Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

1carminestocky

Lol............................................

Miss_Moppet

Carmine, if you have a sensible answer to the question raised in my previous post, now would be a good time to put it down here. I think to put “Lol……...” yet again just confirms that you have no sensible answer and serves no useful purpose at all, it’s a very juvenile response, and you really aren’t doing UW’s cause any good whatsoever.

I sincerely hope that at least one of the reps is kind enough to reply to my previous post in a professional manner. I raised a serious question that surely requires a proper answer.

In the meantime, Carmine, you may remember in a previous post I raised the question as set out in the quote below. On that occasion, you declined to answer. In the circumstances, perhaps you could answer it now. I would imagine even the UW reps might be interested to read your answer.

“I’ve read quite a few posts on this thread before posting on it. That’s what the MSE instructions seemed to suggest that newcomers should do. I have looked at other threads too, and I have come across posts by you (Carmine) in which you advocate that people should switch gas and electricity companies several times a year using switching sites that give “cashbacks”. I seem to remember you mentioning that you had made something like £300 doing this.

However, on this thread you are a solid supporter of UW (I don’t know if you are a rep) but in any event you have indicated that you are with UW for all your utilities etc. So how exactly are you able to keep switching gas and electric suppliers while being such a committed customer of UW? I would love to know.”

epsilondraconis

Looks like Miss Muffet is knocking this thread into some sort of shape! You've got a tough job on your hands; however I'm impressed with the progress you've made so far.

I too came to this thread to determine whether I could save money with UW. However as time has gone by, I seem less interested in what UW are offering and instead enjoy the banter on this thread.

I'm locked into my current Scottish Power deal until the middle of the summer and so can't switch to UW anyway. Had the UW cashback card been less 'risky', covered more retailers, and was more like 10% discount then I would definitely consider UW. If UW were to end up cheaper for us then I would switch.

Just a quick note on what are perceived as 'juvenile' comments. I personally find them quite amusing. The thread wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for these. Therefore Carmine's post #2743 got a thanks from me...

Carmine, I think Miss Muffet secretly likes you.

Decado23

Miss_Moppet wrote: »

it seems fair to say that whatever the annual consumption amounts taken as an example, you would be saying exactly the same thing, that UW is not for me.

Based on your description of your shopping habits, that is likely to be correct, I make no claim that UW is suitable for everyone and I certainly would not recommend it to anyone who would not benefit from it.

I've said before that the majority of people using this site are unlikely to be UW's target market - since people like yourself already shop around for the best deals it is unlikely that UW would be able to help you much. However, it is undeniable that many people don't shop around for the cheapest groceries - If I recall correctly a recent watchdog survey only found 25% of people based their supermarket choice on price, for many others convenience and quality were the deciding factors.

An independent survey (I linked it in another thread, will hunt around for it tomorrow if anybody is interested) reported a large portion of respondents either have never switched energy supplier or only switched once, many people also prefer to deal face to face with a salesperson rather than signing up online. Most of these people are likely to be paying more for their utilities than they would with UW, and by doing so they are subsidising the relatively small number of people who benefit from online discounts & comparison site cashback deals. With UW all customers get the same deal, regardless of how they sign up.
Interestingly, it is the over 65s and low income households that are most likely to be paying over the odds.

Personally I like UW, I like their business model, their fair pricing, the additional membership benefits, their customer service and even the single monthly bill. And for my circumstances, UW offer a very good deal financially also. Not everyone may feel the same of course.



UW Distributor

Cardew

Miss Moppet,
I think you will find that Carmine is not yet a UW customer!

Mike_by_the_Sea

Quentin wrote: »

When you take "the high ground", and resort to personal jibes you should remember that you are the uw rep who has been exposed trying to use this forum to run a so called charity event by suggesting MSE members join UW to "save" (though, of course, how they were to "save" was not specified), and get their joining up commission passed on to the charity.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=966

You neglected to say if (or how) you would benefit from MSE joining uw.

When challenged by a Mod over breaking the rules of the forum, and asked to provide a non referral link, you refused to do so, saying you would withdraw your promise of a charity donation if made to.

As a result of your posts, the thread was locked, and UW reps were "banished" here as the only place they are allowed to discuss their business!

Hi Quentin

Thank you for your inquiry (again)

To save me answering this again, can I refer you back to my response to your previous attempt to denigrate my fundraising for a deserving cause.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=21142531&postcount=2547

1carminestocky

The only surprising thing about 'Miss Moppet' is how quickly 'she' has gotten to the 'money post'. I was expecting him/her to draw out the suspense for at least a couple of days on the pretence of being 'interested' only to ultimately deliver his/her 'daming report'. About as subtle as an air raid, to be perfectly frank. I'm disappointed. Maybe it's my fault for rumbling him/her so early (i.e. first post, lol). Felt compelled to get to the point of his/her presence here quicker than planned. One look at his/her posting history reveals the hasty accelaration of the 'plan', lol. Next!


