utility warehouse

[loopinlouie]

Hi I am a UW distributor based in Glasgow. Worked with the company for 14 months now, and have introduced around 100 customers to UW. This is my first and last post on this UW thread. People are entitled to their views, and loopielouie you are obviously a keen poster, i see over 1000 posts (where do you get the time??) anyway no company is perfect, and if we were comparing customer issues between all companies then UW would have by far the lowest percentage as u have a personal contact..and i know my customers would agree.

 

Looking at this site it shows on Google as Utility Warehouse [problem]?? I think this is a poor show by who ever started the thread, and clearly they aint that bright, as how can the company be FTSE 250 listed...Financial Times PLC of the Year, Be partnered with Mastercard and over 1000 retailers like Argos Boots B&Q etc, and be a [problem]??? These companies will have looked at UW and done 'due diligence' before going into business and letting UW speak to their customers.

 

I suggest there are maybe 15/20 people regularly posting on this site, and the views of 15/20 people in a population of 61.4 million is not in my opinion, something worth paying much attention to, but unfortunately the bashing of UW on this tread will stop some people from genuinely saving money!!

 

If you are a looking at this thread to make a decision on joining UW then please dont base ur decision on a hundful of folk with too much time on their hands, try for yourself, as there are no contracts with UW (unless new line installation).

 

Finally please search in google, BT complaints, British Gas complaints, E-on complaints...are you getting the picture? I could start a thread on here tomorrow about my local chippy and how it has nearly poisoned me...and with a big heading like LOCAL CHIPPY [problem] it would get enough hits to get high ranked in google and loads of people would view it.. but is it a true reflection...nope as i can post what i wish on the net!

 

Best of luck in you choice of supplier, please make ur OWN MIND UP and dont be lead by others!

 

You see unable to read post protocols about politeness and manners. Is that a good example of the services you give when questioned. I have all along said all suppliers have problems and again I point out you are the only company who feel the need to hang on and rubbish comments.

 

Thanks for just reminding me why is was best to not become a customer of yours.

 

Your words, 'they aint that bright' Firstly its arnt or are not and secondly you are again insulting one of your own customers. Remember the customer is always right, well of course they are not always right, but politeness and help resolves even a confused customer, hint there.xxxx

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

I also notice you are in your own words a distributor, same old same old blah blah blah.

 

Your only interested in the sales not the customer services :D

[loopinlouie]

I also notice and if you are a regular user of cag that you will knowusers show up as reading a thread. I also point out that this threasd amongst all of the others always has approximately 14 non registered viewers reading. I either think hey thats prospective customers having a look and at least being aware there are issues or as I more suspect;) they are UW peeps cant resist but keep logged on to thread and waiting to see if some other so so BAD in their view comments appear.

 

So worried that the name of uw will be questioned in any way, even when that is just experience of customer or prospective customer.

 

There are companies on this thread who make themselves aware to the site team, a mobile company comes to mind, who make poster aware of who they are and feedback is then posted as to resolved compliant. It looks good for them to actually respond, I notice they dont go down the route of rebutting any issue and oh it hasnt happened to me, well the mobile compnay would look stupid wouldnt they for having a vested interest.

 

I think and as entitled to an opinion and as long as you feel the need to post rebuts to genuine people having an issue that shows no resolve other than them posting later we have left uw and no positive feedback, then its your own fault and I will continue to reply.............

 

July if you hadnt have behaved the way you have could have had me as a phone, broadband and power customer if you wernt such in my opnion a foolhardy company in your behaviour and not cheaper in my case.

 

Remember one plus one plus one.........dont we count.

 

Any insults will be pointed out to sight team. I may post a lot, but isnt that my right?

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

I dont see one sattisfactory resolved issue, other than as already said where a person has felt the need to leave.

 

You may have a high attraction of new customers, but can you show the customer services to keep them?

 

ps. Your reps shouldnt insult a normal cagger making one feel like poo on a shoe, you are your own advertisment and dont show any ability to liase customer services with genuine customer complaints.

