Utility Warehouse (Telecom Plus) Discussion

Cardew

The easiest people to sign up first are those who trust you, such as your friends and family

NigeWick wrote: »

Why? I found that to be the hardest market to sell to.

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

Could you explain why?

Could it be that you were bothered by your conscience?;)

RootyTooty_2

Hello

I hope you don't mind me posting.

I am thinking about switching from UW, as I can get a better price on my Gas & Elec elsewhere. Do I have to give UW notice?

I also want to switch my phone line, and end my mobile with them (I have had it for years), so the same question is, do I have to give notice?

I worked out that with my membership fee,my phone was costing me £17.64 a month, and I can get a BT anytime plan for £16.53.

I feel nervous about all of this, as I havn't switched before.

Thanks

Ypaymore

RootyTooty wrote: »

Hello

I hope you don't mind me posting.

I am thinking about switching from UW, as I can get a better price on my Gas & Elec elsewhere. Do I have to give UW notice?

I also want to switch my phone line, and end my mobile with them (I have had it for years), so the same question is, do I have to give notice?

I worked out that with my membership fee,my phone was costing me £17.64 a month, and I can get a BT anytime plan for £16.53.

I feel nervous about all of this, as I havn't switched before.

Thanks

Its no surprise you can beat their energy prices.

You dont normally have to give them any notice as the products you have are not normally subject to contract, and you have had them over a year anyway.

As far as the Gas and Electricity is concerned your new supplier will arrange transfer.Make sure you keep your meter readings up to date with UW.

If you want to keep your existing mobile number watch out as unlike other suppliers they will charge you a admin fee of £20 to get a (pac) porting code .

If you call the BT Customer Options Team they will arrange the transfer. They can offer you. Line Rental (Online Billing) £11.54 a month plus the Anytime Call Plan £4.99 a month ( First 3 months free) Bringing the cost down effectively for the first year to approx £3.75 a month. Its a 12 month rolling contract which you get the opportunity to cancel in month 11. Caller display is inclusive if required unlike UW.

If you push BT their also give you a credit of £24 or £36 on your first or second bill.

Once you instruct BT to arrange transfer you need to tell UW you are leaving.

The BT Customer Options Team Number is accessible via 0800 800 030 (Option 1) make sure you ask to be put specifically through to them .

Plushchris

operastar wrote: »

Wouldn't there be a £125 connection charge from BT on the specific BT package you have outlined, ypaymore?

No

That sort of fee only applies to fitting a new line or reconnecting one that been cut off.

EssexMum_3

RootyTooty wrote: »

Hello

I hope you don't mind me posting.

I am thinking about switching from UW, as I can get a better price on my Gas & Elec elsewhere. Do I have to give UW notice?

I also want to switch my phone line, and end my mobile with them (I have had it for years), so the same question is, do I have to give notice?

I worked out that with my membership fee,my phone was costing me £17.64 a month, and I can get a BT anytime plan for £16.53.

I feel nervous about all of this, as I havn't switched before.

Thanks

Hi Rooty Tooty. First of all I wanted to say I share your trepidation about using this thread to get answers, as every question raised by a genuine customer seems to result in a war of words between regular posters on here! That said, I came here a while back, checked all the info, compared some of the opinions here and made the same decision as you regarding the fuel supply. I'm happy to say I switched with no problems. No notice is necessary, however my UW Rep got in touch this week to see if he could persuade me to change my mind. They will usually cite a glowing report in Which? magazine for customer service, but it doesn't alter the fact that I will be saving a shed load of money by using a different fuel supplier.

As far as the phone/broadband service, this is my experience: I fancied the TalkTalk package that most closely matched my needs but when I applied to switch they told me they were unable to port my existing telephone number from UW. This means I would need a new line and new telephone number installed. I do not wish to change my telephone number, even though to their credit, TalkTalk offered to waive the £59.99 fee for this. So I spoke to BT, who said that my telehone number had originally been a BT line so it would cost nothing to get it back with them. I would have to complete a 12 month contract with BT before I could apply again to move to TalkTalk and so I decided to stay with UW and see how much my phone bill goes up over the next few months, before reconsidering my options. (The reason I expect my phone bill to rise is because, until now, with the two fuels making up my 4-service-package with UW, my anytime calls had been free - you will be in the same boat having had 4 services previously).

I never had a mobile with them, so I don't know if any different rules apply regarding notice of termination.

Quentin

EssexMum wrote: »

So I spoke to BT, who said that my telehone number had originally been a BT line so it would cost nothing to get it back with them. I would have to complete a 12 month contract with BT before I could apply again to move to TalkTalk ......

If there is no need for a new installation you can get round this 12 month minimum contract by going to a telecom company without such a long minimum contract, then switching to Talk Talk (or whoever you want)..

(eg Post Office has no minimum term contract for line rental.)

EssexMum_3

Thanks Quentin, I'll look into that. I really don't undestand why TalkTalk couldn't port the phone line in the first place, if BT/Openreach say it is available to them. I did ask, but there was a lot of blather I don't know about: LLUs etc.

penrhyn

One wonders if its something to do with UW Broadband being supplied by Opal Telecom, who are a Carphone Warehouse company i.e Talk Talk.

Conspiracy theory anyone?:rotfl:

Ypaymore

Quentin wrote: »

If there is no need for a new installation you can get round this 12 month minimum contract by going to a telecom company without such a long minimum contract, then switching to Talk Talk (or whoever you want)..

(eg Post Office has no minimum term contract for line rental.)

From what i understand Essex Mum has UW,s unbundled (LLU) Phone and Broadband Product. (Broadcall)

You cannot move from one LLU provider to another.So UW to TT is out.What you can do if your number originated from BT and you want to keep it is return to BT Free Of Connection Charge under the " Return To Doner Scheme " but you will be subject to a 12 month contract.

Ypaymore

operastar wrote: »

Wouldn't there be a £125 connection charge from BT on the specific BT package you have outlined, ypaymore?

No if the customer has a BT Compatible working line,their would be no connection charge from BT ,or even an admin fee, for transferring line to them.