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/search.html?searchid=58825113

Quentin

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

Thank you for your inquiry (again)

To save me answering this again, can I refer you back to my response to your previous attempt to denegrate my fundraising for a deserving cause.

Your previous answer is patently untrue:

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote:

More mis-information, why should I be surprised.

The thread was actually closed down because the MSE rules had changed in October 2005 and I resurrected the thread in 2006 which highlighted the fact the thread was no longer valid.

You posted your charity deal with this title:

Help my local Charity and save money

This was subsequently challenged by a Mod, and you were asked to stick to the rules and give a non referral link. You replied that the charity element would be withdrawn if you were made to comply with the rules.

Another member challenged your claim about "saving money".

There were a number of posts, 2 from you squirming out of complying with the rules, and only after it became apparent that you wouldn't comply with the Mod's request and that you were really advertising under the guise of a charity deal that the Mod then solved the matter by closing the thread.

Mike_by_the_Sea

Hi Miss Moppet

I will have a go at responding to your points.

I say this because the real problem is the UW cash back card at 5%, which can be so easily beaten simply by careful shopping, as I mentioned in my previous post, and possibly the fact that recently I purchased a Dyson vac and got an incredible deal at nearly half the list price.

I agree with the principle of careful shopping, but this doesn't mean that good deals can be achieved at one of the outlets that also gives you an additional 5% off the great deal that you achieved. If I am shopping for a specific item, I like to get it at the best price available, and sometimes this is at Sainsburys or one of the other outlets.

When you couple that with the fact that UW’s gas and electric is significantly higher than you find on comparison websites, you then have the added problem that some of your cash back is in effect drawn off to compensate for the extra energy cost. With all that in mind I find myself wondering, just who should actually sign up to UW.

Again, I think it is horses for courses. In my personal experience, as a regular Sainsburys shopper, the "cash-back" was a bonus. I am now £30+ a month better off than I was before the card was introduced. UW provides a range of good value products which, when bundled together, provide a cheaper option than a potential customer is currently paying. I have said many times before that it is possible to find cheaper alternatives to all the individual packages available from UW if one has the stamina and drive to find them. However, when bundled together they represent good value for money and, in my experience, provide a level of customer support, both centrally and personally (from your distributor), that many companies can only strive for.

Please don’t think I’m being awkward. I certainly have no wish to upset the various UW reps who have kindly responded to my requests for courtesy and politeness. Equally, I’ve no wish to upset the applecart in this matter so I do sincerely hope someone can show me where I am going wrong. Who makes an ideal UW customer?

I don't think you are being awkward, far from it. You are asking a fair question and I think the answer is complex. If everybody was looking for the cheapest possible packages then we would all be signing up to latest best deal and changing regularly to maintain this position. I think the ideal UW customer is one that can see they are making savings on their bundle of services and are content to stay customers in the longer term as they see changes to their costs as the market changes without having to keep checking regularly. When they need help they are happy with the support they receive. As has been stated before, UW don't tie customers in to long-term contracts and they are free to leave if they aren't happy. The only exceptions to this are the standard industry ones such as broadband and mobile phones, where the customer receives specific equipment.

Carmine, it may be different now, but last time I shopped online with Sainsburys I found that the in store discounts at Sainsburys didn’t all appear on their website. On one afternoon alone, I found I could save £12 on in store deals as compared with buying online (and I wasn’t buying all that much). It might pay you to check this out too.

As regards Sainsburys, you are right about the store offers. I am a regular online shopper with them and I also noticed that the online site was not showing all of the store offers. I took this up with them at the time and, in the majority of cases, they now have the offers online that are available in store. The gap is where the online store doesn't carry the full range of goods that the store offers. What I do now is to use the online service for most of our regular requirements and then get my "hit" by going into the store and looking for items that aren't included online and any bargains I might have missed. This is much more relaxing and I look forward to getting home and showing my better half how much I saved by buying 300 toilet rolls, 50 TTD sandwiches and 20kg of cheese etc.

I hope this all makes sense.

Mike

Mike_by_the_Sea

Quentin wrote: »

Originally Posted by Mike by the Sea View Post
Thank you for your inquiry (again)

To save me answering this again, can I refer you back to my response to your previous attempt to denigrate my fundraising for a deserving cause.

Your previous answer is patently untrue:

Originally Posted by Mike by the Sea
More misinformation, why should I be surprised.

You posted your charity deal with this title:

Help my local Charity and save money

This was subsequently challenged by a Mod, and you were asked to stick to the rules and give a non referral link. You replied that the charity element would be withdrawn if you were made to comply with the rules.

Another member challenged your claim about "saving money".

There were a number of posts, 2 from you squirming out of complying with the rules, and only after it became apparent that you wouldn't comply with the Mod's request and that you were really advertising under the guise of a charity deal that the Mod then solved the matter by closing the thread.

Hi Quentin

Thankfully, I am aware of the facts involved and not your assumptions. For those who are interested, they can see for themselves how you interpret posts to achieve your own ends.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=966