Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

jimexbox

uptomyeyeballs wrote: »

I've lost the will to live.

I must of missed your reply, are you a UW customer yet?

jimexbox

Cardew wrote: »

penrhyn,

I often wonder just what the advantages are for us mere mortals in having slightly faster speeds.

In this house I get around 3000/448kbps. I also frequently use 'blazing fast' cable in other locations abroad.

Frankly I find very little difference for most of my surfing, even when downloading large files it is the servers that restrict download speed.

Just a thought!

I noticed a slight differnce surfing the net when I went from 512k to 1Mb. After that 1Mb > 2Mb > 4Mb >10Mb < 5Mb, made zero difference to web surfing. You can download large files quicker, that's if their server can handle the speed.

20/50/100Mb may be useful in future streaming HD content, though why anyone want 50Mb from Virgin at the moment is anyone's guess, possibly willy waving. Or maybe downloading *cough* from newsgroups which can max your connection out.

1carminestocky

Whilst distance from the exchange and dodgy extension wiring limit the speed, I would imagine my UW net connection speed would have to be classed as amazingly consistent. It's just the same score all the bloody time, no matter what time of day I speedtest it! :eek: There doesn't appear to be any other posters posting their speed (including PC who requested I post mine. Strange.)

Plushchris

1carminestocky wrote: »

Whilst distance from the exchange and dodgy extension wiring limit the speed, I would imagine my UW net connection speed would have to be classed as amazingly consistent. It's just the same score all the bloody time, no matter what time of day I speedtest it! :eek: There doesn't appear to be any other posters posting their speed (including PC who requested I post mine. Strange.)

But not being with UW for broadband would make my speed irrelevant in this thread, I also dont post on here about having an "up to 24mb connection" when the speed isnt anywhere close either.

But since you ask..

1carminestocky

Fine. I was just surprised you didn't make further comment on my speedtest when you'd suggested I ignored your request to put it up earlier, even though my speeds are not exactly 'Cardew in other locations'-esque. Having said that, maybe I should make more of the UW upload speed instead of the download speed now, judging by your result.

I believe BT now state up to 20mb in thier bumph.

PS Being with BT do you experience any of the dreaded throttling at peak times? I suppose a.m. speedtests are all well and good but the real test of a connection is peak. We'll have a butchers tonight.

PS Absolutely uncanny!

SwanJon

This is a perfect example of my issue with UW. It relies on a loose network of individuals with seemingly little oversight.

I'm sure keggs would ask for more information if he thought he was deficient, the issue was he thought he was right, so wouldn't have asked. Keggs became a UW ID before training was compulsory. How many others are not trained or have 'forgotten' their training.

Keggs believes that providing a quote is misselling - is this a keggs-only view, or is it UW wide? Surely comparing prices from incomaptible tariffs is misselling. What about compaing prices with VAT with those without? Or leaving out that annoying little Standing charge?

For those of you not up to speed with the thread, Keggs is an independent distributor for UW. This means that he identifies prospects, completes contracts on UW's behalf, and for this they financially recompense him. He says:

keggs wrote: »

I am not a paid salesman.

Make your own mind up.

penrhyn

Cardew wrote: »

penrhyn,

I often wonder just what the advantages are for us mere mortals in having slightly faster speeds.

In this house I get around 3000/448kbps. I also frequently use 'blazing fast' cable in other locations abroad.

Frankly I find very little difference for most of my surfing, even when downloading large files it is the servers that restrict download speed.

Just a thought!

I think its satisfying to know that you are getting the best speed possible from your connection, quite a few people suffer from problems that are self inflicted by poor wiring and are quick to blame the ISP, when a few simple tweaks could improve it.
Any system is only as good as the weakest link of course, I used to be quite happy with a 0.5Mbps connection. I guess if there are a number of users at home any they are all hitting the BBC I-player in HD then a slow connection with start gowning a bit.
Of course the ISPs aren't adverse to limiting your speed at peak times.
Above a certain speed however its probably a case of boys and their toys.

Quentin

patman99 wrote: »

At least UW are homest enoughto tell you how much your 'service charge' is unlike BG who hide it in the first 200 units.

You have misunderstood this system (wonder who could have mislead you?)

BG, (and others except uw), offer this type of tariff (with no standing charge, but an increased price for the first set of units used) on purpose to help users, not hide it. If you use in excess of the first tier of units you are then paying no more for your energy overall than if you took a uw type standing charge tariff. (Though the uw tariff will be far more expensive than the cheapest available!)

But if you are an occasional low user for any reason (eg long hols, barbeque summer etc), and don't use up all the first tier of units, then you only pay for the units you use, and don't have to pay a daily standing charge as well!

Compare this with the uw system of daily standing charges irrespective of whether or not you have occasional low useage - unless you are on their low user tariff when you have to pay them their most expensive rates on every unit you use!

keggs

SwanJon wrote: »

This is a perfect example of my issue with UW. It relies on a loose network of individuals with seemingly little oversight.

I'm sure keggs would ask for more information if he thought he was deficient, the issue was he thought he was right, so wouldn't have asked. Keggs became a UW ID before training was compulsory. How many others are not trained or have 'forgotten' their training.

Keggs believes that providing a quote is misselling - is this a keggs-only view, or is it UW wide? Surely comparing prices from incomaptible tariffs is misselling. What about compaing prices with VAT with those without? Or leaving out that annoying little Standing charge?

For those of you not up to speed with the thread, Keggs is an independent distributor for UW. This means that he identifies prospects, completes contracts on UW's behalf, and for this they financially recompense him. He says:

Make your own mind up.

You know exactly what I mean by the phrase not a paid salesman.

Yes I am a salesman in the general sense of word. Everything in life is selling whether you receive financial reward or not. I have nevr denied this. But there is a subtle difference between what I & other people in network marketing do and what people who work for a company and go around the country for instance selling pills and potions, energy and receiving a salary plus commission every month.

I sell my services as a professional dance teacher to my pupils. I get paid. But ask any of my pupils if I am a salesman then would say no. He is a dance teacher.

You know exactly what I was implying yet once again you deliberately try to 'twist' it to suit your own argument.

As for miss selling unless the rules have changed (perhaps Aveneger can correct me if I am wrong) I am not supposed to calculate anybody's energy usage and compare it to UW's tariffs. UW has that responsibility.

Incidentally, I haven't heard of any saleman selling other companies energy do any sort of calculation yet they continually phone people up including me and tell me they are cheaper than my current supplier. How do they know? If eople fall for that (and can imagine they do) that is miss selling.

NigeWick

billsavings wrote: »

When you meet with potential new customer do you compare their existing provider,s tariffs with yours to see if you can actually save them money .

I show them the Utility Warehouse tariff booklet and let them check for themselves. I also explain there are ongoing membership fees etc to be taken into account. I don't want to be saying "This'll save you money" if it won't. People are happy with the truth, especially when they work out the numbers for themselves. Treating people like adults has its rewards too. A happy "uncustomer" may just point somebody else my way in the knowledge that I will be honest with them. As has been said repeatedly by me, Utility Warehouse is not for everybody but there are a lot of people out there who can benefit by becoming a customer.

I am an independent distributor with Utility Warehouse and the views I express may not be shared by the company.