If you haven’t read Part 1 of this blog post, you can check it our here:
Hate Your Gas & Electricity Supplier? Don’t Get All Fired Up... Just Switch! - Part 1
This time we’ll compile a longer list, a ‘specification’ if you like – Read through this list and decide whether your current supplier squares up to each point (but please don’t get frustrated or ‘run out of energy’ doing this– there is ‘light’ at the end of this tunnel :-)
• High customer satisfaction and positive feedback – happy, smiley customers that are happy to refer other people and recommend the energy services.
• Easy to switch, risk-free to try with no-obligation and no contract!
• Energy company doesn’t waste £millions on advertising that their customers have to pay for! Customer saves money!
• Call Centre in the UK, not overseas – an overseas Call Centre might be cheaper for the supplier, but extremely frustrating for the customers.
• Great customer service / aftercare. Online customer service must be of same high standard as offline. You should still be able to speak with a real person if ever you have to query your online statement.
• Great value for money, where prices are consistently at the lower end of the market.
• Unbiased energy surveys/reviews/comparisons by trusted and reputable online and offline companies that don’t pay commissions to get featured!
• No more wasting time frequently switching suppliers – customer can get on with more important things in life!
• Genuine price promise/guarantee with no tie-ins. Would you trust a company that locks you into a fixed-term/capped contract at a supposedly “lower price” on the premise that your bills would be cheaper?
• Simple, un-confusing, easy-to-understand tariffs, i.e. one price level - are 2 (primary and secondary) units really necessary? No hidden charges, e.g. Standing Charge should be shown separately.
Let’s home in on a couple of these issues in more detail, right now:
Firstly, rumours abound that customers of a certain multi-utility supplier are better off because they pay the same low, single rate all year round ;-) In summer, when consumption is lower, their customers pay far less than customers of other companies that charge the first or primary level of units at a higher rate of consumption. So for about 6 months of the year, their prices are sometimes double that of the aforementioned multi-utility supplier.
Secondly, most energy companies ‘panic’ customers into signing up for fixed/capped tariffs, leading them into believing that prices are going to keep increasing. Capped tariffs can be up to 20% more expensive than non-capped. This means that customers on capped tariffs are paying 2010/11/12 prices RIGHT NOW!
Well, that just about wraps this post up. In a future post, I will be revealing some insider secrets that the major energy suppliers won’t be pleased about seeing in the public domain! Until then, stay warm this winter ;-)
Vijay V. Patel
I’m hoping that you found this article both agreeable and worthwhile sharing with your Twitter friends – in which case, please feel free to hit the “retweet” button on this post. Many thanks.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
How To Avoid The Headache Of Switching Energy Suppliers - Ever Again!
(apart from just this once :>)
This article applies especially to those customers currently with EDF and E.On, that entered into a capped tariff last summer*.
EDF customers currently on the Energy Protection 2009 tariff and E.On customers currently on the Fixed Price 2 tariff have now probably been moved over to a more expensive standard tariff, since your capped rate has just ended. This means that you are now faced with the headache of switching yet again!
Wouldn't you prefer something better to do with your precious time than trawling through the comparison sites yet again, looking for the best deal?
Most energy customers would stay loyal to a supplier that gives them guaranteed, long term value, excellent customer service, no tie-ins, no half-hearted, short-term ‘offers’ like "£15 cashback" or "free wine" - just a no-nonsense, value-for-money deal that ensures that you are always at the bottom end of the market for cost of energy. What if you could also get clear, accurate bills and easy-to-understand tariffs? And I guess some sort of price guarantee would be helpful during these difficult times when people are worried about their energy bills.
Well, if you ACT NOW, you can take advantage of these benefits before the winter really kicks in.
Have you had enough of changing suppliers every few months in order to find the best deal for your particular circumstances?
What if you could easily switch to an energy supplier that regularly looks for the best-value deal for their customers (very much like a brokering service), so that in the long term you actually save money? An energy supplier that has real credibility, with the majority of their customers happy to recommend them to their friends, family and work colleagues? An energy supplier that actually looks after you, such that you get your very own personal point of contact - someone that will make it their aim to ensure that you become a happy, smiley, satisfied customer - that someone being us! You get two for the price of one ;-)
Call Kim or Vijay NOW on 0800 458 4102 for further information. You deserve long-term peace-of-mind, but make sure that you ACT NOW to take advantage of the huge benefits of switching to: The UK's Best Energy Supplier!
