Utility Warehouse Warning!

sprouts101

I posted a message regarding UWDC and how despite their "Triple Value Guarantee" to provide me with cheaper electricity they had proven to be more expensive on the site earlier this week. Sorry to start a new thread but I thought that anybody considering using them may be interested in the following.

The guarantee reads:

"For your electricity, we guarantee our price will always be cheaper than the prices charged by the regional electricity supplier for the area where you live."

I took the use of the word "always" to mean "at all times, all the time and constantly" which is the standard dictionary definition. Well it seems that UWDC use a very different and somewhat unique definition of the word, this is taken from an email that I got back from one of their customerservice reps earlier today:

"I can confirm however that the all important word 'always' actually refers to a whole year of usage"

Well that's just not what always means is it? I was also made aware through another money saver that there was an additional £21 per year "membership fee" on top of my already more expensive electricity that they hadn't mentioned to me. In all my electricity was going to cost about an extra £50 a year or so, granted not huge money but what sort of an idiot would swap supply to intentionally pay more!?

I'm absolutely disgusted with UWDC, just don't understand how they can make this guarantee and not live up to it.

Avoid at all costs!

Anyway I've also used MSE advice to swap my brodband and phones which makes a total saving on those plus my electricity through energy helpline of about £500 a year so things could be worse!

Quentin

Other relevant points about their phoney "guarantee" apart from not including the "membership fee":

1) They don't include the cheaper on line tariffs that all other companies offer when seeing if their price is competitive

2) They don't include any dual fuel discounts the other companies offer when seeing if their price is competitive.

3) They don't honour it (for what "it" is now worth, taking into account all their exclusions, and adding in their £21 membership fee) unless you pay by direct debit.

NigeWick

sprouts101 wrote: »

I was also made aware through another money saver that there was an additional £21 per year "membership fee"

Are you saying that you did not read the outer cover of the Tariff Booklet or the top of the little box giving "membership benefits" of the information booklet? I ask as the fee is the top line in both places. Did you not check the prices before you signed up? Did you not read the threads on this site? Just a few thoughts.

OTOH, it sounds as though you have a fair complaint if they are not sticking to their own guarantee.

I agree that companies should use plain language and do what they say. I understand that businesses want to make a profit but I believe that it is counter productive to use any form of what I would term sharp practice.

Nigel.

billsavings

See also this warning here : http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=6713805&posted=1#post6713805

martynelmy

I am looking for a supplier who will give me a discount for elec and gas at 4 properties. I have received an off forum offer from UWDC, so thanks for the warning.

sprouts101 wrote: »

I posted a message regarding UWDC and how despite their "Triple Value Guarantee" to provide me with cheaper electricity they had proven to be more expensive on the site earlier this week. Sorry to start a new thread but I thought that anybody considering using them may be interested in the following.

The guarantee reads:

"For your electricity, we guarantee our price will always be cheaper than the prices charged by the regional electricity supplier for the area where you live."

I took the use of the word "always" to mean "at all times, all the time and constantly" which is the standard dictionary definition. Well it seems that UWDC use a very different and somewhat unique definition of the word, this is taken from an email that I got back from one of their customerservice reps earlier today:

"I can confirm however that the all important word 'always' actually refers to a whole year of usage"

Well that's just not what always means is it? I was also made aware through another money saver that there was an additional £21 per year "membership fee" on top of my already more expensive electricity that they hadn't mentioned to me. In all my electricity was going to cost about an extra £50 a year or so, granted not huge money but what sort of an idiot would swap supply to intentionally pay more!?

I'm absolutely disgusted with UWDC, just don't understand how they can make this guarantee and not live up to it.

Avoid at all costs!

Anyway I've also used MSE advice to swap my brodband and phones which makes a total saving on those plus my electricity through energy helpline of about £500 a year so things could be worse!

Browntoa

pm's to other members to sell is NOT Allowed

Mike_by_the_Sea

Browntoa wrote: »

pm's to other members to sell is NOT Allowed

Hi Browntoa

Am I right in assuming that it is ok to pm other members about an opportunity for them to save money when, I concur, it is not appropriate to post such an offer in the thread itself?

I am not looking to be controversial, merely to understand where to find the rules regarding pm's.

best regards

Browntoa

no..it's not allowed either way,

ADVERTISING

This site is free from advertising. Posts on any board considered to be advertising goods, services and/or companies will be removed. We also do not allow advertising via PM

Examples of this can include anything from a specific sales post or a link to your own website in which you attempt to sell something to someone offering their holiday home to forum members. Unfortunately we cannot allow any advertising of any description no matter how honourable the intention.

This includes the Referrals Board (see below).

If you think you have a genuinely good deal please contact a Board Guide for the board you’d like to post it on. If they agree with you they’ll contact the MSE Team and it will be considered. Any final decision will be that of the MSE Team. Please do not question the response with the Board Guide

Poppycat

Yes Browntoa is right sadly the rules are off line at mo only goggle cache picks them up on