Utility warehouse, good or bad?

JK25

Hi all,

My partners friend has recently started promoting Utilities warehouse as a way to save money and I said I would look into it, especially with the bills only going up!! 

Does anyone know anything about them? Has anyone used them? 

Thanks. 

BUFF

a) this may not be the best forum for this question as this is for LPG, Heating Oil, Solid & Other Fuels ... 
b) from what I know they try to get you to move all your utilities to them so what you may gain on a swing you may lose on a roundabout ...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6331530/utility-warehouse

QrizB

JK25 said:

My partners friend has recently started promoting Utilities warehouse as a way to save money ...

This will be because your partner's friend is on commission, and will receive a payment if you switch.

Utilities Warehouse can be sligjhtly cheaper than other energy suppliers but only if you switch your phone, boradband and mobile to them too - which might wipe out any savings.

JK25

QrizB said:

JK25 said:

My partners friend has recently started promoting Utilities warehouse as a way to save money ...

This will be because your partner's friend is on commission, and will receive a payment if you switch.

Utilities Warehouse can be sligjhtly cheaper than other energy suppliers but only if you switch your phone, boradband and mobile to them too - which might wipe out any savings.

I keep an eye on our bills anyway, our vroadband currently needs changing but otherwise I think we are pretty good and staying on top of them. It's just the energy bills that will go up and there is no decent fix for that so it's just staying sensible and watching this space I think.
Thank you 

EssexHebridean

There was another thread on this subject recently too - I posted my views on there. Probably not what your partner’s friend would want to read! https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79030153#Comment_79030153

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this to the main Energy board

bagand96

Often people go to great lengths to tell you why UW is not a pyramid scheme.  I always ponder that if it definitely isn't a pyramid scheme then why do you have to keep explaining why it isn't.

They can offer very competitive rates for energy, but as above to access those you have to move other utilities across to them too.  I assume the business model is that once you've got everything with them most people can't be bothered to separate everything out again.  Just be careful and make sure you compare the whole market to see if UW is really cheaper vs separate suppliers.

They also then encourage people to become "partners" whereby you can earn commission for getting others to sign up, this is why you see/hear so many people pushing them.

EssexHebridean

Yep - going with UW has undoubtedly saved us money over the past months - BUT had we been tempted to use them for other services as well a fair amount of that saving would have been wiped out. 

bagand96

So out of my own curiosity I just ran some quotes with UW.

Energy
On their standard plan energy plan the kWh rates for both Gas and Electricity are at the Ofgem April price cap.  The Standing Charge was very marginally cheaper than cap rates (1-2p per day) so there is a very small saving there of £10 a year.

On the "Double Gold" plan (if you take Broadband and Mobile too) the kWh rates are the same at the Ofgem April cap.  However there is a discount on the Standing Charges:

Gas: Ofgem 27.2p vs UW 13.885p
Electricity: Ofgem 44.8p vs UW 31.535p

These SC discounts amount to a £97 a year saving.


Mobile
Sim Only Plan 5GB data unltd mins & texts £12

This just isn't competitive.  O2/Lebara/Talk/Virgin/iD all offer the same for £6 a month.

They do offer an Unlimited Data/Calls/Texts Sim for £18 a month.  This is a little more competitive but again can be beaten with Smarty or Three at £16 per month.   And unless you actually need unlimited data, £12 can get you 100GB elsewhere.


Broadband
38Mbps Broadband, no call options, £21.60/month

This isn't terrible, but again can be beaten.  Vodafone £18/month for 38Mb or £19/month for 67Mb.  Or NOW Broadband £20/month for 63Mb and also including free anytime calls for 12 months.  Only a 12 month contract too with Now vs 18 month with UW.



So bottom line is on their standard energy plan save £10/year vs the April Ofgem Price cap.

Move over broadband and mobile and the energy saving becomes £97/year.  However that £97 would be eaten up by paying more than necessary for mobile and broadband.  I've also excluded cashback offers with other providers - the NOW Broadband would get £85 TCB - factor that in and the savings are even more.

YMMV depending on which broadband suppliers you can get, but always worth doing a proper comparison and not just believing UW partners hype.

janetk3270

Absolutely shocking customer service if you try and call. Everything is filtered through one number. They are largely v helpful when you get through but often wait for 45 mins to be told need to move to another team and it’s about 45 min wait. Right now I have been on the fone for 1hour 10 mins trying to get my smart meter display live. This is after calling a for 45 mins before and having to give up. On this basis k wish I had not switched. Haven’t even considered the savings - my time is worth way more 

StocktonFlyer

I went with Utility Warehouse when I switched last September because it was one of the only "cheap" tariffs left on the Money Saving Expert Cheap Energy Club (I switched via this, so no upselling or commission to any third party).
So far I have had Electric and Gas with no issue on their Value Variable tariff which is about 5% under the price cap. I don't receive any other services from them, but am considering their boiler cover as it is cheaper than my current policy.
Customer Service has been ok so far, although I had to prompt them to up my DD as it was still the same as when I joined and I was going into debit since the price cap was put up.
I tend to log any customer queries on their website, which are answered promptly and they have rang me to clarify any issues.
The app is a bit rubbish though and billing detail is quite basic.