Remember, it's so easy to switch, so call now on 0800 458 4102, asking for Kim or Vijay, or if you are comfortable with signing up online, then go to The Utility Warehouse website to get yourself set up with the minimum of fuss.
*PS: Over 98% of the UK population can benefit overall, especially if you are currently with any of the “Big 6” energy suppliers or their smaller companies.
Vijay V. Patel
I’m hoping that you found this article both agreeable and worthwhile sharing with your Twitter friends – in which case, please feel free to hit the “retweet” button on this post. Many thanks.
This article applies especially to those customers currently with EDF and E.On, that entered into a capped tariff last summer*.
EDF customers currently on the Energy Protection 2009 tariff and E.On customers currently on the Fixed Price 2 tariff have now probably been moved over to a more expensive standard tariff, since your capped rate has just ended. This means that you are now faced with the headache of switching yet again!
Wouldn't you prefer something better to do with your precious time than trawling through the comparison sites yet again, looking for the best deal?
Most energy customers would stay loyal to a supplier that gives them guaranteed, long term value, excellent customer service, no tie-ins, no half-hearted, short-term ‘offers’ like "£15 cashback" or "free wine" - just a no-nonsense, value-for-money deal that ensures that you are always at the bottom end of the market for cost of energy. What if you could also get clear, accurate bills and easy-to-understand tariffs? And I guess some sort of price guarantee would be helpful during these difficult times when people are worried about their energy bills.
Well, if you ACT NOW, you can take advantage of these benefits before the winter really kicks in.
Have you had enough of changing suppliers every few months in order to find the best deal for your particular circumstances?
What if you could easily switch to an energy supplier that regularly looks for the best-value deal for their customers (very much like a brokering service), so that in the long term you actually save money? An energy supplier that has real credibility, with the majority of their customers happy to recommend them to their friends, family and work colleagues? An energy supplier that actually looks after you, such that you get your very own personal point of contact - someone that will make it their aim to ensure that you become a happy, smiley, satisfied customer - that someone being us! You get two for the price of one ;-)
Call Kim or Vijay NOW on 0800 458 4102 for further information. You deserve long-term peace-of-mind, but make sure that you ACT NOW to take advantage of the huge benefits of switching to: The UK's Best Energy Supplier!
Remember, it's so easy to switch, so call now on 0800 458 4102, asking for Kim or Vijay, or if you are comfortable with signing up online, then go to The Utility Warehouse website to get yourself set up with the minimum of fuss.
*PS: Over 98% of the UK population can benefit overall, especially if you are currently with any of the “Big 6” energy suppliers or their smaller companies.
Vijay V. Patel
I’m hoping that you found this article both agreeable and worthwhile sharing with your Twitter friends – in which case, please feel free to hit the “retweet” button on this post. Many thanks.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hate Your Gas & Electricity Supplier? Don’t Get All Fired Up... Just Switch! - PART 1
How on Earth (well, in the U.K. to be more precise) do you find unbiased reviews on this country’s energy suppliers in relation to concerns that are important to most domestic and business consumers?
Let’s begin with identifying what the main issues are (in no particular order of importance):
• Good customer service, i.e. polite staff, satisfied customers
• Value for money
• Telephone support, i.e. ease of contact, time taken to get through, satisfaction with / quality of telephone support service
• Billing, i.e. accuracy of bills, ease of understanding, resolving billing queries, not getting bills, billing options
• Lack of information, i.e. guidance on saving energy, saving money on energy
Most people in the UK can empathise with these concerns and relate their own woeful tales of having been let down by their respective energy supplier(s) in one way or another.
I guess the next question is: where do we look for unbiased information that will allow us to make an informed decision on which supplier(s) to give our custom to?
My own research on this has led to the following list (you’ll soon begin to realise how much I like lists):
• In the offline world:
Specialist consumer magazines – the only one that I have come across and many people know as “the UK’s leading consumer magazine”: Which?
Specialist energy magazines – Energy World, Petroleum Review, UK Power
Word-of-mouth recommendations / referrals – from friends, family, work colleagues.