 

I could come on here and sell the great effectiveness of a slimming product and how it worked for me as a distributor you would want to paint a good picture as you are proud of your company, if I was 17stone it would make a person question as to how effective is the product.

 

7 viewers now, dropping wee...... I take it you see my point

9 "" rising "" 15.54 update popular thread as always

11 15.59 hee hee, hello guests, read if from the beginning if you get the time, its a corker.

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

Cagger Madkit, still unhappy, no resolution successful there.

[loopinlouie]

Hey, shanuvarmas back. Lets see if she can post without threatening scary unrelated threats about reporitng to her bosses. We havnt heared anything? Theyve not posted to help people

 

She says she offered help and it was unrequired.

 

DATA PROTECTION my dear, you know you cant help any other than your own clients, so quietly watch in the background and only comment when you know what you are talking about, otherwise you will continue to make your comapany look bad. We all know you love your job and making loads of dosh, youve said so, very nice dear.

 

The responses we actually want are from caggers who have had problems and wether they were resolved to sattisfaction.

 

16 guests is very high 18.14 Hi reps xx

 

I will keep posting here whilst uw reps are trying to counter issues raised by caggers by trying to paint a rosey picture in their case. It makes no bones how well you are doing, what matters to the customer seems to depend on wether head office listen and help.xx

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[Surfer01]

One UW distributor consistently lied about the comapny having an electricity supplier's licence.Weedel76 says how can UW be a [problem] when it has so many well known companies on board. Gordon Brown had a lot of so called friends on board until they realsied he was a [problem] artist. Actually several companies spring to mind that have scammed the people out of money with RBS being out of them so I guess that argument cuts no ice!

[ajpoolshark]

Hmm, as a UW customer, not distributor, I think the thread title is rather provocative....If UW are a [problem], then I think its fair to say that all other service providers are scams....now there's a thought...lol

 

Anyhoos, I think I've posted my thoughts before, but here goes....for broadband/telephone I think they're cheap...for gas and electricity, somewhat on the pricey side (most utility providers have cheaper dual-fuel tarrifs) and for mobile phones I think they're very expensive.....needless to say, I'm only a broadband customer!

[loopinlouie]

Hmm, as a UW customer, not distributor, I think the thread title is rather provocative....If UW are a [problem], then I think its fair to say that all other service providers are scams....now there's a thought...lol

 

Anyhoos, I think I've posted my thoughts before, but here goes....for broadband/telephone I think they're cheap...for gas and electricity, somewhat on the pricey side (most utility providers have cheaper dual-fuel tarrifs) and for mobile phones I think they're very expensive.....needless to say, I'm only a broadband customer!

 

Thanks for your imput. I came to that conclusion as well when told they were cheaper for power and then it was added depends on area and then it turned out they were not cheaper. I agree with the other utility compnaies as cheaper also and the duel fuel, you cant beat some of their online tariffs, mine got 22% discoutn just for paperless bills and online.

 

UW doesnt cut it, but glad you are happy with them for what you have:D

 

I think the title was meaning that op was sold a service they didnt believe they got and they likened the feeling to that of being scammed. I agree, title is to be taken with pinch of salt, but has led to a good thread revealing some true attitude towards the customer being that, dont try to complain and get sympathy from uw rep.

 

Also that a rep is biased on opnion due to earnings, simples. The company has every opportunity to become involved and alert site team to any issues, but they dont. The only issue here is not rubbishing a company which obviously pleases some of its customers, but that of what does it do when thing goes wrong, does it care about the unhappy one or two or three? I havnt come accross one positive outcome of complaint here. Or is treatment received below parr once passed the big sale?

Edited May 18, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

19 guest, woo hoo, hello 19.34.

Havnt noticed as many on lookers on other big six threads, any managers out there?

[shining Light]

As i've said before I do agree with some of what you say loopinlouie but you do go on at times!

 

You say UW reps are biased, don't offer help etc etc etc. NOT TRUE!

 

I have offered help on at least 4 occasions but no takers!

 

Yes, Data Protection is a problem (but for the right reasons) but the fact is......I offered help regardless of whether or not I could resolve the problem. My time, my money, my effort..so please don't keep saying "no one wants to help" because it just isn't the case.

