Broadcall From The Utility Warehouse www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk Reviews
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“100% useless”
Written on: 17/05/2013 by ashchavda
Was meant to have telephone and broadband installed on 10th of April 13. Several phone calls and seven engineers visiting us so far, we wait. They apologise. Nothing more happens. Rubbish. Wouldn't want this service if it was free. I needed to score this less than one star. Possibly minus five stars (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Awful”
Written on: 15/05/2013
Everything is fine with the costs and with the cashback scheme but the internet is awful, I should be getting double if not triple the speed i'm getting now, terrible service. (read more)
★★★★★
“Well I, for one, am very pleased!”
Written on: 04/05/2013 by dadadster
I have been a customer for a few years now and I have nothing but praise for the service and the speed.They did tell me our speed would be up to 8 meg but we have now got 3. In the area though there is only 3meg, even my next door neighbour, who is a BT engineer, says that's all we can get so that's fine, it is relatively good but we're all only as good as what BT gives us. We're just about to get Fibre in the area and the download speed I've been told is 53 meg (!!) so that's tempting, and... (read more)
★★★★★
“Which? Awared them Best Broadband Provider 2013”
Written on: 19/04/2013 by AnubisTheKiller
I'm not sure why there are so many negative reviews on here as I'm a customer of Utility Warehouse and have been for about 6 months now with 5 services and a cashback card and everything is running fab. The bill is so simple and user friendly to follow and its so nice to see the discounts that have been applied by the cashback card. I've called the help line a couple of times and they are always willing to help. For example I had a problem with my telephone line and at the time I called I... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“ 7 months of engineers and promises”
Written on: 23/03/2013
I am a Utility Warehouse customer. My bills are very low with a customer care to match. Broadband has not worked properly for 7 months.they say they will call you back and dont. phone them and they do nothin.they maybe cheap but you allways get what you pay for. Utter rubbish. 8meg in my area i have less than 300kbps. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“disgraceful”
Written on: 21/03/2013
Utility Warehouse broadband - dont bother, an average connection speed of 1mb ... 2meg is a good day! The tech team will feed you absolute nonsence and the customer service fail to understand the meaning of "Customer Service" I will be pleased to get rid of them. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Will drive you mad”
Written on: 15/03/2013
No swear word on the planet can sum up how shocking this Internet is. Please stay away and protect your family. Run! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Service is appalling when things go wrong!!!”
Written on: 16/02/2013
Have had an awful experience three telephone calls later and eventually Sayed sorted it all out but what a bloody nightmare !! (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Over rated for performance! As a combined package...”
Written on: 03/02/2013 by 5755507 (1 review written)
Over rated for performance! As a combined package (gas/Electricity/Broadband/Phone), I get an extra £.02p a unit for Solar power we generate. However...have found the Broadband to be BAD! Further investigation revealed UW use "Tiscali" service provider!! I would NEVER use Tiscali or Talk Talk...and sadly, UW boasted "the fastest broadband" & "the best"...but they have failed to provide a consistent service in Broadband. BT were excellant in Broadband...fast & reliable. I fell out with... (read more)
Mulleyman's Response to 5755507's Review
Written on: 23/03/2013
The utility warehouse use the BT service provider - thats why it costs more if your line is not on the main BT LLU network.
Any problems with external equipment / cabling its BT openreach who come out.... also, if you are transferring from SKY or Talk Talk, there is a delay in the transfer of service due to not being on their network... whereas a BT customer transfers with no loss of service. I was previously with Tiscali and lost the connection for 2 weeks. This was due to the service having to move across from tiscali to BT, and then BT to utility warehouse.
Hope this helps
PS - If you are having issues with speed, i would recommend contacting them to run a check on your line. BT have been doing a lot of work to do with getting areas fibre optic ready and this has had an impact on some non fibre optic connections and speeds. (Surely not a ploy to get people to complain about the speeds and then be offered their superfast fibre optic offering for a fixed term contract!!???) Maybe thats me just being cynical!
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★☆☆☆☆
“Don't even bother joining...”
Written on: 31/01/2013 by iNathan420
A family member got me into Utility Warehouse as he had been fooled into the pyramid scheme they apply. To begin with the service was acceptable, nothing amazing but it was okay. However, after about a year the router I had seemed to break (It couldn't pick up a DSL connection). So I went out and bought a new one, set it up, plugged it in and the same problem occurred, I rang the Utility Warehouse broadband help line and explained my problem, they said it was an 'error on their side' and... (read more)
Dottie0308's Response to iNathan420's Review
Written on: 01/02/2013
Glad I found this review as I have been having problems with my uwh internet disconnecting, I don't know what is going on but it causes me problems when trying to use the internet for my work. I am thinking of changing to another supplier. Also a friend of mine has her gas and electric with uwh. She had a problem with her card and needed a new one but they left her without gas during the last bad snow saying she was not a priority, no heating, no hot water and no way to cook for her daughter. Disgraceful!
