Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

NigeWick

lovewealthhappiness wrote: »

I've never seen any real facts to support the claims.

Generally speaking, unsuccessful people don't have large houses and drive expensive cars. When I was a distributor I met such people. They acquired these things through consistent work and told me how they did it. I could not be bothered to put in that level of effort and so never made enough money to give up my day job. However, even with the meagre amount of time I put in I consider I was amply rewarded. I know one man who started out doing one hour a day on top of his 80 or so hours a week running a shop. It took him just under two years to replace his shop earnings and then he went on to doing more hours, but not many, with Telecom Plus after selling the shop. Another was a policeman who did Telecom Plus in his spare time, similar story but his wife worked with him and he was able to leave the police after a couple of years, work far less hours and take more holidays.

It is the absolute consistency of effort over an extended period that brings results. Like making a big snowball, it takes a lot of effort to get it to a decent size but once it is four feet across it gathers snow a lot faster.

MillicentBystander

Cardew wrote: »

Undoubtedly the company has performed well for investors. However since when has that meant customers are getting a good deal?


With some 36,000 salesmen, all with an obvious vested financial interest, it is not surprising that many of the great British public are not aware that their guarantees of cheaper gas/electricity are rendered worthless by the small print.

Interesting comment from someone who has (still does?) own shares in UK banks Not forgetting someone who (proudly, lol) proclaims to using BT :eek: If you take off the MBS/UW agenda-driven specs you may just notice my post related to a post by someone who was enquiring if anyone made any money from the business.

PS Have to say in researching my post I was surprised at the household name companies who have smaller market caps than Telecom Plus. Extraordinary success, really. Although clearly hard to take for at least one extrememly pressed soul...:rotfl:

Cardew

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Interesting comment from someone who has (still does?) own shares in UK banks Not forgetting someone who (proudly, lol) proclaims to using BT :eek: If you take off the MBS/UW agenda-driven specs you may just notice my post related to a post by someone who was enquiring if anyone made any money from the business.

PS Have to say in researching my post I was surprised at the household name companies who have smaller market caps than Telecom Plus. Extraordinary success, really. Although clearly hard to take for at least one extrememly pressed soul...:rotfl:

Over the last several years, under the many user names you have used, you have been one of the fiercest critics of the 'obscene' profits made by British Gas and other Utility companies.

However with your favourite Company, who have some of the highest gas/electricity prices in UK, you consistently praise them on the grounds of their high profitability and consequent excellent performance of their shares on the stock market. 'Extraordinary Success'

The Company's stock market performance has never been a matter of dispute. UW are networking company with 36,000 salesmen and as Martin states in the first post of this thread:

Unlike most energy companies and resellers Utility Warehouse operates by network marketing which means its customers are encouraged to sell on the product to their friends and they get commission for it.

This tends to mean it does well on feedback charts, as customers have a vested interest, and many of them are evangelical about the firm – and sometimes over claim.

Perhaps you could explain why the large profits of UW and high gas/electricity prices are worthy of your praise, yet all other gas/electricity companies merit nothing but your criticism.

P.S.

Regular readers will note the usual diversion tactics by [STRIKE]1carminestocky[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]operastar[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]carespress[/STRIKE] MillicentBystander . Apparently it is relevant, and worthy of mention, to a discussion on UW that I hold some UK Bank shares and use BT

EasySolution

I am a long term, generally satisfied UW customer but I have just read all the T&C's for the Bill Protector product and it is a terrible immoral scam.

The chances of making a claim for Death are negligible. The exclusions cover 99% of causes of death

It also says that you cannot make a claim if you owe them money and we always owe them something. It is easy to cancel so that's one good thing.

Disappointed.!

NigeWick

EasySolution wrote: »

I have just read all the T&C's for the Bill Protector product and it is a terrible immoral scam.

How much does the Bill Protector product cost you? IMHO it is often very hard to get money out of an insurance company.

BOWSER

Good morning,

I am now very confused after reading the past 60+ pages of this thread...Firstly, my current energy supplier is Npower, I get my phone and broadband from Virgin and my mobile phone is through EE, all of which are coming to an end soon, the £200 switch money will cover any remaining tariffs (hopefully). A couple of guys at work have made the switch and seem relatively happy, I am meeting their friend "the rep" over the weekend to give me a quote on a double gold package. If it is cheaper than my current provider(s) then what is there to worry about, I have read through the T&C's and can't find anything too scary, nothing more so than when I read through any companies T&C's, therefore can anyone give me some specific clauses to look out for.

Secondly, if all is well and good the prepaid cash back card is where this seems most lucrative, 3% cashback at Sainisbury's for groceries and fuel would net me £18 per month which is £216 per annum, lets say an average of £2500 on personal items and gifts throughout the year on an average of 5% cashback is a further £125 per annum; that's £341 per year without even being frugal, couple that with a santander 123 cashback account for utilities, broadband, phone, etc at about £110 per annum you are looking at £450 in cashback, which is nearly £40 off your bills each month...Am i being naive here? Am I missing something blatantly obvious or does all this add up?

The closest rate I can for cashback on groceries and fuel was the Santander 123 credit card which offers 1% on all groceries and fuel, whereas I am getting 3% with the prepaid card...Is this all clever marketing or legit?

Any information would be greatly appreciated...

BOWSER

penrhyn

If you are on Virgin cable fro BB and phone , you'll need a BT phone line installed to get UW's broadband and phone, so you need to know what speeds to expect and if there is any installation cost.

Its a good idea to do your own tarrif checks prior to the evangelists visit.

NigeWick

BOWSER wrote: »

3% cashback at Sainisbury's for groceries and fuel

One has to spend a certain amount (£60?) at Sainsbugs in one go before getting the 3% on fuel too. That said, that spend will permit two weeks worth of the fuel 3%

If you spend enough at the places that cashback is available, you can bring your costs down enough to make UW the best value for your individual requirements. Make sure you do the sums though.

MillicentBystander

A poster on here recently claimed that Santander told them that UW direct debits attract 3% cashback and not the usual 2% for G&E suppliers due to UW being classed as telecoms. Haven't got a Santander account so can't verify.

Cardew

BOWSER wrote: »

The closest rate I can for cashback on groceries and fuel was the Santander 123 credit card which offers 1% on all groceries and fuel,
BOWSER

123 credit card gives 3% on cashback on fuel. 2% at major stores and 1% as you say for groceries(£2 a month fee after first 12 months.)


http://www.santander-products.co.uk/credit-cards/display


I suggest you look at UW gas/electricity prices carefully, for your consumption in kWh, and compare with the cheapest on offer using a comparison website.


Also look carefully at the small print on any UW 'guarantees' for exclusions etc.