Just added a chat box to my site  DR Building Services so if you go there and I am online, then if you have any questions, need advise on diy or Utility Warehouse then you can message me.

Or you can leave a question in the feedback box on the main page

Hope to hear for you soon.

Clearance Sale

Great news Screwfix are having another clearance sale, click on the images to get these great deals. Limited time so hurry.


25% OFF All Erbauer Power Tool Accessories!




PRICE CRASH- Save up to 50%



Garmin Sat Nav Clearance- Save up to £40!


The above offers end 11/03/2012

Poll

Annoying leaks

If you have a pipe that leaks, the annoying thing is that it does not drip in one place. It drips along the pipe and you need about 3 or 4 pans to catch the drips.

If you cannot repair it, the plumber is going to come tomorrow but you need water, try this.

Get a towel or small cloth and wrap it round the source of the leak, create a small tail with last bit of the cloth, and put that tail in your pan or under the pan. What happen is the cloth saturates, and gravity allows the excess water to drip down the tail, and then it empties into the pan.

Just keep a check on the pan and empty it when needed.

If you do not need water turn off the supply by closing the stopcock, or if you are lucky close the isolating valve.

Use plastic sheeting under the pan and surrounding area if you can, shopping bags can be used just to protect the area.

Just an interesting article

Wooden Spoon Winner for worst companies for customer service

  Click Here to read more 

Here's a clue about who won this, "I can talk and talk about this".

Telecom Plus is Utility Warehouse

Telecom Plus parent company of Utility Warehouse

RIEF-Telecom Plus FY profit rises

May 25 (Reuters) - Telecom Plus PLC: * Revenue up 13% to £418.8M (2010: £369.1M) * Profit before tax up 51% to £27.5M (2010: £18.2M) 
[25 May '11]

If you thought Utility Warehouse were just a fly by night company, share prices for the last 3 years, lets take February for a example.

Feb 2010 - £3.00

Feb 2011 - £4.80

Feb 2012 - £6.80

In 2 years their shares have doubled in price.

These prices are approximate but give you a clear understanding, Utility Warehouse  is doing well in hard times. They have already worked their way into the FTSE top 250.

Have you heard of Which? magazine?

Which are an independent consumer advise magazine, they consistently give Utility Warehouse best providers for broadband and phone deals.


They are not paid advertisers like some comparison websites who may bend the truth a little, by not comparing all companies.


This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

Weekend deal with Screwfix

I am pleased to advise that, as part of the More Power for Less campaign, Screwfix will be offering 10% off the following products with code MPFL4D:

81664 Erbauer 2100w Router Was £99.99 Now £89.99 save 10%

92399 Makita 14.4v Triple Pack Was £199.99 Now £179.99 Save 10%

73596 Dewalt Combi Was £99.99 Now £89.99 Save 10%

55880 Dewalt Apprentice Set Was 19.99 Now £17.99 Save 10%

This deal will be running from Sunday 26^th February until 23.59h on Wednesday 29^th February

Order any of these online and you get membership to Screwfix and free delivery on orders over £50.00


Another useful blog site http://savingmoneyuk.wordpress.com/

Too good to be true?

Most people a sceptics, it's in our nature. Offer something that just does not sound or look right, it's just too good to be true.

Don't worry, I said the same thing. I still think where's the catch?

Problem is ....... I still can't find one. I save money so at the end of the day I am content.

Utility Warehouse offer a deal where you do save money, as a distributor I do benefit from you signing up, but, I do not take money directly from you. What happens is you sign up, you benefit because you save money, you do not pay any extra money, to switch over costs nothing in most cases. Some cases where you pay is because you do not have a BT line or the number you have is not a BT number.

Although some charges may occur to a few, a majority it does not.

If you want 500 tv channels and all the other gizmo's that get offered, this is not for you.

Utility Warehouse is for the average person who wants a decent connection to internet, cheap phone calls, cheap mobile calls and not high gas and electric prices.

The only outlay that you will have, is, if you want to become a  Utility Warehouse  distributor. You can even recommend people and gain benefit without becoming a distributor.

Just stop the um and ah's, if you find you do not benefit then just leave, you are not tied in. Cheap mobile phones and tariffs, cheap phone and broadband, cheap gas and electric, plus discounts on online and high street shopping.( ranging from 3 to 7%)

Gee whiz what you sitting here for click and join it too easy. Utility Warehouse

UK based support who are actually helpful and don't have attitude.