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See next 10 reviews
Showing 1 - 10 of 120 Reviews
★★★★★
“The Best Utility Provider In The UK”
Written on: 23/01/2013 by SatisfiedCustomerOfUW (1 review written)
Signed up to these last year and they have saved me a packet. I don't get these negative reviews on here, there is not a more helpful company and they offer so many discounts. We have just had our 13th bill which was free because of a 10% discount for being a Gold customer (having five services). We have saved a further £600 using the cashback card by simply shopping at regular outlets. Had an issues with my new mobile handset and had to send it back twice. The second time they simply... (read more)
Smirnoffice's Response to SatisfiedCustomerOfUW's Review
Written on: 11/04/2013
'e have just had our 13th bill which was free because of a 10% discount for being a Gold customer (having five services). We have saved a further £600 using the cashback card by simply shopping at regular outlets.'
In actual fact you only need FOUR services to qualify as a Gold customer and experience the many extra benefits that brings. One that is little discussed but we find fantastic - totally free anytime calls from your UW landline to any UW mobile! Saved a fortune on that one. And when the banks inevitably start charging for current account banking, having one DD instead of up to 5 separate ones will be seen as very advantageous by far more people.
Here are the Gold customer benefits in full (check out their site for full T&Cs)
'Double the Difference' price promise
10% Extra Discount on your energy
£200 to help you switch
Free 'Peak Saver' - unlimited free 'anytime' calls to UK landline numbers
Free calls to mobiles - unlimited free 'anytime' calls to Utility Warehouse mobiles from your landline
Free international calls - unlimited free 'anytime' calls from your landline to: Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Spain and USA
Broadband from just £3.49 a month
Huge savings on new phone lines - we can install a new phone line for as little as £24
A free mobile phone protection scheme phone replacement scheme if your mobile handset is lost damaged or stolen
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★☆☆☆☆
“Rubbish, rubbish and more rubbish”
Written on: 16/11/2012 by UWGrab (2 reviews written)
I have been a UWClub member for many years having been drawn into the pyramid business they support. I reduced the services as I began to get erroneous billing and finally only took their broadband and telephone referred to as "Broadcall". My average telephone and broadband bill as a very low user is between £30.00 and £35.00 regularly i.e. more than most other providers! I recently moved house and their disgustingly poor service and additional costs made them even more expensive. Enough... (read more)
Smirnoffice's Response to UWGrab's Review
Written on: 11/04/2013
I've had a look but I can't see any pyramids for sale on their site. Could you provide a link, please? And if you were paying between £30 and £35/mth for phone/BB you must have been making day time calls that added up to £10 - £15/mth (you should have received free evening and weekend calls). Not really low usage. Could you perhaps give more details on these extra phone/BB charges so we can ascertain they are correct?
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★☆☆☆☆
“Avoid”
Written on: 30/09/2012 by Reviewer14 (1 review written)
Terrible. Even in a comparatively rural area the broadband speed is a fraction of what competitors offer and the connection routinely drops out for no apparent reason. I am counting down the days until I switch provider. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Broadband is a joke”
Written on: 10/09/2012
We was with orange had a 1.7mb connection, Utility Warehosue so far has managed .30 or a mb! Absolute joke, they used Tiscali for the net provider which are the lowest of the low, As for the bad review good review here its just UTILITY WAREHOUSE STAFF, perhaps you should get of here and fix the terrible broadband service then you wont need to keep writing FAKE reviews Martin (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I can no longer stream the majority of video”
Written on: 07/09/2012 by Moel (1 review written)
Unfortunately living in rented accommodation I have no choice on the service my Landlady provides. However since she switched from Sky to Talktalk our internet has become...well...flakey. I've had to jump through hoops simply to get BBC to stream the news without buffering every 40 seconds (changing the MTU to 1500 on my router) It will randomly drop my connection to the PSN during games. The main issue stems from the fact that they are piggy backing off the already strained and overloaded... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
Calpga12's Comment
Written on: 30/07/2012
Could we be more honest and listen to facts from 3rd party rather than incorrect reviews .
https://extranet.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/downloads/Awards_and_Endorsements_summary.pdf
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Areviewer2012's Comment
Written on: 26/10/2012
What nonsense are you burbling on about, Which magazine has not proven anything, its a publication that does not put the facts as they should be. additionally the numbers of people who put a review together for which was approx 250-300, and its believed that many of those are resellers or sales people views.
what little adverts we do see are banned
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★★★★★
“SOOoo much better than TalkTalk, and great service. A++”
Written on: 12/06/2012 by hipchicmck (11 reviews written)
I suspect that the moaners and complainers here would have the same problems no matter which company they went with. UW has kept our energy costs down nice and low, and I get £30 a month off my bill just by shopping (Sainsbury's, Argos, BnQ etc). My overall bill has NEVER been so small. Customer service is amazing. My internet went slow recently. I called to ask why - within 30 seconds I got a recorded message saying they knew there was a problem at the exchange (every supplier was... (read more)
New_Kingdom's Response to hipchicmck's Review
Written on: 13/11/2012
How can you get £30 pounds a month off using your cash back card?? The cashback from this company is normally 3%, up to 5% at B&Q and admittedly more for a few smaller retailers.
