Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Cardew

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

Hi Cardew

As usual, a very interesting post with lots of "evidence" of potential savings. However, you failed to refute the point that Nige was making.

To what extent can you "evidentially" respond to his suggestion that UW can be cheaper, although maybe not the cheapest, even if you only take gas and electricity into the equation.

If you compare the emcumbent providers on standard tariffs using the UK average consumption and paying by direct debit with the UW offer for my area, UW would cost £1,173 (including membership and excluding the £100 opportunity) compared with £1,185 - a minimum saving of £12. Not a lot, you might say,

In summary, Nige makes a valid argument which you choose to ignore.

All the best

Mike

Hi Mike,

For the benefit of any prospective UW customers.(or current UW customers if you wish to 'see the light';))

As Mike by the Sea is well aware the post above is classic UW obfuscation and in fact the basis of UW’s discredited Triple Value Guarantee(TVG) which is used by UW salesmen as a selling point to use on the trusting(family and friends) stupid or naïve.

That clever expression “emcumbent(sic)* providers on standard tariffs” requires explanation.

It means if you get gas and electricity from separate companies on their standard tariff, and of course to make the comparison work in UW’s favour you have the most expensive standard tariff from each company for your area of UK. e.g. BG Standard Tariff for gas and npower standard electricity tariff in the Midlands.

So with that ‘sleight of hand’ by using Mike’s figures he comes up with a saving of £12 a year on a total of £1,185.

It really is worth stressing again just what Mike’s explanation means. You have to take the most expensive gas standard tariff for your area, then select a company with the most expensive electricity standard tariff for your area. Then if you compare that most expensive combination available, UW is £12 per year cheaper.

However what if you were lazy(or silly) and simply took both gas and electricity from BG on their standard tariff? Well in my area BG standard tariff is £59 a year cheaper than UW.(Npower standard is £63 cheaper than UW)

So UW's tariff is more expensive than any company's standard dual fuel tariff.

Of course if you really wanted to have a cheap tariff you could get it for £297 per year cheaper than UW.

* Mike doesn’t usually spell words wrongly; however in line with the apparent aim of his post, perhaps he feels that ‘encumbent’ is more likely to confuse than ‘incumbent’

NigeWick

Cardew wrote: »

That is the reality of UW pricing and no amount of obfuscation by UW salesmen can avoid those facts.

No amount of your "facts and comparisons" can refute my fact that I pay Utility Warehouse less for my electricity and gas than I would with any other company or combination of companies. I have repeatedly said that I use the pre payment card to do this. I have also repeatedly said that my method of saving money will not suit everybody. What you repeatedly refuse to accept is that it will suit other people as well as me. I have found a way to save money that fits in with the way I have always done my shopping. Carmine checked his figures and also finds Utility Warehouse to be best value for his personal requirements. The company does not offer you what you want? Fine, stay with the company of your choice. Oh look, there's that word again:- choice. You stick with your choice, and I will stick with my choice. Your choice will suit some people and my choice will suit some others.

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

Quentin

Your gas and electricity is expensive, and you use discount you earn on your card towards paying it off.

Moneysavers wouldn't buy expensive energy in the first place.

Then if they had some discount from their card they could use it for something else a little more exciting!

NigeWick

Quentin wrote: »

Your gas and electricity is expensive, and you use discount you earn on your card towards paying it off.

And if you provided a link to your Utility Warehouse pre payment card beating cashback card, some people may swap to it instead of saving money with Utility Warehouse.

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

Cardew

NigeWick wrote: »

. You stick with your choice, and I will stick with my choice.

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

Your choice? as a UW salesman? No vested interest there then!!;)

Nobody is attempting to persuade you to move from the company from which you derive income.

The point of this exercise, as far as I am concerned, is to give people facts on which they can exercise their considered choice.

You know full well that if UW salesmen were honest and frank about UW's very high gas and electricity prices, few prospective customers would join, and existing customers would leave in droves.

The difference between us, is that you have a financial motive to hide the facts, and my sole motive is to ensure that the facts are known.

1carminestocky

Hmmm...I wasn't approached by a UW saleman, I'm demonstrably much more of a committed money saver than Cardew is, yet I joined UW of my own volition, direct with the company. Why? Because I take advantage of their unbeatable cashback card I get the best possible deal by using them for my gas/electric/phone/BB/calls, that's why. Did the number-crunching. It was the best deal for me.

Readers should be wary of taking lessons in moneysaving from a self-annointed 'moneysaving expert' who uses BT for his phone/BB requirements and admits to having never used a cashback card of any description in order to derive a financial benefit from his retail spend. It's akin to taking advice regarding sending your kid to a comprehensive school from Diane Abbott MP.

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

and admits to having never used a cashback card of any description in order to derive a financial benefit from his retail spend.

Carespress(I prefer that name - you know why)

Here we go again with your usual tactics. Repeat an untruth time and again, and then it becomes 'your truth'.

Perhaps from your 'Cardew' file you can show me where I have ever admitted I have "never used a cashback card of any description".

You really should go back to trolling on other sites - have they lifted the ban on you for spamming yet?

1carminestocky

Cardew wrote: »

Carespress(I prefer that name - you know why)

Here we go again with your usual tactics. Repeat an untruth time and again, and then it becomes 'your truth'.

Perhaps from your 'Cardew' file you can show me where I have ever admitted I have "never used a cashback card of any description".

You really should go back to trolling on other sites - have they lifted the ban on you for spamming yet?

Hmmm...perhaps you can enlighten the group and give us full details of the cashback cards you have previously used, then? :rolleyes: And why you no longer you use it/them? And what cashback card you would presently recommend your imaginary disciples should use? No nonsense bravado/silly postering/deflection, just the facts this time, eh? You know, like the French & Saunders advertising UW on your tv 'most nights of the week' 'fact'...:p Or perhaps wait until the morning, it might be for the best....:beer:

Cardew

1carminestocky wrote: »

Hmmm...perhaps you can enlighten the group and give us full details of the cashback cards you have previously used, then?

Just not good enough Carespress.

This is what you said

(Cardew)and admits to having never used a cashback card of any description in order to derive a financial benefit from his retail spend

Now where have I admitted that, come along Carespress - you are full of bluff.

billsavings

Very interesting article in todays Guardian, about UW. The author clearly has had a good read of this thread.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/dec/05/utility-warehouse-telecom-plus-distributor