Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

kippen_noedel

vinnyph wrote: »

Lesson no 1 can be learnt from this.

As UW distributors we are told to not sign prepayment customers because as a company UW do not make a profit from it. The amount charged is passed directly to the energy distribution company who takes all the profit. The usage is actually charged directly to the regional energy distribution company but uses UW customer support so actually UW make a loss if someone is a prepayment customer. Because UW makes no profit from it then the distributor doesn't get paid either. So UW has very few Prepayment meter customers. UW distributors are told to tell the potential customer to get normal meters installed by their existing company if they want to take energy with UW.

lol, you kindly make my previous post even more damning on UW

kippen_noedel wrote: »

As you highlighted they don't invest in infrastructure, neither do they have social tariffs for the vulnerable, etc, etc. A bit like a parasite.

Consider a post office that will not deliver to rural areas but only to the most lucrative sections of the country. That is the business model of UW, bleed the cream, leave the rest to the companies that have real substance. As it happens, I am an investor in UW but only shorterm & only because they offer a good return in an unsettled market. If I was an ethical investor I wouldn't go near them, so in a way I'm a hypocrite but I'm also pragmatic. such a conundrum.

1carminestocky

That's business, KN. I'm assuming you put certain limitations on who you rent your properties out to?

kippen_noedel

1carminestocky wrote: »

Would you label me unfeeling if I said I didn't actually care?

No, I would say pragmatic :beer:

vinnyph

kippen_noedel wrote: »

lol, you kindly make my previous post even more damning on UW

kippen_noedel wrote: »

lAs you highlighted they don't invest in infrastructure, neither do they have social tariffs for the vulnerable, etc, etc. A bit like a parasite.

Just to clear this up because you clearly don't understand how the energy marketplace is set up. What you are stating there is that UW become one of the regional energy companies. They would not be able to do so. The lots were drawn when the nationalised energy infrastructure was privatised. UW do not make the rules, those are made between the regional energy distribution companies, the government and ofgem. UW cannot provide prepayment rates directly, its because of the prepayment meter itself. UW provide a billing service to the customer. However in contrast the prepayment meter information goes directly to the energy distribution company as does the payment, UW doesn't get involved in the process. However, if someone were with UW on prepayment its UW customer service that is used. So UW make a loss if someone has prepayment with them.

You haven't been reading the News of the World have you?

1carminestocky

Is there still a guaranteed nipple on every page? Or is that the Sunday Sport? And is it only ONE nipple? And what is the nipple guarantee? Anyone seen the small print?

jellygoodfellow

K N.
Lots of companies in the utility sectors that UW operate dont have social tariffs etc doe it make them all parasites?

1carminestocky

Actually, Ebico don't have a social tariff...do they? *runs and hides*

vinnyph

Actually when i said that the government makes the rules I made a mistake. 75% of rules are being made by the European union on our behalf if you believe what UKIP state.

Just pondering,

As a UW distributor would I be allowed to be a member of cardews anti UW faction to bring balance. To not be allowed could be seen as non democratic. does this mean that cardews anti UW faction have become a money saving expert dictatorship?

kippen_noedel

Ebico as you probably know is part of SSE, set up specifically for low income homes.

As far as I know, other than niche green energy companies, everyone has a social tariff except UW.

kippen_noedel

vinnyph wrote: »

Actually when i said that the government makes the rules I made a mistake. 75% of rules are being made by the European union on our behalf if you believe what UKIP state.

UKIP are probably more right than wrong in saying that.

As for newspapers, I never buy or read any, closest I get is an online subscription for the FT best £3.99 a week you can spend.