Are you really spending £800-1000 a month "just shopping".
Sorry, you sound like you work for the company.
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Hipchicmck's reply to New_Kingdom's Comment
Written on: 14/11/2012
Er- YES! How much do you think a family of 4 spends every month? I use the card for almost everything. 3% is the LOWEST amount - only Sainsbury's is that low, everyone else is between 5 and 10% - so that's only £500 spend a month - including petrol too of course - for 2 cars that's £6 a month cash back just on fuel. My weekly shop is £120 - that's £15. The rest is from online purchases on ebay, the odd appliance, clothing, insurance, even getting the AGA serviced last month.
Most of the money is via the cashback card -but a good third is from the A-Z of daily deals on their website. eg - I just bought a kitchen mixer and got 20% off the cheapest price (well I paid the cheapest price and then they took 20% of that off my utility bill).
The cashback card is between 3 and 5% - mostly 5, but the website deals are amazing. Last year they had £20 off every £70 shop online at Sainsburys - that was 3 months running.
If you go and look here: https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/clubhouse/shopping you can see the deals I'm referring to. For example there is 5% off all ebay purchases right now.
I tell you, it adds. up. I've thought about being a distributor, but as mum to a child with autism who needs my full time care outside of school hours, and teaching piano and violin during the day I just don't have the time.
On another note - the government is banging on about making Gas and Elec companies simplify their tariffs and offer their cheapest deal to all their customers? That's EXACTLY the model UW has always followed. They have ONE low tariff - and we're all on the same thing (although the tariff is different depending on the area you live in).
They just wrote to me apologising for raising their tariffs - but I notice that it's the smallest rise out of all the companies, and it went up after everyone else.
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★☆☆☆☆
“Poor Performance”
Written on: 28/03/2012
I took the UW broadband connection two weeks ago on the understanding that the performance of their network was comparable to the BT offering. What a load of rubbish, my new connection is 10 times slower than before. I complained about the lack of knowledge of their agent and told them I would not be paying any fees for the service which they agreed to on the basis that it was miss sold. My advice, stay away and beware, swapping to another provider takes time and living with this service... (read more)
★★★★★
“Look at their website yourself...”
Written on: 20/03/2012
Why pay towards a company's advertising budget that is aimed at new customers? Obviously there's no point and isn't fair/right. UW doesn't advertise, you just sign up on their website and start saving money. They use mainstream services that are already in place, but rebrand them and charge you less for them. Everything is plain and clear, and there's no contract, so there's nothing to lose. (read more)
Pollythepirate's Comment
Written on: 13/04/2012
this review tells me nothing about the broadband service.
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Adamputee's Comment
Written on: 19/04/2012
BT own the country's phonelines either way - broadband is the same at the end of the day. You'll get the same snyc speed and latency as you would with any other standard provider.
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Pollythepirate's Comment
Written on: 19/04/2012
yes but you can have broadband that is provided by cable which I have found to be much more reliable than BTs lines. I don't think that virgin are any good and as a customer i have been very frustrated with the customer service but i have had a very reliable broadband service which has never failed - and since i use it for work and my children are always online playing games or streaming, i'm pleased that we have cable broadband over ADSL broadband which seems to generate many more omplaints.
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Adamputee's Comment
Written on: 20/04/2012
I live in a town that probably wont get cable for a long time :( but if I had the money yeah I'd definitely get cable
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Areviewer2012's Comment
Written on: 26/10/2012
the reason UW dont advertise, they have been banned for misleading adverts
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★☆☆☆☆
“DON'T BELEIVE WHAT YOU READ”
Written on: 02/03/2012
IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT A VAST PERCENTAGE OF UTILITY WAREHOUSE CUSTOMERS ARE LOYAL AGENTS EARNING COMMISSIONS FROM US ALL. SO ALL HUGELY GLOWING REPORTS OF EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE ON HERE IS PROBABLY BIAS AND WRITTEN BY THEIR AGENTS. I KNOW AS I WENT TO A MEETING HERE IN MANCHESTER AND HEARD THERE ARE OVER 35,000 AGENTS IN THEIR BUSINESS WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A PYRAMID GAME. DO NOT BE FOOLED THEY ARE RUDE AND ARROGANT AND ALWAYS OVERESTIMATE BILLS, I TOO WAS OWED MONEY AND AM... (read more)
Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 16/03/2012
I've been with UW for 5 years. I've saved a fortune via their cashback card and any technical service has been efficient, free and delivered with courtesy.
If the agents are earning commisions then fine at least I get an agent to consult with if required and just how much do other utility and telecom companies make with their rip off tariffs.