 

You say UW reps only say positive things about UW, again, not true! I have mentioned a couple of things which weren't exactly positive.

 

You say UW reps don't want to help their customers, not true again! I posted exactly what I do for my customers and you say "if that is true!!"...so now I am a liar!!

 

You don't like UW that much is obvious but as much as I do care, I won't lose any sleep over that, everyone has the right to like or dislike who/whatever they like but lets stick to the facts please.

[loopinlouie]

shining, dont be silly I dont dislike UW. I have trouble with bu** shi***** and the majority of reps started off rebutting a cagger with we havnt expericnced that and along the lines of, we liked them so much we are now a rep. You cant personally take a payment from a company without the chance a comment could be biassed.

 

A lot of what said here by people saying they are uw reps is total rubbish. Come on even the sales pitch to me of how much cheaper you are but why didnt they say, right depending on your area you live and what products you take with us, you may make a saving.

 

No I was told by one rep 40% cheaper and it isnt the case.

 

Less of the hard sell more customer service.

 

Is the head office aware that people are commenting in their name, being in cases rude and then commenting they will report to their boss, and yet nothing comes of it.

 

You would think any liason dept would come forward make themselves known to site team and come forward stating they will look into individual issues. Then some positive feed back on threads will appear. Untill that happens reps should be very careful in what they say or how the act. For instance if I was ceo, shanuvarma would be at the job centre by now.

 

I am sure you care for your clients, but your clients are not complaining on here are they?

 

Hello 12 guests 20.57, overtime shift? xx

[nottslad]

"You say UW reps are biased, don't offer help etc etc etc. NOT TRUE!"

 

Most of what the UW reps say is completely biased and on the assumption the company is always right. Offers of help involve asking those posting their problems for confidential information, and previous posts by UW reps have stated they have problems with DPA as customer service will not give them the relevant info.

 

Those posting their problems on this site and other forums are after help and advice, not a direct link into the company, they need the knowledge to empower them to get their problems solved.

 

Posting in your own time is obviously a good thing to do to help others, there are other people here who also work for energy suppliers and post in their own time, as they have the knowledge about issues affecting customers.

 

As loopy said, we will share our bad experiences, thats the purpose of these forums, if things are going swimmingly well, would you take the time to post on the internet about a company? I know that personally I wouldn't.

[Surfer01]

Actually someone mentioned that when you inputed UW into Google this thread came up at the top. Not quite true. It only comes out at top if you add the word "[problem]" which indicates you are uncomfortable about your dealings with the company.

[shining Light]

It only comes out at top if you add the word "[problem]" which indicates you are uncomfortable about your dealings with the company.

 

:confused:

[loopinlouie]

1600pm 12 guests:) Hi xx

 

You see people can read this thread and make up their own minds, they are not stupid and suprisingly although it took a while to develop with me, we have out own each inbuilt bu** ***t detector:D

 

This thread was entitled such by the original poster who felt let down, the title was appropriate as far as poster concerned.

 

The sale of we are cheaper on energy 40%, oh, yep, you not:eek: could be seen as the same in my interpretation, not what I was expecting;)

 

So pushy sales can if not careful come accross as a sc** and frighten potential customers off. Just give the full facts before ramm a sale down a throat of what is involved, how many products are needed to make a saving and a person can judge for themselves.

 

I wouldnt make a good sales person trying to sell the next big deal, I have a conscience and would worry too much about the customer and what they would think of me. Remnds me of a kid wanting the next games console game, I know my son, he will start to hoover, clean the rooms etc,,, do I want a cuppa. Iknow what hes after but its the round about way my little love goes, its okay in that situation I get plied with cuppas Harmless.

 

Going the long way about selling a product we all have to have and could put us deep in the poop if we realise or confused over what was told, is not okay.

 

What then happens when these estiamated usages are found out to be wildly out in certain cases, do they get help?

 

I dont see it.

