Utility warehouse

[rumandbiscuits]

Just had a lady knock on the door and give me a leaflet about utility warehouse. I have just had a quick google and it all seems a little bit too good to be true? The reviews are obviously all going to be very good because it seems if you become a member then you make money out of getting other people to sign up which always makes me a bit wary.
Does anyone have any honest opinions on utility warehouse and whether it's worth switching?

We've been with them for 5 years and I check often to make sure they are the cheapest. Its great to have everything all in one bill and we often make sue of the cash back card to further reduce our bill

It’s an MLM. Wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole.

We've been with them since August. I got stopped at a county fair and given a brief explanation. I was going to walk away as the kids were losing patience but she asked if I wanted to make an appointment for her to come over and explain more. I said yes more to make a quick getaway than anything else.
When she did come over, she did mention the getting money off for referring people but I cut her off straight away on that. The actual deal seemed good and they change all your lightbulbs to led, worth it just for that.
We've been very happy so far. We used to pay around £130 for gas and electric but now we pay around £150 for gas, electricity, broadband/phone line, one sim card.

What's an MLM @JaniceBattersby?

That sounds positive THNG5 (won't let me tag you for some reason). Do you try to sell it now?

You know when something sound too good to be true? It's just making me suspicious!

No way, I wouldn't support a MLM even if they had the best prices.

@haveuheard what is an MLM?

@rumandbiscuits no, no selling. I don't like pyramid selling so I asked her to skip over that part of her selling pitch when she came over.

We've been with them for a year now and find it super easy. Definitely not a con as customer services have been great when we've dealt with them, all services provided and the cashback cards have come in handy to reduce bills slightly.
We have everything combined which takes the price down and after recently comparing it still seems the cheapest for everything we get. We're pretty happy with them 🙂

My dad signs people up (he is over 70 and started it when he had the package himself). Great product if you have a couple of the options to make the savings. Like anything review annually to make sure you have the best supplier.

We've been with Utility warehouse for about 20 years. DH does his research every other year and they remain very competitive with excellent customer service. We have gas, electricity, telephone, broadband and DH's mobile with them.

I met a rep of theirs donkeys years ago at a fete who asked me if I'd ever thought of being a rep for them but I said no and that was it. Without that I'd have been totally unaware of their MLM status.

I'd recommend them any time.

I’m just about to sign up as a rep. We joined 12 months ago and made the leap, transferring all our services. The first month I couldn’t believe how much we had saved, about £40 on separate bills. In November our home insurance was up for renewal - I got a number of quotes and UW was the cheapest. We saved £600 and could spread the payment without interest. So in one year we’ve saved around £1000!

We’ve had all our lightbulbs changed for LEDs for free and they’ll replace them free for life so not only do you save electricity but you never have to pay for another lightbulb. Plus it’s a huge reduction in our carbon footprint.

Their customer service has improved hugely in the last few years and they regularly win awards for service.

I would recommend taking a look. I was hugely skeptical at first but I’m completely won over hence singing up.

Happy to talk more over DM if you’ve questions.

Been a customer for 10 years ish, still the best deal for us. I have no desire to be a rep though so never done it.

It's cheap because they don't pay out for TV campaigns etc.

Yea I’ve been with them for 4 years and they are good. Told her I didn’t want to become a rep, job done. She was nice though, no hard sell.
I will admit I was partly swayed by Terry Wogan being their spokesperson at the time, love him.

We are with them, we get all our utilities, phone and broadband and partner's mobile for the same amount we were paying for our gas and leccy alone. The Broadband is usually free each month as we get cashback worth what is costs. Get a quote, it costs nothing.

I'd check Out the discussion over at moneysavingexpert.com.

They are just hugely unethical and I wouldn't give any organisation that manipulates people like that my money.
www.theguardian.com/money/2017/jul/08/get-rich-quick-utility-warehouse-energy-scheme-joanna-lumley

it is a multi-level-marketing scheme, although unlike most it sells something people actually need rather than overpackaged stinky stuff. This is why you'll sometimes find men involved. They may come out cheaper because the 'reps' are working for peanuts so no need for staff or advertising.

The problem with Utility Warehouse is although the bills may be cheaper and the customer service departments are quite professional you may find the original rep you met won't take no for an answer about contacting you endlessly every couple of months. In the end I have had to put my female rep on block on my mobile including Whatsapp. She has now emailed me saying 'she is worried about me'. WTF. I am a grown woman in my late fifties and have no need to be worried about. She also keeps calling me 'hun'.

A nice person and I wouldn't normally be so rude but on at least two occasions I told her I had no interest in becoming a rep it was like she did not want to hear that. I was getting regular whatsapps from her about deals if I refer people, getting an extra £50 and so on.

She wouldn't take the hint so this week I have now blocked her. I have also given her quite a curt email reply before blocking. Stating that she must have encountered others in the public who don't wish to engage anymore and can she not take the hint.

A pity they pay their staff so little then that they have to resort to manipulative emails saying that they are now worrying about me. All a bit cultish in a weird way.

I just deal with customer services direct if I need to contact them about anything. No need for the middle person.

This last week I was contacted to sign up and was bombarded for 4 days straight at which point I'd had enough. I'm all about saving money but I dont like feeling like I am being forced and that I cannot make my own decision. I cant knock them as I havent tried them, but after 4 days of not being left alone it put my right off

it is a multi-level marketing scheme - a pyramid scheme with the tweaks to make it legal. The reps can only make any kind of money by recruiting, that's why they are harder to shake off than the JWs.

just tell the person that you aren't stupid enough to join an MLM, sorry that they were, hang up the phone and block.

I inherited them as my electricity/gas supplier when I moved in to my house. I'm not changing because I haven't found a better deal.

I inherited them as my electricity/gas supplier when I moved in to my house

Can you inherit a utility supplier, don't you start your own contract when you move house, it's a while since I've moved but I'm pretty sure the previous owner gave a final reading to their supplier and I had to organize my own or maybe the person who lived here before me was unusual in getting the supplies stopped.

I would be wary of UW too, a couple of people I know have been hounded by them too, I'd pay a little more to be left alone.

I cannot object about how much the bills cost it is more their pushy sales pitch/refusing to listen to you about recruiting etc. It is only the reps I have a problem with. Customer services are cool. Efficient and thorough.

I think you've been very unlucky with the reps you met! We signed up last August, when she got to the bit about joining/recruiting, I said no thank you and that was that. I've never heard from her again and we're very happy with the service/ cost.