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Guest's Comment
Written on: 19/03/2012
I've had nothing but excellent customer service from my agent and the call centre, I cant fault them either on there product or pricing. as for the "pyramid game" as you put it, can I ask, do you even know what a pyramid scheme is ? All company's have a hierarchy with some one at the top and many foot soldiers at the bottom !!! But each to there own
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 20/03/2012
Well said that guest. Everyone with a degree of business knowledge knows that "Pyramids" are illegal and how you could operate one as an FTSE listed Company is beyond me. Let's also consider the multitude of Accolades from the Uk's leading Independent Consumer Magazine. It's real simple, you have Retail Sales and Direct Sales. Network or Multi Level Marketing is merely another method of getting products or services to Market using a different pay plan.
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Adamputee's Comment
Written on: 20/03/2012
This is just dumb. The person that got the commission from you is suppose to be their to support you, and if you don't like the company why didn't you sort this out with your distributor??? That's the point of the commission, they're suppose to be there for you and answer any questions.
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Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 03/08/2012
Capital letters. That's a bit shouty. How can you overestimate a bill with broadband from £2.99 per month.
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See next 10 reviews
Showing 11 - 20 of 120 Reviews
★★★★★
“Change to UW now”
Written on: 28/02/2012 by Trevred
I have the energy and broadcall services from UWclub. I may well invest in the wireless remote as it sounds very attractive. Been with them for around 4 years and at first was very wary. Had bad experience with BT and British Gas (BT couldn`t even get my name right). I dreaded my first bit of trouble with UW but there has never been any. I had trouble setting up my modem and after an hour phoned their friendly help line, within 5 minutes I was set up. I am in credit with most of my services... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Utility Warehouse Scam”
Written on: 28/12/2011
Utility Warehouse is a Scam - please don't use them. I had all of my properties with them, and eventually moved each one away one by one (the process has taken 2 years!) They have blocked every opportunity for me to move away due to 'unpaid bills' on an estimated reading that when corrected - they owed me money ! They always overestimate their bills, customers services are awful, very arrogant and very cocky and they try to make it very difficult for anyone to move away. On one of my... (read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 20/02/2012
So why does that make it a scam????
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 17/03/2012
See which magazine, FTSE to name but two - Utility Warehouse have independent accolades coming out of their ears.
Most definitely not a scam - I've saved a fortune.
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Scooby98765's Comment
Written on: 21/03/2012
UW comes top in Which as its the distributors that vote for it.
Now .. Im sure both of you are not distributors by any chance are you ?
Im sure you wouldn't say so even if you were.
So if its not a scam, how come my electricity bills were TWICE as high in a 2 bed flat than Npower then ?
If it's not a scam, how come I waited 18 months for a trace and label? (Still not done).
As for ... "What part of the above makes it a scam" - were you not reading !
As for the over estimated bills - I had a lot of properties with this company, and UW claimed I owed £3k in electricity - only to find that when the meter readings were given - UW owed ME around £4k !!
Yes - definitely not a scam right !
I feel sorry for you distys' - you go to networking events with your pig shaped business cards promoting someone elses brand (instead of your own) for a measly income each month.
Why not, instead build your own brand, something that you can grow and eventually sell - instead of relying crap service and support from a company like UW ??
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 21/03/2012
Well scooby or whoever you are. Firstly It's a friend that's a Distributor - I'm about to be. Speaking of scams - most of these have been perpetated by private landlords. 7 days after I moved into my current property I received a British Gas bill for £385 with the threat that If not paid they would force entry and rip the meter out. Goodbye BG hello UW. "Which" best Energy, Broadband, Home Phone etc. Independent opinion - not distributors. Efficient, courteous free tech advice and cust services - were you not reading? Over 400,000 Customers of which 94% would recommend a friend - speaks volumes really. Perhaps the service you received is commensurate with your attitude. Measly income - you just haven't got a clue and a UW Business is a saleble entity and can be included in one's Estate. So stop slagging what you don't understand. There's a good lad.
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Scooby98765's Comment
Written on: 06/04/2012
"So stop slagging what you don't understand. There's a good lad."
I think you;re just showing yourself up there to be really frank with you.
Why would you respond in such a way that attempts to belittle someone ? Other than the fact that you feel the need to defend the organisation that you don't work for, but your friend does, and that you're about to sign up for.
With a response like that you should probably get a job in the Utility Warehouse call centre, it sounds like you'd fit right in.
"Speaking of scams - most of these have been perpetated by private landlords" - what on earth are you talking about !!
What scams and what landlords exactly ? In addition, the more we discuss this topic about Utility Warehouse being a scam, the more views it gets, and the more it gets to the top of search engine rankings for others to see how Utility Warehouses Scams it's customers, and in particular how the distributors, people just like you, are condescending and attempt to belittle others.
As for this so called 'independent opinion' - of course they're distributors writing the reviews !
There are two types of people in my experience, those that try and make money from Utility Warehouse and coincidentally just happen to have an 'amazing' experience, and those who arent distributors and have had an awful experience.
Clearly - you're the former, and i'm wondering how many networking events with the little piggy business cards you'll have to attend to make it work, before you start getting your barrage of customers complaining about the shocking service.
Im sure you'll appear nice and friendly to begin with on the outside, but then turn a little bit nasty, just like you have in your above post.
