Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

1carminestocky

Here's an interesting (obviously hypothetical) question: If the whole population of the UK switched to UW tomorrow, do you think, as a whole, the nation would be paying less for their domestic fuel than before or more?

Quentin

Decado23 wrote: »

Regarding the 'triple value guarantee' I explained that in any given month it's possible, even likely that there will be cheaper options elsewhere. On past experience those options aren't likely to remain the cheapest for long but you can save more money if you want to switch regularly.

You have used the "triple value guarantee" to help sell uw to your mother!

But you know it is meaningless - the uw don't attempt to compete with the cheaper online tariffs, which, (had you shown your mother how to sign up for them), would have meant she was getting cheaper energy every month!

My mother "can't be doing with all that" - she's happy to settle for a reasonable price in the long term rather than a cheaper price in the short term. Many on this board will think this foolish...

You must or you wouldn't have mentioned it. Why not be a good son, forget your business and help your Mum get the cheapest deal!

She could be getting broadband much cheaper elsewhere (eg o2 down to £2.50/month if you take advantage of the £60 quidco cashback and £60 discount for being an o2 mobile customer - or £7.50/month if not a mobile customer). Line rental £10.95 with the post office and all (01,02,03)calls free weekday evenings and all weekends - no contract. (Or plenty of other combinations with other suppliers which don't involve minimum spend penalties, monthly club membership fees and all the other uw drawbacks (like not getting a refund of the massive credit the member's mum has we have learnt about).

She could get a proper cashback credit card, full protection and real cashback on all her spend, not forced to use particular retailers to reduce her overpriced energy bills.

Etc etc

Decado23

Edit: To avoid confusion for any who did not see my first post, I am an independent distributor for utility warehouse. I have now updated my sig to avoid any uncertainty.

Quentin wrote: »

You have used the "triple value guarantee" to help sell uw to your mother!

But you know it is meaningless - the uw don't attempt to compete with the cheaper online tariffs, which, (had you shown your mother how to sign up for them), would have meant she was getting cheaper energy every month!



You must or you wouldn't have mentioned it. Why not be a good son, forget your business and help your Mum get the cheapest deal!

She could be getting broadband much cheaper elsewhere (eg o2 down to £2.50/month if you take advantage of the £60 quidco cashback and £60 discount for being an o2 mobile customer - or £7.50/month if not a mobile customer). Line rental £10.95 with the post office and all (01,02,03)calls free weekday evenings and all weekends - no contract. (Or plenty of other combinations with other suppliers which don't involve minimum spend penalties, monthly club membership fees and all the other uw drawbacks (like not getting a refund of the massive credit the member's mum has we have learnt about).

She could get a proper cashback credit card, full protection and real cashback on all her spend, not forced to use particular retailers to reduce her overpriced energy bills.

Etc etc

Thanks again for your advice Quentin, I'm well aware that some tariffs are cheaper than UW, as is my Mum. We have both also noticed that the cheapest tariffs rarely remain the cheapest for long - just looking through the tariff history for some of the 'Big 6' at the switchwithwitch site it's mostly a whole mess of new tariffs (while existing customers continue to pay more) regularly introduced, sometimes available to existing cusomers but only if they ask, sometimes only available to new customers. Old tariffs removed from sale while cheaper replacements come in (soon to be followed by a price hike most likely, while existing customers are still on the old rate anyway).
Obviously someone willing to keep up with what's going on can do well playing the switching game, but it's their game, they make the rules. They are well aware that the cheaper rates available are being subsidised by existing customers still paying over the odds. I just don't want to play that game anymore.

It's convenient that several of the shops in the cashback card scheme are shops she already uses - she's not being forced anywhere. This may not be the case for everybody, obviously - diferent strokes for diferent folks 'n all that.

As I said in my first post, UW is not for everyone. Better deals can be had if you are willing to play the switching game and hunt around but that just isn't going to happen for my mum, or many others. I wouldn't recommend UW for most of the people here who are happy to keep switching, but I hope you can understand that UW is, for some people, a happy 'middle road'.

leesheff

Cardew wrote: »

An eloquent first post if I may say so!

You have very clearly defined the problem, perhaps you have the solution?

Allow UW reps to have a free hand? - or not?

If you wish to find out about UW, may I suggest you ask pointed and specific questions giving no opportunity for obfuscation.

