Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

ColinAllCars

duggie1982 wrote: »

The credit is one month to the next i suppose

Yes just the same as any other utility supplier. The next thing he will be telling us is that the Brit Gas doorknockers need a credit licence.

You are only likely to need a licence if you want to:

• sell on credit
• hire or lease out goods for more than three months
• lend money
• issue credit cards or trading checks
• arrange credit for others
• offer hire purchase terms
• collect debts
• help people with debt problems
• advise on people's credit standing
• administer agreements (but do not collect debts) for creditors or assignees
• help individuals to locate and correct records about their financial standing.

Distributors dont do any of this, the company handles all billing and debt collection if needed.

duggie1982

ColinAllCars wrote: »

Yes just the same as any other utility supplier. The next thing he will be telling us is that the Brit Gas doorknockers need a credit licence.



You are only likely to need a licence if you want to:

• sell on credit
• hire or lease out goods for more than three months
• lend money
• issue credit cards or trading checks
• arrange credit for others
• offer hire purchase terms
• collect debts
• help people with debt problems
• advise on people's credit standing
• administer agreements (but do not collect debts) for creditors or assignees
• help individuals to locate and correct records about their financial standing.

Distributors dont do any of this, the company handles all billing and debt collection if needed.

Very true. They only reason i mentioned it as they offer things like mobile phone contracts, landlines, accidental death & Redundancy Insurance etc. That will be something 'British Gas' dont do. Next he'll be saying they do!!

janninew

Hi all

Just got a quick question regarding estimated bills, i was going to start a new thread but as im with the UW thought i better post here!

Every month i submit me meter readings online and pay for my exact consumption. I find that this suits me best because i can keep better track of my finances and don't like the idea of being in debit/credit.

When i submitted my readings this month i have made a rather stupid mistake! It asks for you gas and electric reference numbers which are on your bill. I stupidly put my electric reference in for both my readings! I didn't realise at the time, so was a bit concerned when i received my large bil this morning. My electric was 24.00 (sorry my pound key doesn't work!) and my gas was 55.00! Even in winter it was never that much! When i looked more closely i saw that my gas reading had been estimated! I call to see why and the lady explained why, see said they couldn't send me another bill but i would be in credit. The reading i submitted at the end of May was 0753 and the last reading i submitted (the one that wasn't used) was 0757, so i was expecting my gas bill to be only a few pounds! I do except that this was my own fault! When i am in credit next month will it just be my gas? Or will it be for electric and phone too?

I was just wondering though how do companies estimate bills? Is the reading pulled out of mid air or is it personal to each account? Looking at my bill for this time last year, it was 11.00 for gas, so i was just wondering where they get 55.00 from?

Thanks in advance!
Jannine

johnjames1

Is the best bet as to how they get the readings thats about 60% above your normal reading.
Best bet is to call in and speak to someone at the end of the month, that way you get over the automated system which according to CS had been down 6 times in 8 months so you were probably lucky.

johnjames1

It is being looked into as most BG etc are employed but if BG did things on a self employed basis then it maybe the case that self employed people will need one. Its an idea to stamp out some practices for instance some areas you are not allowed to call at someones door if you do you can be breaking bye laws etc. If someone is SE then the company shrugs it shoulders gets away with it etc so does the SE if not traceable.
I did not say it was fact though that it was going to be brought in, but I subcribe to a large organisation so there has to be something in it.

1carminestocky

Thanks for the heads up on the online meter reading probs, peeps, I will make sure I ring with my readings when it's time. One of the 'perks' of paying the silver membership, I suppose, it's free to call them at any time (the other 'perk' I don't really wish to take advantage of, of course )

janninew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up on the online meter reading probs, peeps, I will make sure I ring with my readings when it's time. One of the 'perks' of paying the silver membership, I suppose, it's free to call them at any time (the other 'perk' I don't really wish to take advantage of, of course )

Hi Carmine,

I don't think there is a problem with the meter reading service? I never once had a problem getting through when ive called!

Do you use the automated telephone service? I submit mine online now, its a better way i think because they send you an e-mail confirmation with your reading on. Very useful if you have any probelms in the future:D! You should give it ago!

1carminestocky

janninew wrote: »

Hi Carmine,

I don't think there is a problem with the meter reading service? I never once had a problem getting through when ive called!

Do you use the automated telephone service? I submit mine online now, its a better way i think because they send you an e-mail confirmation with your reading on. Very useful if you have any probelms in the future:D! You should give it ago!

I was going on what johnjames1 said with regard to the automated system being down frequently recently but TBH he does appear to have a bit of bee in his bonnet about UW :eek::D. I haven't been switched to gas and electric yet (should be very soon) so am just on Broadcall at the moment but I did request opting out of the budget scheme when I originally applied as I too prefer to pay varying amounts according to what I've actually used each month - can't stand the way the Big 6 force you to pay a set amount each month and risk being in debit (or, most likely, credit) most of the year.

Think I'll go with the online system and check the confirmation email is correct. Thanks for the info.

Ypaymore

johnjames1 wrote: »

It is being looked into as most BG etc are employed but if BG did things on a self employed basis then it maybe the case that self employed people will need one. Its an idea to stamp out some practices for instance some areas you are not allowed to call at someones door if you do you can be breaking bye laws etc. If someone is SE then the company shrugs it shoulders gets away with it etc so does the SE if not traceable.
I did not say it was fact though that it was going to be brought in, but I subcribe to a large organisation so there has to be something in it.

You really do ramble on John.

Answer the question why will they need a credit licence if they dont sell credit etc.

janninew

1carminestocky wrote: »

I was going on what johnjames1 said with regard to the automated system being down frequently recently but TBH he does appear to have a bit of bee in his bonnet about UW :eek::D. I haven't been switched to gas and electric yet (should be very soon) so am just on Broadcall at the moment but I did request opting out of the budget scheme when I originally applied as I too prefer to pay varying amounts according to what I've actually used each month - can't stand the way the Big 6 force you to pay a set amount each month and risk being in debit (or, most likely, credit) most of the year.

Think I'll go with the online system and check the confirmation email is correct. Thanks for the info.

There does seem to be a lot of people with bees in their bonnets on here!!

Paying for what i use monthly does work really well for me, no nasty surprises or large estimated bills, plus as i have been paying for what i use for quite some years, you get a rough idea what your bill will cost depending on the time of the year. Its very handy to look back on (obviously will be slightly different as prices increase/decrease all the time!)
I could never go back to being in credit/debit, seems a very strange way to do things. Almost like me giving the cashier at Sainsbury's a couple of grand, as im going to spend it in the shop anyway throughout the year! Id rather keep my pennies in my own bank account thank you!! Energy companies must make fortune on interest from customers!

Good luck with the switch and i would definatly submit your readings online at the end of the month (do it on the last day if you can, or they will add extra on to makeup the shortfall!)