Help me and I will help you, as a member you will benefit from great savings and also you have me to help you with any questions, I will help you, I'm not here shouting about this to let you or myself down. Utility Warehouse

This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

Handy Tips

Sink and drain maintenance


You will need plunger, rubber gloves, caustic soda

In my experience the main problem with this is, people do not prevent, they just wait and wait till its too late. Regular maintenance helps, and it is inexpensive. Buy some caustic soda, put about 100 grammes into the plug hole and add a cup of tepid water, this will cause the crystals to react and it will clear most debris.

If you do this once or twice a year it will save you a hefty plumbing bill, also invest in a plug strainer they may look a bit out dated but they work by stopping all that muck going down the plug hole.

Full blockages

Do not buy the stuff they advertise, it's rubbish! What you need to do is clear as much water as you can, then add about 100 grammes of caustic soda and add a cup of tepid water, the reaction will cause whatever is blocking to rise out of the plug hole, make sure you wear rubber gloves, clean the debris. Leave this for about 10 minutes and repeat the process. After about 3 treatments, use a plunger the work the blockage, debris will come up the plug hole again, clean it up, the blockage should clear.

Caustic soda is very inexpensive and works much better than any advertised sink and drain unblockers.

Please be careful caustic soda is an irritant and can burn the skin, attempt this if you only feel confident about this. You can always call me if you need help. Darren

If you like my blog why not join in and comment, you can add me, visit everyday, I will try to add content everyday. Hints and tips from visitors always welcome, you will get credit for anything posted.

BT vs Utility Warehouse

I love deals and showing people what companies really are doing. On the surface they all look good, but check the small print, hidden fees, extra charges for making calls, charges per minute not second, they all mount up.

Have a look at the deals, see the contract term, and work out what you pay for the term of the contract. £3.99 may look good when you see it advertised, but please look into it first.

I just had a look at BT s latest offers (22nd Feb 2011) and how they compare to Utility Warehouse.

As you may already know, I have :

Free weekend calls
Unlimited broadband 24mb  (around 10mb in reality)

The reason I go for unlimited broadband is so I do not get hit with a hefty bill by going over the limits, and I did get hit a few times before by BT.

What's the offer?


New BT customers only.

Up to 20mb Unlimited broadband - (more like 5mb if your lucky)
Free evening and weekend calls
18 month minimum contract

All for £20 for 3 months, then £25 for the rest of the contract plus line rental (£14.50 per month or £10 if you pay in advance).

Lets do the sums


3 months at £20 =  £60.00
15 months at £25 = £375.00
18 months at £14.50 = £261.00

Total  £696.00 and once you start you have to finish or they penalise you.    

Utility Warehouse

 £24.99 x 18 months = £449.82

A difference of £246.18 that is £13.86 a month. Plus no tie in contracts.


Here are the sums - Now you make your mind up.

Plus if you take up more services you get bigger discounts.
My last bill from Utility Warehouse was for only £7.98p for phone and broadband.


This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop


             

Handy Tips For Today

Sash Windows

Tools needed - Candle, Beeswax

If you got sash windows that do not run smoothly, the just get a candle or beeswax and run it down the sides a few times and that will ease it and help it move better.

Removing Wall plugs

Tools needed - Screw, Screwdriver, Hammer, paper or card.

Get a 2" or 3" screw, screw it into the plug halfway, get a claw hammer and take the screw out like you would a nail. Place a piece of paper or card between the hammer head and wall to prevent marking the wall. Easing it out gently will take the plug and screw out in one go.


Filling Small Holes

Tools needed - Filler, Sandpaper, Scraper or Spatula.

So many times I have seen great big mounds of plaster painted that looks like a massive zit on a smooth surface, people decide to fill, overfill, then forget to sand, then discover they can't sand it because it's rock hard, so they just paint it.

Simple, do not overfill the hole, use a spatula or scraper to just make the filling flush with the wall, allow it to dry, fill the dimple, scrape it flush, allow to dry, then sand. Overfilling doesn't really work because people tend to forget and leave it for days then its too late, plus its allot messier when sanding.

Patience is a virtue, most of the tools can be bought at B&Q and Wickes

B&Q have got some special offers and discounts this and next month

Screwfix Sale

Screwfix are having a power tool sale!

POWER TOOLS - DeWalt -Makita - Ryobi Savings of up to £300.00 Offer limited time only.

Great Savings on the Erbauer Power Tool Range

Check it out  Free Delivery on orders over £50.00

If you want to feel free and send me a gift :)

I actually do use DeWalt and Erbauer tools as part of my work, have a great 18v DeWalt portable drill, the battery lasts for ages, and you get 2 batteries,  if you haven't used it for a while still works fine.

