Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

hougtimo

Apologies if this is classed as "bumping" an old topic, I do see that it was active untill quite recently.

I have just bought a UW franchise (by just bought, I mean nearly a year ago - but didn't bother with it untill 2 months ago).

So, Yes, I am a distributor. Not touting on here though, as I will only deal with people in my area. I don't belive a forum is anywhere to advertise or do business.

I also do not see UW as my own business. I work under franchise for them. My businesses are what I spend most of my time running.

I went into UW wanting to hate it TBH. When I went on the initial "Careers Opportunity Presentation" and the training doos it appeared to me that I had joined some mad cult. However, the company does operate ethically and the financial benefits for me are fantastic - makes sense to stick with it.

As I said, I have only started actively growing this business in the last 2 months. In that time I have built up a good customer base generally saving my customers about 50-60% on their home energy bills. As it happens, at the moment, UW are cheaper than any other energy provider that will provide to my area.

The best story I have is my local papershop who were paying 29p per unit. One form later, they're paying just 9p per unit This has actually enabled the owner to take a higher annual wage from his business.

After my first two months I am now earning a four-figure sum every month from UW - nice return for 2 hours work per week. Infact, it's double what my other businesses are bringing in (although after 3 years of tirelessly advertising new products, dealing with dodgy web developers & near-bankrupcy my income from those is starting to rise nicely).

Also, there are some inaccuracies from non-distributors on the last page of posts. Once you get the Mini - It's yours. No fees, no nothing. Sell it if you like.

This is just my view on the company, and how it works for me.

Quentin

hougtimo wrote: »

......the company does operate ethically and the financial benefits for me are fantastic - makes sense to stick with it......

...............As it happens, at the moment, UW are cheaper than any other energy provider that will provide to my area........

......After my first two months I am now earning a four-figure sum every month from UW - nice return for 2 hours work per week. ......This is just my view on the company, and how it works for me....

How do you reconcile making the claim that they are ethical when for starters we know the ASA has adjudicated against them for false and misleading advertising?

When you say they are the cheapest energy provider in your area, how do you measure that? (Bearing in mind you would have to be way below the next cheapest all the time as you also charge your customers monthly membership fees on top of their energy bills). If what you say is true, then why isn't everyone in your area posting about it here so that all moneysavers in your area can benefit by getting their energy from you?

And if they really pay you at least £125 an hour, then this is truly the business we should all be in!

keggs

I haven't bothered to comment on this forum for a long time, simply because like many forums it always ends in a two way fight - one saying how good it it is - the other saying how dodgy it is etc. Back and forth - nothing constructive.

I have been a a customer for a long time and a very part time distributor for nearly as long.

Just one question to all those who like to denigrate the Utility Warehouse. If the company is so bad or dodgy as you seem to think, why has it managed top last for over 10 years? I know the answer do you?

May I suggest the reason you don't like it it is you don't like the very ethical and egalitarian system it uses called referral marketing. This type of business is used by very many companies and in the case of UW it could very well help a lot of people over the coming months both save money and help develop a second (and much needed 2nd income) if we are heading for a recession as some are arguing.

Best wishes
Steve

1carminestocky

I posted the following on another thread yesterday and I think i'ts relevant to the discussion here:

Yesterday, 12:34 PM #14 1carminestocky
MoneySaving Newbie


Join Date: Jul 2008
Post Count: 28
Thanked 13 Times in 5 Posts



Whilst I would like to stresss I am NOT a distributor, I did look at the business a while ago and I can see the point of it (I didn't join because at the time i didn't think I had sufficient time to devote to making a success of it). My dad is a case in point. He had been paying his leccy and gas to what was probably the most expensive company for years(BG). This was before I started lurking on sites like this and became sufficiently savvy to get him to change to the cheapest deal (currently Ebico for him). The reason I did this is because he's my dad, of course, and there were no financial incentives but I'm a very busy person and it really isn't viable for me to do it for ALL my elderly relatives, so I'm asssuming they are on deals that are no good for them.
I suppose this is where UW come in, because the distributors are incenticised to get these people to switch from these rubbish deals (I would imagine a huge number of people are STILL paying gas at the standard BG rate!) and, certainly in my area, UW's energy prices are far better than BG's standard ones. Just about ANY tariff is better than the big 6's standard ones. Just my thoughts.

djasha68

I just want ot know if UW or T+ are very competitive. Can someone say it costs 10p a KW compared to British Gas 3778888pence per KW.
Not interested in hearing about how they have changed peoples lives, just want actuall prices, nothing else.

Can you do that sort of comparison?

Quentin

It's not straightforward, as their tariffs are complicated and don't include their membership fees (and you have to become a member before they will supply you. These range from £1.76 to £3 a month).

Also, they charge different standing charges and energy costs depending on what sort of user you are (low, standard or high).

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

It's not straightforward, as their tariffs are complicated and don't include their membership fees (and you have to become a member before they will supply you. These range from £1.76 to £3 a month).

Also, they charge different standing charges and energy costs depending on what sort of user you are (low, standard or high).

To be fair, Quentin (something you never seem to be when discussing UW), their tariffs are far less complicated than the huge majority of the tariifs out there. It's a flat rate standing charge and a flat rate charge per unit as opposed to Tier 1 at 1143kw per quarter, Tier 2 for the rest rubbish with most. The £1.76 per month membership fee would appear to be the difference between what BT would charge for line rental (the vast majority of GB public STILL pay this!) and what UW charge, funnily enough.

Quentin

1carminestocky wrote: »

It's a flat rate standing charge and a flat rate charge per unit

No it isn't.

As I posted, there are 3 tariffs for both g + e, with 3 different standing charges for each. (Not counting the different charges for pre-pay, non dd etc)

Before you can work out a comparison, you need to know which category of user you are. (Their website doesn't explain the differences).

Perhaps you ought to get your facts straight before posting comments like:

To be fair, Quentin (something you never seem to be when discussing UW), their tariffs are far less complicated than the huge majority of the tariifs out there. It's a flat rate standing charge and a flat rate charge per unit

The membership fee is between £1.76 and £3 a month.

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

No it isn't.

As I posted, there are 3 tariffs for both g + e, with 3 different standing charges for each. (Not counting the different charges for pre-pay, non dd etc)

Before you can work out a comparison, you need to know which category of user you are. (Their website doesn't explain the differences).

Perhaps you ought to get your facts straight before posting comments like:

Crikey. :rolleyes: How many tariffs do BG/npower/Scottish Power etc etc have? Less than 3? I know you hate this company with a passion, Quentin, but come on, man...

billsavings

1carminestocky wrote: »

The £1.76 per month membership fee would appear to be the difference between what BT would charge for line rental (the vast majority of GB public STILL pay this!) and what UW charge, funnily enough.

Thats just a coincedence. You still pay a fee even if you dont take line rental. Have you joined them as a distributor.:D