I also think the service I received is in line with other people who have had the unfortunate experience of using Utility Warehouse - just try typing "Utility Warehouse Scam" into google.
The only people who 'big it up' are those after your money and are distributors.
Or perhaps if you type "Utility Warehouse Complaint" - see for yourself the experiences thousands of other consumers have had.
Or are you going to try and argue with every single one of them ?
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 24/04/2012
Scooby. Yawn. Go away.
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Scooby98765's Comment
Written on: 02/05/2012
Yep - that sounds about the same level of customer service I would expect from Utility Warehouse !
Instead of being concerned that people are having such horrific experiences with this company, instead of helping, you simply say 'yawn - go away'
I mean seriously - is that how you represent yourself and the organisation you represent ?
So not only are prices seemingly much higher, the level of service is atrocious too.
Luckily, im not alone in my experiences clearly.
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 02/05/2012
Your like my missus - always got to have the last word. This is my last comment as I'm bored with this now and I'm a busy man.
I re-iterate - WHICH Magazine (fixed that did we?). FTSE Company of the year (fixed that did we?). 96% of our Valued Customers would refer us to a friend. It must be a scam though because at a Career Opportunity Meeting last week, the delegates were "surveyed" as to their "daytime jobs." You obviously won't believe me but we had 2 serving Policeman (approval from home office?). A Fraud Squad Detective, A Barrister and the head of a Charity. A colleague has a 747 Pilot as a Distributor.
No Company gets it right 100% but the Utility Warehouse is pretty damn good as the numerous accolades attest. Regardless of the Company, there's going to be a handful of people that slip through the net and don't recieve the service that they should but your reaction is just way over the top. One mans bitter, public vendetta the intention of which would appear to damage or ruin the Company and people's individual businesses. I had no input to your situation so not very compassionate in the current climate and you won't succeed anyway so why don't you move on and spend your time more positively and more productively - that's what I intend to do - I have a business to build.
Why don't you exercise rapproachment and utilise some of your obvious spare time composing a calm, factual and positive missive to gain retrospective satisfaction? Having achieved this (I'll assist if you wish), why don't you once again exercise the same calm and understanding and consider starting again with UW (I'll help if you wish)?
If I go to a Restaurant and recieve bad service or poor food, a good Manager would ask me what form of compensation would rectify the issue. If I ask for a bottle of house red - sorted. If I say it - it must be true. What I don't do is go Public and bismirch the entire organisation because of one issue. Having experienced a small blip in service which was then rectified to my satisfaction, I then return on another occasion.
Yours - Ex Restaurant Manager, Beefeater Pub / Restaurants.
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Calpga12's Comment
Written on: 30/07/2012
It is worth commenting that of course a lot of happy customers are agents as we know the facts and you cannot join the big boys .
And as you recommend your favourite things daily why not get paid for the best of all areas .
Most agents join after being a customer first makes sense , pay nothing for your utilities .
https://extranet.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/downloads/Awards_and_Endorsements_summary.pdf
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★★★★★
“An amazing example of how customer service should be done!”
Written on: 08/11/2011 by edkandi (1 review written)
I have been with UW for a year now on their Broadcall package and have no issues with them at all i have spoken with their customer services department (never for any problems) 5 times and have received customer service that beats ANYTHING i have ever received in ANY country. The packages are amazing value and i called up today wanting to upgrade my membership so could have the fastest broadband available to my area and instead of grabbing my money they made a couple of changes at their end... (read more)
★★★★★
“There's obviously no pleasing some!”
Written on: 22/10/2011
I have been with these guys for about 6 months now. I must admit I was a little worried with some of the negative reviews around. Once I did a bit more homework and looked at reviews for the likes of Virgin media and BT I realised that the reviews for utility warehouse weren't that bad! Considering they weren't going to tie me into any lengthy contract (Unless you need a BT line installed) and was free to leave with one months notice for a £10 fee did seem attractive - so I decided to... (read more)
Stev1Der's Comment
Written on: 24/10/2011
Sounds like your trying to promote you own website there pal. tut.tut...
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★★☆☆☆
“unfortunately unreliable”
Written on: 07/09/2011 by khyberpass5
I have tried for 2 years to get a broadband connection from UW that does not intermittently drop connection...like other reviews, they "reset" the line after making you do the same breakdown procedures each time, and it will improve for a short while, only to start failing again weeks later. Oddly it seems to coincide with certain times, which suggests they have bandwidth issues at peak times? I work from home, and these drop offs' are an absolute killer... I am surprised at reviews saying... (read more)
★★★★★
“Fantastic company”
Written on: 29/07/2011
Been a Utility Warehouse customer for nearly 4 years, take all the services and have never had a problem, no idea what customer services is like as I have never had to call them! (read more)
★★★★☆
“Very happy with service. Much cheaper than alternatives.”