• In the online world:
Specialist consumer websites – Yes, it’s Which? again, and many comparison/review websites such as moneysupermarket.com, confused.com, consumerfocus.org.uk, homeadvisoryservice.co.uk, uswitch.com, consumerdirect.gov.uk,
Specialist energy websites – too numerous to mention, but you can expect to find all major energy companies and suppliers represented here.
Recommendations / referrals on forums, in press releases and articles, in blog posts (such as this one ;-), social/business networking and other websites.
Now most of us prefer to take the easy route to finding the best possible money-saving deal for our energy services. Some of us are comfortable online, spending time trawling through the comparison sites looking for the cheapest. Others find comfort in following up recommendations or referrals from those people that they know and trust. Some haven’t got the energy to switch or cannot be bothered, saying: “... better the devil you know...”
Which energy companies tick all or most of the boxes when it comes to satisfying most customers’ concerns?
Have a think about this one, let me have your feedback and I’ll be back with part 2 of this blog post sooner than you can say “... let’s get energised!”
Vijay V. Patel
I’m hoping that you found this article both agreeable and worthwhile sharing with your Twitter friends – in which case, please feel free to hit the “retweet” button on this post. Many thanks.
Let’s begin with identifying what the main issues are (in no particular order of importance):
• Good customer service, i.e. polite staff, satisfied customers
• Value for money
• Telephone support, i.e. ease of contact, time taken to get through, satisfaction with / quality of telephone support service
• Billing, i.e. accuracy of bills, ease of understanding, resolving billing queries, not getting bills, billing options
• Lack of information, i.e. guidance on saving energy, saving money on energy
Most people in the UK can empathise with these concerns and relate their own woeful tales of having been let down by their respective energy supplier(s) in one way or another.
I guess the next question is: where do we look for unbiased information that will allow us to make an informed decision on which supplier(s) to give our custom to?
My own research on this has led to the following list (you’ll soon begin to realise how much I like lists):
• In the offline world:
Specialist consumer magazines – the only one that I have come across and many people know as “the UK’s leading consumer magazine”: Which?
Specialist energy magazines – Energy World, Petroleum Review, UK Power
Word-of-mouth recommendations / referrals – from friends, family, work colleagues.
• In the online world:
Specialist consumer websites – Yes, it’s Which? again, and many comparison/review websites such as moneysupermarket.com, confused.com, consumerfocus.org.uk, homeadvisoryservice.co.uk, uswitch.com, consumerdirect.gov.uk,
Specialist energy websites – too numerous to mention, but you can expect to find all major energy companies and suppliers represented here.
Recommendations / referrals on forums, in press releases and articles, in blog posts (such as this one ;-), social/business networking and other websites.
Now most of us prefer to take the easy route to finding the best possible money-saving deal for our energy services. Some of us are comfortable online, spending time trawling through the comparison sites looking for the cheapest. Others find comfort in following up recommendations or referrals from those people that they know and trust. Some haven’t got the energy to switch or cannot be bothered, saying: “... better the devil you know...”
Which energy companies tick all or most of the boxes when it comes to satisfying most customers’ concerns?
Have a think about this one, let me have your feedback and I’ll be back with part 2 of this blog post sooner than you can say “... let’s get energised!”
Vijay V. Patel
I’m hoping that you found this article both agreeable and worthwhile sharing with your Twitter friends – in which case, please feel free to hit the “retweet” button on this post. Many thanks.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
£100 Extra Discount For New Utility Warehouse Customers!
There are now even more reasons to become a Utility Warehouse, happy, smiley Club Member...
There is no question that this represents phenomenal extra value for new customers in addition to all the other membership benefits and savings that are already provided!
All new multi-service customers whose initial application form is received and processed by the Utility Warehouse between 1 September 2009 and 30 April 2010 (inclusive) will be entitled to receive this one-off extra discount of £100 on the cost of using the services, which will be credited to their account shortly after their first anniversary as a member.
To qualify for this extra discount as a new customer you must
1. Take dual-fuel, plus at least one major telephony or broadband service.
2. Be in either the residential or business clubs.
3. Use at least £350 of gas – that’s around half the amount used by an average household.
4. Pay by direct debit and keep your account in good order.
5. Not cancel any of your initial services during the first year.
6. Provide three sets of energy meter readings during the first year to ensure accurate billing. Firstly when your energy services are transferred to the Utility Warehouse. Secondly after your energy services have both been live for three months. And finally, after both energy services have been live for 12 months.