I really don't know if I am going to post on this thread after I say this and I certainly don't want to be drawn into a carefully worded ego contest! I was angry before when I read the thread and the result was for me to blow off some steam. I more than totally stand by what I said (but wish I had made my point in a calmer fashion:cool: ).
I'm not going to loose any sleep over it. That's my perspective.
I don't have a solution to this 'problem' as you call it, and I don't care. I'll tell you why.
I have no control over your opinions. I could spend till the end of time trying to ram my opinions down your throat, but, I'm not going to. I'm happy in my opinions and respect yours. I think you are intellegent enough to make up your own opinion. I can see what you are trying to achieve and I respect that. I also think that it's possible that two opinions can exist at the same time (and sometimes even both be right).

People know that UW works on the basis of distributers, people know that advertising is clever and designed at times to confuse or can be interpreted in different ways, people know that someone with an interest in something will probably give it a positive write up. People know that if someone has a negative experience they will slate it.

Can't they make up their own minds?

My post before was more about the nature of the discussion not the discussion itself. In my opinion some people here have taken this 'debate' to a new level. Maybe these people just can't see that. Apologies if I have ruffled any feathers.
In the words of Deborah, Peter, Duncan and Theo - I'm out:xmassign:

hussaifa

Without a doubt - UWDC is the worst company I have worked with. Staff there openly admit that they treat workers the same as customers. Customer Service Staff attitude stank, mind you. Their opinion was that if they do not save you money - why are you using them - they don't force you to sign up! If you don't like it - leave. I could not believe or accept this attitude so got out as soon as I could, though most customers are roped into 2/3/4 years deals. I mean - who still offers 48 month contracts on mobiles?
The CEO is so tight - the yearly Xmas do - is always held in January (this year too)! And everyone just accepted this...
This said - the distributors were always very friendly, but then they would be as most are on £50k+
Not one of their products would stand the test of a Money Saving Comparison. Sure if you took out five products - you would save - but do you really want to do this?
Grumpy North London staff, 60 mins to get through to gas + electric team, lack of ownership, closed on weekends and after 5.30pm, - they're ripe to be outsourced!!
A company like this has no place on MSE - as this website is about saving money - and UWDC cannot. Comparing against the most expensive tariff in the market is not the way to save money, but this is philosophy of the company and this starts from the induction.
This said - I met some exceptional characters there (incl the distributors support team) but can still painfully name the correspondence and customer service staff to whom this term is alien.
Private PM's welsome - including distributors.

hussaifa

1carminestocky wrote: »

Here's an interesting (obviously hypothetical) question: If the whole population of the UK switched to UW tomorrow, do you think, as a whole, the nation would be paying less for their domestic fuel than before or more?

Well now - for a start you'd be paying £21.12 for being part of the 'club' though would have no benefit if signing for gas and electric.

There is no cashback any more.

The rates are reactive - i.e. they take longer to go down following prices cuts - balanced vs they also take longer.

Plus you have to pay 10p/min at all times to call customer services, which can at times take over an hour (normally around the once a month bill run!)

You might save £30 a year or so - not that you can compare - as UWDC does not list itself on major comparison sites.

Quentin

hussaifa wrote: »

- not that you can compare - as UWDC does not list itself on major comparison sites.

That must be something they tell their employees, because it certainly does appear on the comparison sites - usually low down the page!

Mike_by_the_Sea

hussaifa wrote: »

- you have to pay 10p/min at all times to call customer services

Quote from the website - "Calls to Member Services are charged at 5p per minute using our Home Phone or BroadCall services (free to Silver and Gold members). Charges from mobiles and other networks may vary."

Cardew

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote: »

Quote from the website - "Calls to Member Services are charged at 5p per minute using our Home Phone or BroadCall services (free to Silver and Gold members). Charges from mobiles and other networks may vary."

Is the purpose of your post to prove hussaifa is wrong?

or are you saying that you need to have a UW phone account to only pay 5p a min.

billsavings

Cardew wrote: »

Is the purpose of your post to prove hussaifa is wrong?

or are you saying that you need to have a UW phone account to only pay 5p a min.

Their customer service number is a 5p a minute 0844 number from a BT or Telecom Plus Line (7p connection). I understand if you have enhanced membership its included in inclusive minutes.

I find it hard to believe that all their numerous distributors are on 50k.
Nor do i believe that most of their customers are on long contracts,as most of their products dont have a contract.

I think i will take most of what hussaifa has posted with a pinch of salt.