Written on: 12/07/2011 by Rich007 (1 review written)
Package: Broadcall Standard (Up to 24 Meg 40GB/month data transfer + Free calls anytime @ £19.99). Duration of service: 1.5 years. Customer Service ------------------------ I have only had to call the Broadcall customer service number once. When I received my free modem, the account details were missing. I called the support number and got the details I needed within 4 minutes. Line Speed ------------------------ Firstly I am aware that line speed is to do with the technology under the... (read more)
★★★★★
“Pocket Wireless Broadband”
Written on: 15/06/2011 by Gazza79 (2 reviews written)
I have been with UW for over five years and this the whole package is amazing and fantasic prices. They have just launched a new mobile broadband device. It is a pocket wireless router. It is not USB stick but a minute wireless router that fits in your pocket inside is the mobile broadband sim. The good thing about this is that you dont have to plug into a USB port. You connect to it wirelessly, and can connect upto five devices. I take my all over place and is ace on long trips, as my... (read more)
★★★☆☆
“utilities warehouse, dud-band”
Written on: 27/05/2011 by stinkywinky (1 review written)
Broadband from Utilities Warehouse, is like Russian Roulette, at one time I used to get 14mb downloads, even though I am supposed to be on a 24Mb circuit, but what happens time after time is, its slows to a snails pace then starts dropping the connection, so I phone up their help people some of which are appalling the odd one good, and they reset it all so that speed comes back up, well its doing it again, and they can not fix it this time. I am waiting on being sent a single port router by... (read more)
Peter5555's Response to stinkywinky's Review
Written on: 17/08/2011
so stop downloading illegal files (the slow speed is due to packet sniffing, ie detecting peer to peer stuff)
As for the energy being uncompetitive, then well I give up, as it's now guaranteed the cheapest
Oh and I wish people would stop blaming their ISP's for faults that are essentially down to a dodgy 1950's era telephone network (in most cases at least)
As to UW? definitely do not avoid - read the rest of the reviews and check Which etc out
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★☆☆☆☆
“ ”
Written on: 21/05/2011
if you are thinking of switching your energy to utility warehouse you should think it twice.. i swithed my broadband , phone and energy now i have a final bill of £ 1,116 i was so shocked i have never had a bill like this when i was with npower now im leaving utility but they blocked it because they want me to pay the whole amount there is no way i can pay that amount in one go so i offer installment but they dont want to accept it. i have never met a company that is so selfish and...
(read more)
Peter5555's Comment
Written on: 17/08/2011
so you do owe this amount then? Hardly unfair if the company want what is owed to them...
Npower provides the UW energy actually... so hardly likely to be more expensive
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Martinfreye's Comment
Written on: 25/01/2012
How long ago did you switch? Have you paid anything at all? Is this bill for all the energy and phone / broadband over a year? If so, it's a bargain.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 120 Reviews
★★★★★
“I am with utility ware house for two years. And will...”
Written on: 14/04/2011
I am with utility ware house for two years. And will never change
Cheapest company for all services. Utilmited free calls 24/7 in uk and 10 other countries broadband has drastically improved so now I have nothing go complaint about
And cash back card cut down all my bills so why should I look for something else?
(read more)
Guest's Comment
Written on: 02/06/2011
i also have been with utility warehouse for two years and also thought it was the cheapest, until yesterday when my local supplier, southern electric, i compared tariffs day rate for S.E is 13.21 inc Vat compared to U.W 14.875 ex Vat (inc Vat 17.85) big difference. Plus U.W charge £4.50 standing charge p/m, with means your still paying that even if your away for months, dont pay standing charge with S.E Advice shop around and look at your bill carefully. S.E also do phone and broadband, but found that would be cheaper to go with another provider so saving even more
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Strathpeffe_123's Comment
Written on: 16/03/2012
Couldn't agree more.
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Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 03/08/2012
Energy tariffs change all the time and you have to take at least a 12 month view. However 14.875 plus 5% VAT is not 17.85 but 15.6. This must be economy 7 day rate. What is the night rate? Southern have rates both with a standing charge and without. But everyone should shop around regularly and work out your costs for all services over the year. If everyone shopped around and collectively everyone stopped using British Gas Scottish Gas rates would tumble for everyone. But because only about 20% have ever changed they stay high. The Telegraph did a survey years ago and said people who had never changed supplier were rewarded for their loyalty with the big 6 by being fleeced. Note some big energy companies have different rates for different months of the year.
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★★★★★
“Excellent, I have been with Utility Warehouse Discount...”
Written on: 22/03/2011
Excellent, I have been with Utility Warehouse Discount Club for about 7 years and would not even consider changing. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“this company is the worst ever. staff are so...”
Written on: 19/03/2011 by sarah231077 (2 reviews written)
this company is the worst ever. staff are so unfriendly and dont help you at all (read more)
Peter5555's Response to sarah231077's Review
Written on: 17/08/2011
Details please?
Or is it you that is unfriendly sand unhelpful?
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★☆☆☆☆
“Where do I start.... Hate this company like no other...”