Each customer who meets these very simple criteria will receive a £100 credit on the next bill we produce after both their energy services have been live with us for a full year.
There is no question that this represents phenomenal extra value for new customers in addition to all the other membership benefits and savings that are already provided!
All new multi-service customers whose initial application form is received and processed by the Utility Warehouse between 1 September 2009 and 30 April 2010 (inclusive) will be entitled to receive this one-off extra discount of £100 on the cost of using the services, which will be credited to their account shortly after their first anniversary as a member.
To qualify for this extra discount as a new customer you must
1. Take dual-fuel, plus at least one major telephony or broadband service.
2. Be in either the residential or business clubs.
3. Use at least £350 of gas – that’s around half the amount used by an average household.
4. Pay by direct debit and keep your account in good order.
5. Not cancel any of your initial services during the first year.
6. Provide three sets of energy meter readings during the first year to ensure accurate billing. Firstly when your energy services are transferred to the Utility Warehouse. Secondly after your energy services have both been live for three months. And finally, after both energy services have been live for 12 months.
Each customer who meets these very simple criteria will receive a £100 credit on the next bill we produce after both their energy services have been live with us for a full year.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A CashBack Card for budget-conscious shoppers at Sainsburys and many other leading UK retailers
UK – Telecom plus, operating as the Utility Warehouse are continuing to save their Discount Club customers even more money with last year’s launch of their exclusive CashBack Card- an extra 5% savings on food, fuel and all household purchases such as electrical goods, clothing, health and beauty and DIY... in addition to savings from sale prices, special offers (in-store or online) and coupons.
The latest economic downturn has forced many people to cut back on non-essential spending and find ways of making their hard-earned cash go further, to pay those all-important household bills.
The CashBack card is a prepaid MasterCard that customers can simply top up with the amount of money they choose, and then use to go shopping like any normal debit card – over the phone, online and abroad. This means that customers cannot get into debt and spend more than the balance on their account.
The savings made are given to Club Members as CashBack on their next monthly Utility Warehouse bill – this could total hundreds of pounds a year with potentially no limit to the actual amount that can be saved. For many Club Members this effectively means that the charge(s) on their SINGLE BILL for energy and/or broadband and/or home phone and/or mobile phone bill, etc is considerably reduced, even down to zero!
From a security view point, customers are protected against fraud and identity theft, since CashBack cards are not linked directly to their bank accounts.
Telecom plus are a London based, FTSE 250 PLC and multi-utility supplier. The company has traded on the London Stock Exchange since June 2000, and operated under the brand name of the Utility Warehouse since 2002.
The Utility Warehouse Discount Club simply saves their members money. They supply domestic and business customers with essential services used by virtually everyone - landline and mobile telephony, energy and broadband (all with the convenience of a single monthly bill) – backed up by an award winning, London based customer services centre.
Further savings benefits are available in the form of “Free Global Calls”, and offers such as the CashBack card, Customer Discount Plan and unique membership discounts directory.
Remarkably, under the current economic recession, the company continues to generate profits, remain debt-free and cash-rich.
Further information on the Utility Warehouse Discount Club CashBack card can be found here:
CASHBACK CARD
Information on other money-saving services and products can be found at:
SAVE MONEY
Telecom plus also offer a part-time/full-time/anytime! Home Business Opportunity:
TELECOM PLUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
The latest economic downturn has forced many people to cut back on non-essential spending and find ways of making their hard-earned cash go further, to pay those all-important household bills.
The CashBack card is a prepaid MasterCard that customers can simply top up with the amount of money they choose, and then use to go shopping like any normal debit card – over the phone, online and abroad. This means that customers cannot get into debt and spend more than the balance on their account.
The savings made are given to Club Members as CashBack on their next monthly Utility Warehouse bill – this could total hundreds of pounds a year with potentially no limit to the actual amount that can be saved. For many Club Members this effectively means that the charge(s) on their SINGLE BILL for energy and/or broadband and/or home phone and/or mobile phone bill, etc is considerably reduced, even down to zero!