Edited May 19, 2010 by loopinlouie

[loopinlouie]

15 guests 16.38 xx Hi:D

[tommyj]

I have been a customer of utility warehouse for almost 4 years, on top of that i have recommended it to most of my family and a lot of my friends. If it was a [problem] in any way, shape or form i would not be recommending it to my loved ones.

 

i have to agree with some of the other comments, there will be some problem staff in ANY big company thats a given but everyone i know who have them as a supplier have never came accross any problems of that sort so i think the word '[problem]' is a bit excessive just because a handful of disgruntled ex customers have had some problems.

[Blue Diamond]

I have been a customer of utility warehouse for almost 4 years, on top of that i have recommended it to most of my family and a lot of my friends. If it was a [problem] in any way, shape or form i would not be recommending it to my loved ones.

 

i have to agree with some of the other comments, there will be some problem staff in ANY big company thats a given but everyone i know who have them as a supplier have never came accross any problems of that sort so i think the word '[problem]' is a bit excessive just because a handful of disgruntled ex customers have had some problems.

 

Tommy J, how's this for a UW [problem]? UW are charging me £121 for one months' use of electricity (this time last year it was approx. £40/£45), when only two adults live in a three bed end-terrace? How does that work, huh? Looking back at my bills, my use of electric has increased month by month by month since changing to UW. I don't know how UW have reached the monthly figures they do, especially as I now work two jobs and am hardly home! The only thing that uses electric 24/7 is my flipping fridge!! And I'm a damn site sure there's more than a handful of disgruntled UW customers out there. [problematic] isn't the word...UW are 24hr thieves!!

[shining Light]

Blue Diamond, I haven't checked through this whole thread but have you had the meter checked?

 

My mother lives in a flat on her own but she is at home obviously more than you are and her electricity is always between £18 - 22 pm (with UW).

 

I also have a friend with a wife and 2 children who is going to join UW as soon as he clears his debt with his existing supplier (Scottish Power I think). He said he is paying a combined gas/electric bill of £150pm and has still accumulated a massive debt!! However he had his heating on a lot during the "big freeze."

 

Big difference here but from what you say something is very wrong, UW electricity may not be the cheapest but it certainly is expensive either. I assume you have taken regular meter readings?

[loopinlouie]

Again how can you compare like for like even if stating flat, considering uw price on where you live? and what other products you have with them;)

[loopinlouie]

Understanding of bluediamonds situation of them passing the account to debt collectors when asking for help, dont you think?

 

NOPE:p

[shining Light]

"Again how can you compare like for like even if stating flat, considering uw price on where you live? and what other products you have with them"

 

I wasn't comparing like for like, I was just trying to emphasise the big difference in what each is paying (one in a flat who is there a lot against someone in a flat/house or whatever who is out a lot). Also, this does not include any other benefits from other services, just the cost of her electricity.

 

Like I said, maybe a meter problem? Either way my suggestions etc were aimed at Blue Diamond (although i'm sure he has thought of the possibility of a meter problem and has also given meter readings).

 

Why don't you stick to offering help or advice instead of constantly putting down every answer from every other poster?

 

 

[Surfer01]

They probably do that to emphasise that UW are con artists who like overcharging and not help people who approach them with problems. They even dupe their distributors into thinking UW have a electric supply licence.

[nottslad]

You can't possibly compare like-for-like, the only way to get a true comparison is on the number of kWh used in a property year on year.

 

Your supplier should have available consumption figures for last year and then for this year, they should also have a specialist team to look into your energy consumption and go through whether the change is justified, if there has been one.

 

Another thing to look at is that a lot of us capped our prices a couple of years ago, and whilst they were capped, the market prices increased like mad, those capped deals have now come to an end and bills are going to be higher as a result, so check your tariff and make sure you are getting the best deal.

 

To investigate your consumption, take meter reads at the same time each day for a week, and note down as best you can what has been used and how long for, from the wattage of the appliance you can work out how many units of electricity it would use and therefore how much it would cost.

 

For example, a 1000 watt heater left on for 1 hour would use 1kWh of electricity, so on this basis you can justify a cost of about 15p depending on your tariff etc