Written on: 07/03/2011
Where do I start.... Hate this company like no other at the moment. I was sold this by a 'friend' who is an agent (UW works like a pyramid scheme). Wish I'd checked out the reviews on here before signing up. Have had nothing but problems with everything from the takeover to billing, to their debit cards, to customer service, AND MOSTLY THEIR INTERNET SERVICE. AVOID LIKE THE BLOODY PLAGUE!!! If you don't heed this warning, then like me you will be at your wits end. I'm negotiating with my... (read more)
Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 07/08/2012
This is not a review this is a rant that could have come from a spoiled teenager who would appear to have an axe to grind. Which? magazine rated them very highly. BT on the other hand. What a nightmare. It would help if you could define what you mean by a 'proper internet company'. It does seem bizarre that someone would ask such an obviously dissatisfied customer to come to work for them. If they are such a bad company why do you not transfer to another provider. Or maybe your partner does not think that they are poor and so does not agree with you.
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★☆☆☆☆
“I didn't expect it to be the fastest but was happy to...”
Written on: 28/01/2011
I didn't expect it to be the fastest but was happy to add this service to the rest I take from uwclub.
But it's unreliability has finally got to me. I'm switching to another usp as soon as I can arrange it.
(read more)
Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 07/08/2012
So help us out here. Who have you moved to that is better?
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★★☆☆☆
“We use Utility Warehouse for our gas & electricity,...”
Written on: 23/01/2011
We use Utility Warehouse for our gas & electricity, their prices are quite reasonable and unlike their ADSL service you actually get what you pay for.
Oh yes, their ADSL service, horribly unreliable often with speeds under 20kb/s, consistently high latency which brings back fond memories of dialup making any sort of gaming very frustrating and leaving skype/VoIP glitchy at times.
The pricing of UWclub BroadCall and Broadband-only services is slightly above average for the 'Max' package and...
(read more)
Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 07/08/2012
So help us out here. This is supposed to be a helpful consumer support page. Who did you move to that is in your opinion better? This looks like you are just running down this company for the sake of it.
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★☆☆☆☆
“Contacted UW after positive review in Which magazine,...”
Written on: 30/12/2010
Contacted UW after positive review in Which magazine, calling them for the first time on 21 October to arrange BroadCall Max. It is now 30 December and i still can't recieve incoming telephone calls. while customer service was polite, they were ineffective from my point of view. It's dealing with the problems well that really tests the metal of organisations. I've now given up and am cancelling, taking my chances with a different company. (read more)
Litesp33D's Comment
Written on: 07/08/2012
I what way has putting internet on your phone line stopped you getting incoming phone calls. I have asked a phone engineer about this and he advised this is not technically possible. Who have you moved to?
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★☆☆☆☆
“Utterly, utterly dire. No end of problems with...”
Written on: 30/11/2010
Utterly, utterly dire. No end of problems with connection speeds suddenly dropping and staying dropped, resulting in months of endless and fruitless calls to their customer service, which can take 40 minutes of waiting to even get to speak to anyone. And of course it's NEVER their fault. It's my pc (even though the speeds are the same on my xbox, ps3, laptop, ipod etc. Or it's my cables. Or it's my configuration.
I kid you not, I'm currently getting 384kbps download speeds on a 7.6mbps...
(read more)
★★★☆☆
“OK here's the thing after 5 years with Pipex, and all...”
Written on: 23/10/2010
OK here's the thing after 5 years with Pipex, and all trouble I switched to UW. The broadband keeps dropping out and sometimes disappears altogether (26 hours yesterday). It's back for now. Customer services, although very pleasant no good what so ever.
Speed test tonight at 22.45
Download 0.82
Upload 0,36
Rubbish.
(read more)
★★★★★
“Excellent all round. Customer service and tech support...”
Written on: 02/09/2010
Excellent all round. Customer service and tech support is free and UK based and very helpful. Bills easy to read, and great value for money. (read more)
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Showing 31 - 40 of 120 Reviews
★★★★★
“I've been a custome for 4 years and would never use...”
Written on: 06/08/2010 by medicman999 (1 review written)
I've been a custome for 4 years and would never use anyone else after using the big names who are only intersted in your money and not customer sservice. I have found them great value for money and top rate customer service, who are based in the UK. If you reccomend your friends you get a discount on your bill every month.
They also do a cashback card which gives you 5% of your bill when you shop at certain high street shops. They do not advertise but use local agents to spread the word as...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I changed my broadband and telephone services to...”
Written on: 03/08/2010
I changed my broadband and telephone services to them...Hmmm, no phoneline for two weeks when I transferred, they told me it would be cheaper £75 for month and only £5 worth of calls, been more expensive then my previous provider 3 months running. Have since changed back to my previous supplier and have had no internet for 3 weeks because Utility Warehouse had encripted and re routed my line making it impossible to be provided by new server, I had to have an engineer out in the end and they... (read more)
Medicman999's Comment
Written on: 06/08/2010
£75 per month ? for internet
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★☆☆☆☆
“just moved from O2 as already had UWC for utilities. ...”