From a security view point, customers are protected against fraud and identity theft, since CashBack cards are not linked directly to their bank accounts.
Telecom plus are a London based, FTSE 250 PLC and multi-utility supplier. The company has traded on the London Stock Exchange since June 2000, and operated under the brand name of the Utility Warehouse since 2002.
The Utility Warehouse Discount Club simply saves their members money. They supply domestic and business customers with essential services used by virtually everyone - landline and mobile telephony, energy and broadband (all with the convenience of a single monthly bill) – backed up by an award winning, London based customer services centre.
Further savings benefits are available in the form of “Free Global Calls”, and offers such as the CashBack card, Customer Discount Plan and unique membership discounts directory.
Remarkably, under the current economic recession, the company continues to generate profits, remain debt-free and cash-rich.
Further information on the Utility Warehouse Discount Club CashBack card can be found here:
CASHBACK CARD
Information on other money-saving services and products can be found at:
SAVE MONEY
Telecom plus also offer a part-time/full-time/anytime! Home Business Opportunity:
TELECOM PLUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Monday, September 14, 2009
Consumer Revolution
We've all been let down by poor customer service and poor product quality - for some of us, far too frequently.
If this happens often enough, most of us accept this to be the norm, such that we become the victims of Negative Conditioning - we expect things to go wrong, we expect disappointment with our purchases, we expect bad service - negativity rules our lives.
Then, when a reputable business or high-quality product/service is recommended to us (usually by those we would normally trust and respect), we are reluctant to take action and be 'guided to the light' in case we are let down again. The victim continues to be the victim.
Is there a way to exit this negative loop?
Sure. It's a simple enough solution really - we take guidance from the 'Leaders' in this world; those who hold trust, have knowledge, faith and positive aspirations.
Who are these Leaders?
Leaders are regular people. Leaders are those who encourage us away from Negative Conditioning. They 'personally recommend' as if their lives and reputations depended on it.
Do we listen to Leaders and take heed of what they say?
Not always - not often enough - we should thank them for their leadership though.
Negative Conditioning is so powerful that, even though we know this evil force is impacting on our self-image we are RELUCTANT TO TAKE ACTION and take back control.
Here's our good news: we WERE suffering from Negative Conditioning, but 18 months ago we regained control.
Want to know how?
We met a Leader - we thanked him for his leadership - we ourselves are now Leaders.
Join our consumer revolution to support the collective buying power of over 300,000 individual, highly-satisfied customers - meet the Leaders at Utilities-In-Order:
Utilities-In-Order (Save Money, Make Money, Raise Money)
NOTE:
What are your personal experiences of dealing with bad customer service?
Are you the type of person who always says: "Sounds too good to be true, so I don't believe it"?
If this happens often enough, most of us accept this to be the norm, such that we become the victims of Negative Conditioning - we expect things to go wrong, we expect disappointment with our purchases, we expect bad service - negativity rules our lives.
Then, when a reputable business or high-quality product/service is recommended to us (usually by those we would normally trust and respect), we are reluctant to take action and be 'guided to the light' in case we are let down again. The victim continues to be the victim.
Is there a way to exit this negative loop?
Sure. It's a simple enough solution really - we take guidance from the 'Leaders' in this world; those who hold trust, have knowledge, faith and positive aspirations.
Who are these Leaders?
Leaders are regular people. Leaders are those who encourage us away from Negative Conditioning. They 'personally recommend' as if their lives and reputations depended on it.
Do we listen to Leaders and take heed of what they say?
Not always - not often enough - we should thank them for their leadership though.
Negative Conditioning is so powerful that, even though we know this evil force is impacting on our self-image we are RELUCTANT TO TAKE ACTION and take back control.
Here's our good news: we WERE suffering from Negative Conditioning, but 18 months ago we regained control.
Want to know how?
We met a Leader - we thanked him for his leadership - we ourselves are now Leaders.
Join our consumer revolution to support the collective buying power of over 300,000 individual, highly-satisfied customers - meet the Leaders at Utilities-In-Order:
Utilities-In-Order (Save Money, Make Money, Raise Money)
NOTE:
What are your personal experiences of dealing with bad customer service?
Are you the type of person who always says: "Sounds too good to be true, so I don't believe it"?
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I'm a Mercedes SLK!
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