See  https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/services/phoneandbroadband/phone

where they say they offer The UK's lowest line rental £17.35 a month.

Which is  misleading as EG:

Post Office Homephone offer basic Post Office* Home Phone package at £16.99/mth

Or £180 a year £15 a month if you pay in advance.

BT will do it at the of  Equiv £17.09/month if you pay it upfront.

This is exactly the sort of thing that ASA should be hearing about and dealing with.

Utility Warehouse are an unusual company. Their products (Electricity, Gas, Phone, Mobile as well as internet) are mostly sold via existing users who get a commission. It has a sort of pyramid structure which I don't trust.

In a local Streetlife forum I've had "interesting" public discussions with people who suggest UW as ISP, etc with claims of low prices. I've found that some of these people don't declare their affiliation with UW and when challenged with published figures on prices have tended to present what we now call "alternative facts".

There are "facts" and there are "lies". A fact is a fact, even if someone chooses not to believe it. Something that isn't true cannot ever be a "fact" irrespective of whether anyone believes it to be true or not.

A recent article which suggests its not a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket with them.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-4106764/ASK-TONY-Utility-Warehouse-sent-wrong-gas-bill-cut-mobile-phone.html

bigjohn wrote on Feb 12^th, 2017 at 7:17pm:

See  https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/services/phoneandbroadband/phone where they say they offer The UK's lowest line rental £17.35 a month.

It appears that the claim of "the UK's lowest line rental" has now been removed. However, Utility Warehouse now claims "Big savings on your line rental" and that one can "Save up to £66 per year!" This figure is based on a comparison of UW's line rental which is now £16.50 per month and BT's which is said to be £22 per month. Where on earth has £22 for BT come from?

UW is too close to a pyramid selling scheme for my liking. Their agents are remarkably unforthcoming when asked about how they benefit from you signing up to UW services. With their complex schemes of bonuses and benefits it's hard to put a true price on any of their services.

I had an animated discussion with a UW rep once in a local "Streetlife" forum. I simply presented facts and figures to show they were talking rubbish and they got very huffy.

Dave wrote on Apr 7^th, 2017 at 11:43pm:

bigjohn wrote on Feb 12th, 2017 at 7:17pm: See  https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/services/phoneandbroadband/phone where they say they offer The UK's lowest line rental £17.35 a month. It appears that the claim of "the UK's lowest line rental" has now been removed. However, Utility Warehouse now claims "Big savings on your line rental" and that one can "Save up to £66 per year!" This figure is based on a comparison of UW's line rental which is now £16.50 per month and BT's which is said to be £22 per month. Where on earth has £22 for BT come from?

They changed the cost of line rental on the on the 19 March 2017. See:  https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/legal/tariffs  click on  residential charges,

£17.35 use to include evening and weekend calls .The new £16.50 tariff does not.

UW say Price comparison is based on standard rates for line rental, local, national and mobile calls and excludes any promotional offers (such as advanced line rental payment) or chargeable call bundle packages. Information correct as of 29 March 2017.

So BT,s Standard Line Rental of £18.99 should be used  not £22 which unlike them includes inclusive 01/02/03 weekend calls.

ISTR that all discussions about UW on MSE were forbidden and rumour had it that a number of threats of legal action were the cause.  I don't know the grounds for that but I always go by the old adage about smoke and fire.

Heinz wrote on Apr 11^th, 2017 at 9:28am:

ISTR that all discussions about UW on MSE were forbidden and rumour had it that a number of threats of legal action were the cause.  I don't know the grounds for that but I always go by the old adage about smoke and fire.

 

They were not forbidden all that MSE asked was that distributors declared an interest when posting,and it  was all done on one dedicated thread which still operates.As some over enthuastic distributors tried to big it up without declaring their hand.  :o

I was told that UW now  advise Distributors to be careful what they do and don't  post on social media,.

allegro wrote on Apr 8^th, 2017 at 6:13am:

UW is too close to a pyramid selling scheme for my liking. Their agents are remarkably unforthcoming when asked about how they benefit from you signing up to UW services. With their complex schemes of bonuses and benefits it's hard to put a true price on any of their services. I had an animated discussion with a UW rep once in a local "Streetlife" forum. I simply presented facts and figures to show they were talking rubbish and they got very huffy.

It appears their distributors can earn up to £200 plus now   if they sign up people to a particular bundle,and it is not subject to clawback

See https://www.utilitywarehouse.co.uk/partner-help/partner/answer/quip-ext

and (Click on how does it work.)

I wonder if the customer is made aware of this. Like when you told the amount of commission the salesperson is paid on certain financial service products you purchase.