Written on: 17/07/2010
just moved from O2 as already had UWC for utilities. Wish I'd checked the speed before I moved! With O2 we achieved 2mb+ consistently. With UWC on Broadcall we get 0.250 upload and 0.180 download on a brand new 54m N rated router. If you need your broadband for videos, games, fast searching, you will be very disappointed by broadcall. Bad call (forgive the pun)! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Broadcall is very very slow and has been of ages,...”
Written on: 11/07/2010
The Broadcall is very very slow and has been of ages, several of my friends changed from BT at the same time. I conveted them as I used to be a UW agent. In am off back to BT, love them or hate them they just deliver the best speeds all the time...The tech centre is OK, but they just dont seem to resolve the problems, I have spent many hours on the phone to them!
Be warned...UW sell through agents
The insider...
(read more)
Peter5555's Comment
Written on: 17/08/2011
Talking solely as an ex Tech Support agent here (for Plusnet actually)
The vast majority of any broadband problems, if not in the home itself (which a large proportion are), are due to BT's creaking telephone network. BT conveniently pass the onus for fault reporting onto all the ISP's which of course results in them getting all the blame, while BT sit there with a smug grin on their faces threatening to charge £50 ish for missed appointments or if NFF (no fault found)
Never thought I would feel sorry for the likes of AOL, Sky etc....
I do happen to be on UW Broadcall and have been for about 5 years. It did drop out a few times a couple of years ago, so I called the excellent support service and politely asked them to take the speed down a touch (this can stop disconnections - honest!) which they did, and all has been fine since.
Please don't say the Broadcall is slow - it isn't - it's what transports it that is slow...
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Pollythepirate's Comment
Written on: 13/04/2012
Dear Peter5555
I'm reading reviews and you seem to have responded to many which does make me doubt your objectivity.
Also if as you say the problem is with the BT old telephone system, you still have a useless system and should be on broadband.
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★★★★★
“I did a lot of research and couldn't find anything...”
Written on: 30/06/2010
I did a lot of research and couldn't find anything cheaper since the "free" calls are actually free - unlike most other companies that make a monthly charge. I was recommended by a friend and have recommended Utility Warehouse to some of my friends. Their free techie support is good too. (read more)
★★★★★
“We have been with Utility Warehouse for just over two...”
Written on: 29/06/2010 by andandant (1 review written)
We have been with Utility Warehouse for just over two years now and can't find a better deal. The pricing is simple (they only have two packages) and the billing easy to understand, with no hidden extras to pay for. We find service is fast and without interuption. We have teenage daughters at home and with my broadband and phone package we get free calls. Their technical help is brilliant and free! The couple that introduced us to this have done use a great service. If you're out there... (read more)
★★★★★
“Over the years I have tried many broadband providers...”
Written on: 21/06/2010 by medicman (1 review written)
Over the years I have tried many broadband providers and have always left after my contract has come up for renewal,due to price but maninly poor customer services. The Utility Warehouse have been very good and I have had no problems with them. Due to this fact I have now changed my Gas,Electricity and mobile phone over to them.
But if you want to save even more money apply for their cashback card and get 5% back when you go shopping and get petrol, how many other broadband providers do...
(read more)
★★★★★
“The best ever. I've had BT, AOL, Tiscali, Talk-Talk,...”
Written on: 05/06/2010 by geatchey1 (1 review written)
The best ever. I've had BT, AOL, Tiscali, Talk-Talk, NTL(now Virgin), and this is better than all of them. But don't forget to pay your bill. It takes forever to get back on line if they cut you off. The helpline is superb. It takes about 15secs to get through in my experience and it's free. I hear that there's no tie in now apart for a £10.00 admin fee (previously £50.00)for the first 12 months. Which? Magazine rated them the only Best Buy in Feb 2009 and again in Feb 2010,so they must be... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Been with these people too long, time to change. When...”
Written on: 28/05/2010
Been with these people too long, time to change. When it all goes wrong then it takes ages to fix....this time its still not right after 2 days ! Feels like a cheap service with poor reliability ( old equipment ? )and a customer service standard that couldn't care less. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“When we signed to utility warehouse they did not...”
Written on: 27/05/2010
When we signed to utility warehouse they did not explain that you cannot give notice on the contract until 12 months has expired. So if you give notice at 11 months to terminate at 12 months, you pay an early cancellation fee plus cannot terminate until the end of the 13th month. Read the small print. There is no way of getting out.
We were using these for Telephone, Broadband, Gas & Electric and they were very expensive. Shop around there are better companies out there!!!
(read more)
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Showing 41 - 50 of 120 Reviews
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Mulleyman's Comment
Written on: 23/03/2013
Can I ask why you havent contacted the person who signed you up for this service? I had a similar problem when I joined as a customer... turned out after various tests with the technical support team there was a problem with my router and i was sent a replacement... I got quite frustrated with them prior to this conclusion but then the person who encouraged me to sign up with them took it over for me and got it sorted out.
It turns out that they use the same cabling and main network as BT and its the BT people who do the switchover... at worst, the speeds would be the same as what you get with BT. Generally its quicker as there are less people that use the utility warehouse part of the network than there is on the BT side.
hope this helps