Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Quentin

Uw have cynically changed the wording of their "triple value guarantee", for their members "complete peace of mind".

They no longer point out that they don't include any on line or dual fuel tariffs (or the club membership fee), in their so called guarantee to be "competitve" - we are still waiting for someone from uw to explain how anyone can claim against such a meaningless guarantee!

Instead they now use this "innocent" phrase:

for your complete peace of mind we guarantee our prices will always remain competitive compared to the cheapest standard tariffs available from the "Big 6" suppliers.

When this is paraphrased by the mad keen second cousin who wants all the family to join his club, how many will be told exactly what is the value these days of being "competitive" with "standard" tariffs?

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

They never worry about misleading titles - for years they told their members they gave them cashback at the end of each year depending on how many services they took. Of course they didn't, you had to stay with them and they would credit your account.

You point out the biggest catch of all - you cannot get any cash at all, just discount off their products which are comparitively expensive anyway.

If they are as safe as you say they are, why do they highlight the risks you need to be prepared to take when applying for the card? Plus there is the additional risk of no "standard mastercard" FSA protection on purchases.

I think maybe the lack of discussion on this topic (which you seem so anxious to continue) could be due to a lack of interest in uw matters on this moneysaving site in general, and this latest product in particular.

Of course, the opposing view would be that this card is relatively hard to find fault with (even you have been scraping the barrel with this one, Quentin :rolleyes: ) and they don't want to be seen to be actually praising something connected with this company. There's never a lack of discussion when someone brings up possible negative aspects of this company, is there? do you REALLY believe any of the 'usual suspects' in this thread wouldn't be chomping at the bit to pull this new initiative apart if they could think of any argument credible enough to actually pull it apart with? :rotfl:

PS Have you SEEN the new BG Click Energy 5 prices, btw?? :eek:


To be 'in profit' with this card, you would need to load and spend precisely £68 per month at one or several of the major retailers shown. And, before you ask, I'm actually INCLUDING the £1.76/mth club fees in this calculation and I've even taken into account the interest lost on 5% current accounts (I've calculated a month's interest even though in reality it would never come to that, of course). Just totally covering all the bases...

The fact I have INCLUDED the £1.76 club fees in this equation then of course means you are getting the line rental and one CPS (if that is indeed what you must do ) for a very competitive £9.99 per month (BT certainly would charge you quite a bit more for the same deal including fully itemised paper billing!). Of course, people who regularly shop at Sainsburys will be quids in, lol.

keggs

Hi 1Carminestocky

If someone want the £8.99 line rental they get it as part of the Home Phone service. Quentin is quite right you can't just line rental on its own but to be honest it would be ridiculous to do so anyway.

Re FSA - the FSA will know all about the cashback card I have no doubt because I can access a document about FSA regulations regarding UW member benefits.

The cashcard is just one of many added value benefits. There is even one for people who are made redundant - the company will pay your utility bills for 6 months while you look for a job. £3 for this in the present climate is in my view value for money.

Some obviously will disagree with me but hey that's life!

Incidentally in case the naysayers here think I am have decided to continue arguing I haven't. I will only comment if I am asked a question which I can answer.

Still a UW customer and distributor and intend remaining so for the rest of my life when I can will my business to my 2 sons.

Regards
Steve

1carminestocky

Thanks for that, Keggs. Another question: What's the total cost for laptop broadband per month? I'm with an LLU'd exchange, btw. Including the £1.76/mth and anything else you have to order? I'm hoping people reading some of these posts don't think the £1.76 membership fee is paid PER SERVICE, btw, lol..

Quentin

Those reading here will certainly wonder why you keep posting questions on UW which allows their reps to do some advertising.

Most genuine enquirers would go to the relevant company direct, not seek their answers on this forum.

1carminestocky

Quentin wrote: »

Those reading here will certainly wonder why you keep posting questions on UW which allows their reps to do some advertising.

Most genuine enquirers would go to the relevant company direct, not seek their answers on this forum.

Really?? So why do we have countless threads/posts on this forum from posters asking questions about the other energy company's products and services? Really, Quentin, you're going to have to come up with a much more convincing argument than that, my friend...:rolleyes:


PS I'm sure if I PM'd Keggs and he replied that would be seen as against the forum rules, so i will post questions on here. Any more objections?

Quentin

keggs wrote: »

Re FSA - the FSA will know all about the cashback card I have no doubt because I can access a document about FSA regulations regarding UW member benefits.

What is the relevance of this?

You state the FSA know about the cashback card, but one of the risks the uw points out about this uw version mastercard is that there is none of the usual financial services protection afforded to users of mastercards with it.

eg. should anyone use it to book a flight with an airline that then went bust then they couldn't hope for any help getting a refund from the card issuer.

Choc

Carmine, £29.99 p/m + £1.76 - £3 MEMBERSHIP!!! 2 Year contract.


Mark
UW customer and distributor

What are the new click prices Carmine?

1carminestocky

Choc wrote: »

Carmine, £29.99 p/m + £1.76 - £3 MEMBERSHIP!!! 2 Year contract.


Mark
UW customer and distributor


What are the new click prices Carmine?

Thanks for that, Choc.

Click 5 new Gas prices:

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/pdf/Click5-gas.pdf A 44% increase!

My electricity (Yorkshire) Tier 2 has increased from 8.002p to 10.781p!! 35% increase!

They have launched Click 6 which is cheaper than these but I'm suspecting Click 5 punters will have to request to be put on it? crafty b*ggers!

Quentin

keggs wrote: »

There is even one for people who are made redundant - the company will pay your utility bills for 6 months while you look for a job. £3 for this in the present climate is in my view value for money.

Another misleading claim from a uw rep. The £3 mentioned as the cost for this benefit is just not true.

And they don't "pay your utility bills for 6 months" if you are eligible. They will just pay a maximum £150 of your utility bills for each of the 6 months, and only if you get your utilities from the uw. (The extra cost of taking your utilities from the uw instead of the cheapest supplier needs to be taken into account)

To get the redundancy cover you need to first qualify and must have been a "gold" member of the uw "club" for a minimum of 6 months, (at least £18 for the cover, not £3), during which time you must also have at least one service from them. (cost not known, but probably could get it cheaper elsewhere!). And your account must have been run impeccably and all payments be up to date.

Amongst many other get out clauses, you don't get it if you are made redundant but are getting payment in lieu of notice, you didn't work in a full time job or you changed employers during the 6 months prior to being made redundant.

And after making a claim, you must be in work for at least 12 months continuously before being eligible for another.