE]known in this thread as[/STRIKE] described by Quentin and unsupported by any submitted evidence to back up this statement, as "the risky card".

Just put that right for you Quentin, hope this helps. xxx

Quentin

Maz wrote: »

Just put that right for you Quentin...

Not right at all. (And puerile to rewrite a post, then requote it as if written by the original poster when you come here and post as a UW rep)

You forget it wasn't me who pointed out the card is risky, but the uw itself in its 12 page ts + cs for the card which start by warning of the risks, and warning anyone taking the card that if they start to use it, then they accept there are risks.

But anyone trying to use it (after loading it with their own money) will have been realising it has even more risks!

Why do reps like to try and dismiss the risks as being my invention, when the truth is far from it?

From the uw ts + cs:

By activating your Card you accept these Terms and Conditions and confirm you understand and accept the risks highlighted in clauses 2(b) and 18(d) of this Agreement.

Darrendavies

Just to put those risks into context, the first related to the fact that UW supplies to "emoney" on the card and it is at risk if the company becomes insolvent. UW (Telecom Plus) is a FTSE 250 company, positive balance sheet, stable profits with organic growth and it's share is a recommended buy for the short and long term. Seeing as most people top-up their card monthly, the risk is that sometime in the month after top-up, the company could be insolvent. Highly unlikely given the company's current financial position and reputation .

The second risk relates to purchases not made in person, ie, web, telephone. Quote " The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is not applicable to the Card. No other compensation schemes exist to cover losses claimed in connection with the Card. This means for example that your only protection for Internet, mail order or telephone transactions is your statutory protection under the Sale Of Goods Act and other applicable legislation."

I heard recently that there is more risk of card fraud ie cloning etc, from cash points and petrol stations that by online shopping.

As with most things in life, there are associated risks, however I still choose to drive a car, cross the street and to eat foods not considered to be part of my "5 a day"

I am a UW distributor and not one that was recruited but someone that independently found, researched and joined 3.5 yrs ago.

chanz4

Just to add, UW is a pyrimid sale. Prices aint that good and about time it was shut down.

dacouch

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is a guarantee that should a participating member going bankrupt that your monies to a set level would be protected.

http://www.fscs.org.uk/