Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Cardew

vern190374 wrote: »

Ah the usual UW basher.

It's quite simple actually, but I'll explain it to you.

You will notice that each provider has a different metric for billing. By this I mean that some have low standing charges, some high. Some bill at a fixed rate per unit and some will discount only after a certain level of units are used.

Therefore it stands to reason if you are a 'low' energy user then you will benefit from paying a 'lower' standing charge so long as the billed unit price is not excessive. A high energy user could potentially benefit from the reverse.

I forget the company on one of sites I saw which is being touted as the best current tariff (it's not one of the big six and I will dig it out if you need proof) : for me personally as a low energy user of gas their standing charge was over 9 times the amount of what I pay with UW and the differntial in their unit price was minimal. So for me it makes sense to pay a higher charge per unit with UW than 8-9 times the standing charge before I have even turned anything on.

Obivously if you are a high user of units then the standing charge may not be such an issue as there is a cut off point where you would benefit from the cheaper per unit price.

For others this may not be the case.

For gas in particular, standing charges make the cost comparison differntial harder to work out, especially when comparing bills from the summer months when typcially gas usage is at its lowest.

Vern,

The point you are making is that you have actually found a company who have higher gas charges than UW for low users?

That without doubt is correct - the advice is clearly avoid that company.

It is a generally accepted wisdom on this forum that Ebico is the cheapest for low gas consumption. They have one flat rate,(no tier or daily standing charge) same rate paying by DD, quarterly or pre-pay.

However as they don't give any dual fuel discount(like UW) or discount for payment by DD(like UW) and their Electricity is expensive(like UW!), they rarely give the best overall deal. (like UW!)

However if a low user you could take Ebico for gas, still keep your other services with UW(if you must) and get the services of your beloved cashcard.

If you post your consumption, perhaps we can work out the best deal for you(and your customers?);)

Cardew

vern190374 wrote: »

Sorry can't remember the username but you are right it is First Utility. This was a good example for me becuase although the comparison site had recommended this for me I would have actually been worse off due to my non average usage.

This I really can't understand!

You cannot be using the comparison websites correctly.

If you enter in your consumption, it lists all the tariffs in order - cheapest first.

How does the website recommend First Utility for you if you have non-average usage?

forextc

Thanks for the offer but I am still good on my UW deal. As I say, it is a bundled package and while I realise I could probably save a few more pounds by going with Ebico it does not detract from the fact that I would lose out in other ways. Having four services with UW is still by far the better option for me for my circumstances. Believe me that I was as sceptical as yourself until I did the figures. I may not have the best individual deals but I have a great value deal for the time and effort spent.

Plushchris, I am not denying what you post and I never had and never will. If you care to look at my previous posts you will see this is the case. The point I keep labouring is that you are correct in saying that UW are not the cheapest at present against some of the competition in terms of raw energy costs. However you need to accept that most UW customers are not just fuel users and save this differential in other ways. Depending on how you look at it I don't pay for my electric or maybe I don't pay for my phone etc by using my cashcard also. Also for many signing up now the £100 rebate is a real boon. I even have customers who are able to budget their finances better from the single consolidated payment. As a consequence they are better off. Cheap prices are not the be all and end all to budgeting effectively.

forextc

One further point which I am sure the knowlegable posters on here will be quick to google and post the answers to?

How long has the Gas and Electric market been dergulated?

And the supplementary - how many customes are still with BG?

How long has the telecoms market been deregulated?

And the supplementary - how many customers are still with BT?

On a final note. Care to share with me the cars that you drive?

forextc

uptomyeyeballs wrote: »

Just popped in to see what this is all about ...... wish I hadn't. :eek:

lol! Just the usual of neither side accepting that the other can have their own opinion!

Plushchris

vern190374 wrote: »

One further point which I am sure the knowlegable posters on here will be quick to google and post the answers to?

How long has the Gas and Electric market been dergulated?

And the supplementary - how many customes are still with BG?

How long has the telecoms market been deregulated?

And the supplementary - how many customers are still with BT?

On a final note. Care to share with me the cars that you drive?

You've been learning from Carmine havent you?




So what results do you get when you put your actual usage into the comparison sites vern?

janninew

Hello All

As you all probably know I am currently a happy UW customer but I'm needing some advice as my situation has changed!

I have today been provided with a laptop and internet access which will be paid for by my employee. So now I no longer need to pay UW for broadband. So what is going to happen now? Will I lose my free calls if I cancel my broadband?
I'm confused about what I should do?

Any help? I am now thinking that maybe I should just keep my landline with UW and change suppliers for gas and electric, but I'm very wary. If I just use UW for landline and calls, do they offer free calls after 6.00pm and the weekends? I really need to keep at least one service with UW as I use the cashback card very heavily.

Any ideas?

forextc

Well funnily enough I get cheaper results with other suppliers as I've aready said.

I think you should have gone to specsavers or you need to increase the font on your monitor... maybe even reading classes would help!

But I would STILL BE NO BETTER OFF BY GOING ON THOSE TARRIFS as my total utilty cost would be GREATER!

Try as I might I can't find any Comparison sites where I get my Electricity for free?

And lets be honest, it's hard to beat free, don't you agree? :beer:

forextc

Hi jannienw

On a quick view on what you have put I take it that you can't just keep your UW broadband and get your employeer to pay? I assume they want you to switch provider?

If that is the case then you would effectively lose one service and so your free calls would only then apply to evenings and weekends.(ie. you would still have three services left)

Why do you say about switcing away your gas and electric? As the package 'unbundles' the benefits do decrease. Do you make most of your calls in the day? If not then you shouldn't really be losing out much.

Can you supply some more information?

penrhyn

janninew wrote: »

Hello All

As you all probably know I am currently a happy UW customer but I'm needing some advice as my situation has changed!

I have today been provided with a laptop and internet access which will be paid for by my employee. So now I no longer need to pay UW for broadband. So what is going to happen now? Will I lose my free calls if I cancel my broadband?
I'm confused about what I should do?

Any help? I am now thinking that maybe I should just keep my landline with UW and change suppliers for gas and electric, but I'm very wary. If I just use UW for landline and calls, do they offer free calls after 6.00pm and the weekends? I really need to keep at least one service with UW as I use the cashback card very heavily.

Any ideas?

Would you employer be prepared to reimburse you for your broadband charges from UW? Or are they providing you with mobile broadband?