Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Cardew

vinnyph wrote: »

cardew, the french and saunders video is only on the internet site. To say it will go out every night on tv is misrepresentation. They do not pay for the video to be put on tv, they do not pay for it to be put on satellite. Its never going to be put on tv, it just explains nicely how the company works that's all. Its just on the website. I thought it was quite good actually myself. The other companies pay a fortune for advertising on TV. Do you realise just how much they spend and how much more their overall costs are compared to the U.W.D.C.

I can only go on what I read in the press. The full story is often more complicated but there is a news item here

guardian.co.uk/money/2006/dec/11/utilities.frontpagenews

Sorry I thought I had seen French and Saunders on TV; so got that wrong apparently.

So their little skit on the website is not advertising - it is obviously informed journalism!!!

Mike_by_the_Sea

Quentin wrote: »

The switching companies state they get paid commission by the suppliers.

You seem to suggest that uw gets round this by telling you "we don't pay them ourselves, but one of our reps does". Do the reps have such authority to do deals like this in the name ou uw with the likes of energylinx - which as you see contradicts your sales patter? Come off it!

Were it true that uw don't pay commission to comparison sites, wouldn't that be plastered all over their website (as it is in Direct Line's advertising)?

Hi Quentin

My question is, again, do you have evidence that Telecom Plus PLC pays commission to comparison sites? If not, then it is not appropriate to state that they do, surely?

The website does make the following statement.....

We do not advertise, and we have no shops. Instead, we rely on word of mouth recommendation from satisfied customers, and from our network of Independent Distributors.

1carminestocky

Cardew's APOLOGISED....

Quentin

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

do you have evidence that Telecom Plus PLC pays commission to comparison sites?

I have told you of 2 (recommended by MSE) sites that state the money they pass on to customers by way of cashback comes from commission payments from the suppliers. Both pay cashback to anyone who signs up via them to uw.

If uw don't advertise, how do they manage to fall foul of the ASA?

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

Sorry I thought I had seen French and Saunders on TV; so got that wrong apparently.

So their little skit on the website is not advertising - it is obviously informed journalism!!!

Hmmm...how could someone so fastidious as you get something so wrong? Are you sure you didn't just see the video on UWs site and put 2 and 2 together and get 363? Then compound the error by sneeringly posting it here? :rolleyes: You've shocked me to the core, Cardew, with this one. Anyone with half a brain would know that video ad is far too long to be shown on TV. Exactly how much do you think showing that in its entirety would cost? :eek:

Cardew

vinnyph wrote: »

have a look here my mate

energylinx.co.uk/about.htm

energylinx works differently to all the other comparison sites, and yes we do not pay a commission to them.

So following your link further in their terms - http://energylinx.co.uk/terms.htm it states:

Energylinx receives a small commission payment from the utility providers should you decide to enter into a contract with them.

So what is the position?

You say you don't pay Energylinx a commission.

I have read that if I switch to any company thro' Energylinx I get a payment(not sure if that is correct by the way) So in the event I switch to UW do I get a payment?

You are absolutely sure that UW pay no commission to Energylinx??

Cardew

vinnyph wrote: »

cardew. it seems you are just trying to take me out of context in what i am saying. our prices have risen at a faster rate than in the rest of Europe. Exactly how the article states. Does it not come across to you that I was talking about the price rises from the rest of my post. It does seem that you need to resort to misrepresentation in order to try to nit pick on a minor point.

I am getting the feeling that whenever someone says something about U.W.D.C. someone will try really hard to pick up on a minor point. That is quite pedantic don't you think. Its worrying. You realise there is always a life outside. I just feel you could be getting much more out of life and be more successful with people. I have a good understanding of people and believe me there is more to life than just nit picking. Have a laugh and a giggle with your mates.

Anyway, I've got to do some work so I really must go. Got to see a man about a pig. I'll let you argue over a small point and completely miss the main issue. Really mate, get over it. Its not a big issue.

That is absolutely typical of a UW rep.

Bluff and Bluster.

You said no such thing about faster rate, you flatly stated "We are paying higher prices than on the continent for our energy"

Which is wrong!!!

Cardew

vinnyph wrote: »

Yes mate I am sure because I have asked the directors before we do not pay a commission from energylinx. As I say I know that U.W.D.C. don't pay a commission to the price comparison sites. If someone was to say that they do, how do they know. Have they spoken to the company, because I have.

http://www.energylinx.co.uk/cashback/ - I got this link from Martin's front page.

I genuinely don't know the answer to this point. However I just checked with Energylinx and they confirmed that if I switch both fuels to UW they will pay me £34 - which is exactly in line with the link above and Martin's MSE guide.

So if you are correct, Energylinx's terms and conditions where they state that they get commission from companies is incorrect - it should read some companies give us commission.

It also means that, as UW apparently don't pay any commission, for every customer who switches to UW Energylinx lose £34!!!

Mmmmm not the best business model I have seen!!

You are absolutely sure that UW haven't changed their policy since you last spoke to the directors? - you seem to be in frequent contact!!!

1carminestocky

If UW pay commission to these switching companies then they aren't getting value for money as the 3 major ones I've just checked (energyhelpline, moneysupermarket and uswitch) all categorically state you can't switch to UW through them (much like Ebico who I believe also don't pay commission to these sites?).

1carminestocky

Well, Cardew has had to apologise on here today so could we get an apology from Quintin as well? :eek: Both in the same day?? We can live in hope (but not expectation), I suppose. Excellent info, vinnyph, thanks. :beer: