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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that i have been screwed over by Utility Warehouse and their fucking smart meter?

76 replies

malificent7 · 04/09/2017 16:45

I joined Utility Warehouse 18 months as i was quoted gas, electric and broadband for £95 a month. Bargain.

The theory was when bundled together, utilities are cheaper.

All was tickedy boo until they installed a smart meter and my bills shot up to £150 pcm.

They said its because the meter calculated i had used more electric than i was paying so they calculated how much i owed from the start and spread the cost.

I immediately went on compare the market and switched to EDF who charge me 50 a month. Happy days.

However, in July i paid EDF 50 then 180 by Utility Warehouse. Plus got another bill from Utility Warehouse fir 240. I HAVE FRICKING left them!

Phoned them up and apparently it's all areas.

Aibu to think if an energy company quotes me 95pcm ig should be that?

I woukd like to add i live in a well insulated, 2 bed terraced modern house and havnt used heating since January. We also had no cooker for 6 months but i do have a tumbler.

Am waifung for a catch with EDF.

OP posts:
Original poster
malificent7 · 04/09/2017 16:47

I have a payment pkan with Utility Warehouse but i am SO annoyed. Both recent bilks were unexpected and bkew my budget. I effectively have paid double over last 2 months.

Its only dd and i!!

OP posts:
PantPlot · 04/09/2017 16:51

They're a shower of cowboys.

My friend is a UW...dunno what they're called...drone? And even he pays over the frickin odds for his energy used. Plus spends many of his weekends replacing light bulbs for new customers (not just 'his' I might add). Ah but they get taken out for one course at Pizza Express once a month so alls okay Hmm

The only people doing well out of UW are the people at the top.

PantPlot · 04/09/2017 16:53

Also I'm annoyed because they went to my dads sheltered accommodation and signed all the flats up. My dad was paying more for his one bed flat than I was for a four bed family home (5 people)

BeeFarseer · 04/09/2017 16:56

Yep. You've been screwed. Why are they still billing you if you've left? Can the ombudsman help?

I had a taxi driver try to recruit me for them, because he'd asked what I was doing and I told him I was on the way to a job interview. This gave him the perfect opening to release his spiel at me while I was in his cab. I told him I wasn't interested in anything related to selling and got told 'but it's not selling, it's recommending!'. I asked him why he was on the taxis if Utility Warehouse were that good and suddenly he changed the subject. Funny that.

coldcanary · 04/09/2017 16:57

Drone is a good word for the UW reps. I got dragged to one of their meetings and it was like being in an evangelical tv church complete with requests for money and promises of the good life.
Nothing about the packages on offer to customers, comparisons to other providers or customer service practices - no info at all.
A lot of waffle about new cars and holidays with whooping and cheering though..
Absolute cowboys I think.

Enidblyton1 · 04/09/2017 17:04

You might get a refund eventually.
I have been with UW for about 3 years and overall they have been ok.
BUT, their back office systems are appalling. They obviously don't employ enough staff. If you have a problem it takes forever to sort out.
I will not be installing one of their smart meters - waste of time and more trouble than they are worth.

Idontevencareanymore · 04/09/2017 17:12

I'm confused. Did they quote that based on previous usage? Because obviously you pay for what you use.
I'd have thought too cheap really, especially with broadband.

Also aren't utility warehouse an mlm type company? Don't know much about them tbh.

araiwa · 04/09/2017 17:20

Surely you pay for what you use

The only useful comparison is price per unit Confused

unfortunateevents · 04/09/2017 17:27

How could they give you a fixed quote for utilities? Do you have this in writing? Are you sure they didn't say that the average cost for your type of housing would be £95? And now it turns out you were using more? Until they installed the smart meter were you paying for actual usage or estimated bills - it sounds as if they were estimated? You can look at all the old bills and it will tell you. The bill for £240 sounds like the final bill from them, so you still had arrears outstanding which have to be paid off because you left them.

qumquat · 04/09/2017 17:31

Utility warehouse is an mlm. Steer well clear!

Dowser · 04/09/2017 17:55

I couldn't get away from uw quick enough.
In the winter they just kept helping themselves to my bank accdespite the fact that in summer it would come down.
I don't want a smart meter. I have enough ems as it is.

CoveredInFondant · 04/09/2017 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MargotMoon · 04/09/2017 18:01

No utility company charges a set price (well, there are a few that have capped tariffs but they are rarely good value for money), they will quote based on your estimated usage or the average for a house of your size in that area. You will be billed on what you actually use, so if you had a smart meter installed and it turns out you are using loads more than estimated then you will have arrears which they can still bill you for after you've switched away. Tumble dryers are an absolute bastard for using loads of electricity.

Next time you get a quote use your actual (not estimated) bills and work out the kWh you use over a full year, this will give you an accurate comparison. Provide regular readings - at least one a quarter if you're not on a smart meter.

Having said all that UW do sound dodgy as fuck in their selling practices - anyone trying to sign you up to their company is going to get commission so it's in their interest to quote as low as possible. Use a site that is independent (Energylinx is good) or join the MSE Energy Club on Martin Lewis's website.

Seniorcitizen1 · 04/09/2017 18:08

Not sure you inderstand how utility companies work. You pay for what you use - you can only be charges less if unit prive is lower so if you are using more than estimated them you pay more. Of course you shouldn't be paying for the same electricity to more than one provider

wrenika · 04/09/2017 18:12

You pay for what you use. Unless there's a fault with your meter, you're being billed for what you've burned. The quote is just a quote based on your house size - not a guarantee of your specific usage.
If you use more than your £50 per month with the new supplier, you'll still have to pay extra. That's how utilities works.

(My DP works for debt recovery and overflow customer service for two different energy companies - these sorts of complaints are the thing he comes home and bangs his head on the table over. It's common sense.)

SandyDenny · 04/09/2017 18:15

Obviously it depends on your usage but £95 including broadband sounds very cheap so I'm not surprised that you've had to pay more but it doesn't sound like UW have explained it very well to you.

I'd ask for full details including meter readings and check the calculations. Did you send them actual meter readings or are they using their own estimates.

I'd suggest you make sure you're clear on what you use and go on a comparison site

pigsDOfly · 04/09/2017 18:15

My DD and DP had a run in with Utility Warehouse a few years ago. They are not good people to do business with.

Keep well away from them.

AdalindSchade · 04/09/2017 18:21

I honk you've been sucked in by impossible prices. £95 for utilities and broadband is very cheap. I pay £90 for just utilities in my smallish 3 bed semi.
Whatever a utility company quotes to you as the monthly price isn't what you will actually pay if you have used more than that.

Etymology23 · 04/09/2017 18:24

I'm with British gas and pay for my broadband with sky (half price summer offer) in a poorly insulated 2 bed end of terrace and spend £50 pcm total so I would have believed £95 is plausible. I think the key thing is to keep a record of your kWh useage for both gas and electric and then use those to do a proper comparison (e.g mse as suggested above).

user1490607838 · 04/09/2017 18:33

Yep, hell will freeze over before I have a smart meter.

At least half a dozen people I know have switched to smart meters, and seen their bills go up by 20 to 35%. Whether their old meter was giving them a false reading and 'under-charging,' and the smart reader is correct, I don't know, but they certainly do regret it.

Personally, our bills are quite low (£70 a month for gas and electric roughly,) for a modest size 3 bed home, and I would never risk that being bumped up to £110-£120 a month or something!

Hope you get it sorted.

AdalindSchade · 04/09/2017 18:35

I was forced to have a smart meter. Fuckers said they would get a court order if I didn't let them come and fit it. Apparently that's legit as my meters were so old

pigsDOfly · 04/09/2017 18:44

It's a bit much that you can be forced to have a smart meter.

I've told my utility company I don't want one and was told they'd take me off the system.

My house is less than three years old though.

pigsDOfly · 04/09/2017 18:50

Are you absolutely certain they can do that Adalind? As far as I can see from, admittedly, a very quick google, no one can be forced to have one installed.

CherryChasingDotMuncher · 04/09/2017 18:52

We had similar problems. Left a house apparently owing them £800. We got it sorted and paid much less. Never again, total cowboys

AdalindSchade · 04/09/2017 18:53

They can definitely shut off my supply on safety grounds as my meters were too old. I don't know about a court order in reality but if it's no power or a smart meter I didn't have much choice.