Also I have an Erbauer Router, very useful tool, 2 year warranty and easy to use.

So what's the deal with me and Utility Warehouse?

Why the hell is he going on and on about Utility Warehouse?

Here it is in black and white, the truth.

I am a distributor for Utility Warehouse, I signed up through recommendation from my brother-in-law. I work self employed so am always looking for other ways to increase my income.

The deal was £100 and be a distributor, so I thought what the heck. I did however take time and researched them and found good and bad reviews. But for £100 was worth a go to me.

Sat on this company for a while, did the online training and attended a seminar. Took my time to really start making moves.

Firstly got rid or BT and joined Utility Warehouse and found I save at least £15 a month. Discount card is something you don't have to get, but is worthwhile if you want to save between 3 and 7% and shop wisely.

Ok, here's the bottom line. If you sign up to a service from Utility Warehouse I get up to £10.00 commission, and also a percentage of the amount you spend every month, on average about 5%, so if you got a phone and broadband I would get about £1.20 a month.

What does it cost you?  Nothing!

All you are doing is switching over providers, the same BT engineer will visit you if there is a problem, the same Gas company, same Electric company for faults.

So if you change to Utility Warehouse it will not cost you a penny, in fact, you will save money, the more you take up, the better the discounts. Recommend a friend and there incentive schemes for you. You do not have to be a distributor to give referrals to friends. You get a percentage too.

If you decide later you want to become a distributor then by all means do so.

Just take a look, if it's not for you then fine, if it is just sign up online and within a few weeks you can enjoy the benefits of saving some money.

Remember you are not paying any extra for this, just saving.

This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

Multi level marketing

Just watched a presentation from a multi level marketer, rather impressive I thought. Until they wanted money again. These people are very skilled talkers and motivators, but at the end of the day it's their job.

To get where they are can mean a lot of time and effort, also they are top level people, this means they have already taken the cream of the top, so you starting way down below which means you got to find those people with disposable incomes that haven't already done so.

Why I save money

Sceptical or Skeptical
1.	not convinced that something is true; doubtful
2.	tending to mistrust people, ideas, etc, in general
3.	of or relating to sceptics; sceptic
Why did I put the above up? Because I was too. Before I joined Utility Warehouse, I spent hours trolling through their pages try to find a catch. Mixed reviews as usual, even negative reviews were not that negative once you read past the first couple of paragraphs. The problem is I did not, there are no membership fees, just the discount club card, and if you use it wisely then you will get your money back, and you don't have to join if you don't want to. It does not cost to change provider for Mobiles, Phone, Broadband or Gas and Electric. If you are tied into a contract, take up 4 services and they will give you up to £200.00 towards buying out your existing one. A pedigree company, Telecom Plus - Check them out first. UK based support team, who surprisingly are really helpful. Plus best of all You Save Money and No Tie Me In Contracts, stay for a month, if you are not happy, then leave. How many of the top companies allow you to leave if you suddenly decide its not for you?

Give Utility Warehouse a go what have you got to lose?

Remember they also have a price promise and you can also cancel any time.




This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

Discount Card

Low prices for Mobile, Broadband, Gas, Electric and a discount card for shopping at popular stores on the high street and online.

No tie in contracts, pay for what you have used, no pay in advance, if you don't like it then cancel.

SAVE 3% AT SAINSBURY'S AND GET NECTAR POINTS, 5% AT M&S, ARGOS, B&Q BOOTS, 7% TOYS R US, MOTHERCARE PLUS MORE

IF YOU HAVE DISCOUNT CARDS YOU CAN TAKE ANOTHER 5% OFF WITH THE CASH BACK CARD - B&Q OVER 60S WEDS CLUB WOULD BE 15% WITH THE CASH BACK CARD

Best tips for a household

In my opinion as a builder / handyman is, know where your stopcock is, always check it is working at least once a year, lubricate it with oil and if it does not work, then get someone in to replace it.

Normally it is located under your stairs or near the kitchen sink.

If you have a leak or even suspect one, then at least you can stop the problem until you can fix it.

Utility Warehouse vs Talk Talk

I just did a few calculations and read a bit of small print, and findings for Talk Talk seem very candy coated. It all looks very cheap, but once you get caught, you don’t have a pleasant  money-saving future.

Compared a like for like deal with Utility Warehouse and Talk Talk, this is the deal I have withUtility Warehouse.

24mb unlimited, free evening and weekend calls.

