Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

chrisclipson

1carminestocky wrote: »

Precisely!

Not sure what your point is; I can just see the advertising campaign - 'Utility Warehouse - just as !!!! as all the others...'

I know which company is best for me because I have done the research. I would never buy from anyone, from any company, who approached me in the first place, and if they are already known to you (the UW model) that just increases the likelihood of (a) not getting all the information you should have and (b) making a bad decision.

That's why I find UW's business model morally questionable, quite apart from its similarity to an illegal pyramid scheme. The fact that the company is making massive profits (which some posters quote as evidence of the company's 'goodness') just means they must be ripping someone off somewhere...

1carminestocky

chrisclipson wrote: »

Not sure what your point is; I can just see the advertising campaign - 'Utility Warehouse - just as !!!! as all the others...'

I know which company is best for me because I have done the research. I would never buy from anyone, from any company, who approached me in the first place, and if they are already known to you (the UW model) that just increases the likelihood of (a) not getting all the information you should have and (b) making a bad decision.

That's why I find UW's business model morally questionable, quite apart from its similarity to an illegal pyramid scheme. The fact that the company is making massive profits (which some posters quote as evidence of the company's 'goodness') just means they must be ripping someone off somewhere...

This company you are using and which is best for you - are you entirely happy with the way it conducts its business? Is how they conduct business more important than getting the cheapest price?

jimexbox

misgrace wrote: »

Actually, I have the leaflet that says it, and it says they will always be cheaper than BG

I had a quick nose at thier website, and it says along the same.

I'm still not too sure, as there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is always a catch somewhere, but I will do more research.

You have to remember that the 'guarantee' excludes dual fuel and online tariffs. My own tariff, Eon online extra saver 14 is the cheapest for me in my area, UW are 57th cheapest, 18% more over the year. They are ranked with the green energy tariffs, which are pretty expensive. UW are a reseller of another supplier Npower, you are simply adding another layer which creams of a little for themselves.

KimYeovil

NigeWick wrote: »

Carmine did his sums a while back and asked if anybody could beat the costs he quoted by using another company or group of companies for his requirements. So far nobody has managed it.

Yes they have.

penrhyn

I would be quite happy to recommend Ebico, a not for profit company, the customer service (from Southern Electric) is excellent.
You pay the same whether you are on a prepayment meter or use Direct Debit.
They also have a single flat rate, no standing charge tariff.
Caveat.
You will only save money with them if you are a relatively low user.

KimYeovil

penrhyn wrote: »

I would be quite happy to recommend Ebico, a not for profit company, the customer service (from Southern Electric) is excellent.
You pay the same whether you are on a prepayment meter or use Direct Debit.
They also have a single flat rate, no standing charge tariff.
Caveat.
You will only save money with them if you are a relatively low user.

I think you've got the wrong thread.

kippen_noedel

chrisclipson wrote: »

1.
The fact that the company is making massive profits (which some posters quote as evidence of the company's 'goodness')
2. just means they must be ripping someone off somewhere...

1. UW is based on socialist principles, didn't you know........... :eek:

2. if people save money by moving to them they are not being ripped off, ok, they could normally get a better deal elsewhere but that is the case with most profitable companies. It's called competition.

penrhyn

KimYeovil wrote: »

I think you've got the wrong thread.

A question was posed regarding energy companies that you would recommend, I should have stuck a quote in though, I forgot, probably laughing too much at the time.

1carminestocky

penrhyn wrote: »

I would be quite happy to recommend Ebico, a not for profit company, the customer service (from Southern Electric) is excellent.
You pay the same whether you are on a prepayment meter or use Direct Debit.
They also have a single flat rate, no standing charge tariff.
Caveat.
You will only save money with them if you are a relatively low user.

Where on their site does it say this, though?

Even on the 'bald' figures, not taking into account the discount I will earn, Ebico is more expensive for me than UW. UW are highly profitable. We have a couple of people on here who claim that UW make massive profits so they must be ripping off customers. Ebico would charge me more and they are not-for-profit. It doesn't make sense.

penrhyn

I'm not sure how their business model works, but I imagine that the direct debit customers are subsidising the prepayment ones.
http://www.ebico.co.uk/html/a_about.php

I did put the point in about low users.
I use them for gas for my 9000kwh per year, at £322 they were the cheapest supplier, as a quick check shows me that Atlantic have a tarrif thats 3% cheaper, O smeg!

BTW how is your switching progressing?