Talk Talk there is a minimum contract which they do not state. Advertise “prices from” but look into that.

Also minimum connection charge of 13.1p  for charged calls. Line rental is £13.80 and £14.50 for the broadband and phone. (Once the honeymoon period is over)

Talk Talk customers need to check their bills and see what they really charge you.

Utility Warehouse for Unlimited broadband and phone is £24.99 a month free evening and weekend call to the usual 01,02 and 03. Oh yeah VAT inclusive and no minimum contract.

All prices were true at time of publishing

This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

French and Saunders

French and Saunders in a small advert about Utility Warehouse 1 of 8

French and Saunders Video 1

See how much these companies spend to get you to buy their product.

UK’s Top 10 Advertising Spenders

Half Term Deals

B&Q have a half term offer 15% off  showers, fireplaces, wallpaper and tools plus other stuff.

If you have a Utility Warehouse Club Card that means 20% off.

If you have the over 60s discount card and went on Wednesday and had a Utility Warehouse Club Card that would mean you get a whopping  30% off

Keep check here for more deals.

Utility Warehouse

Calling all mobile, phone and broadband and utility users. Want to save on any of these?

I used to  use BT phone and broadband, usual bill was around £40.00 a month, had a standard service with mediocre download speeds at peak times, they say 10mb more like 2mb if I was lucky.

Found my present provider by recommendation in September 2011, so I did what we all do, I sat on it. Finally in 2012, got my BT bill, what did I find? I’m not sure, the bill might have well been written in Chinese. But at the end of it price increase.

Rang up BT, said “I’m leaving you”, they say “don’t go, we will put you on a lower tariff and price plan”

“Wow” I said, then I said “nope, bye”

Rang up Utility Warehouse and got my Phone and broadband for £25.00 a month, including line rental and broadband unlimited use. That saves me £15.00 a month, which means £160.00 a year savings.

Seamless switch over, set a date, they were there, and now Utility Warehouse are my provider, plus my pc performance has increased.

The plus side also is that I get a bill for only what I used, no advanced payments, and I can cancel any time if I don’t want to stay with them.

Now having a service from Utility Warehouse, got the cash back card, so discounts of 3% to 7% off high street shopping. 3% off Sainsbury’s, 5% off M&S, plus other well known high street shops and online too.

Dare you, give it a try. Not sure? Contact me.


This is an independent website and not the official website of the Utility Warehouse. For the most up to 
date information, please go to http://www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/darrenroop

Handy Man Services

Here is a start I am going to advertise my site and services, and why not? If you live in my area you can try me out and have a chat and a cuppa.

I spent ages making this site and did not spend a penny getting it listed or designed, just my own time.

DR Building Services that’s me. Basic handyman services, for those who don’t have time to finish off those tasks you need doing. Check my links page this is what I will talk about later.

Like minded People

Are you like me? Need a bit of extra cash or need how to save some? 

Scouring the internet for those deals is hard, seeing those ads where a home alone mother of 3 makes over £700 a day, wow that’s good isn’t it?

Until you read on, pay me $120.00 to tell you how, no wait limited offer slashed! only $20.00 to find out my secret – wow even better such a bargain, where do sign up! 

Sign up and you need a degree in programming and php sql and all the other nonsense that makes your head spin.

Here’s my first hint before you do ever sign up, research the company on google and see what people have to say about them. Negative reviews don’t always mean it’s a bad thing, just not for those who did sign up.

If you want to save money or earn a bit of extra cash then stay tuned I will be back!

Oh by the way my links and post will not involve you getting your credit card out, unless you want to buy something on offer. 

Getting Started

What am i going to do with this blog? Depends. I will be looking for the latest deals in diy and home and utilities.

Are you fed up of major companies ripping you off? Just because they have the advertising revenue to keep you with them.

Did you know in the end you pay for advertising? In 2002 BT spent £33m on one advertising campaign, who paid for it? You.

Welcome

Hello fellow humans

Here I am going try to help us all save a bit of money and also try to help you earn a bit of extra cash. (If you want to)

I’m not going to promise you an income to keep you at home and retire. Just a little bit of extra cash, or save a bit of money by making a few changes to your way of thinking.

If I can help you cut your bills, save on shopping or show you special offers then I will be happy. If  myself and you can make a bit of money even better.

How much we talking? Realistically if you save about £200 – £400 a year that’s not bad. If you make £20 – £40 extra a month that’s fine, pays for a bit of petrol, or a pizza night and movie. 

I'm not promising you that can do this, hope we can all save a bit of money and maybe make a little bit too.