Fury as energy firm flies 100 staff to £600-a-night Maldives resort for 8 days as millions struggle
An energy firm has flown 100 reps to a paradise island on an all-expenses-paid jaunt — as millions of Brits back home struggle with soaring bills and worry about putting on the heating.
Utility Warehouse agents have been treated to an eight-day jolly in the Maldives for signing up new customers. Energy firm Utility Warehouse has flown 100 reps to a paradise island on an all-expenses-paid jaunt5
The reps arrived in the Indian Ocean paradise as millions of Brits back home struggle with soaring bills and worry about putting on the heatingOne holidaymaker told The Sun: “It doesn’t sit right during a cost-of-living crisis.”
The group of 100 reps arrived in the Indian Ocean paradise last Tuesday and wasted no time in handing out business cards in the 27C (80F) sunshine. They were whisked from capital Malé to the island of Ailafushi in a 15-minute speedboat ride across crystal-clear water.
The group are staying eight days all-inclusive at the OBLU Xperience where some rooms cost £594 a night. Male reps were seen playing volleyball in the pool while their partners relaxed on sunbeds.
Posh restaurants offer Indian, Thai and Italian cuisine and guests can pay extra to jet-ski, scuba dive and snorkel.
One holidaymaker said: “It doesn’t sit right during a cost-of-living crisis. All are wearing purple wristbands and look like they’ve been having a whale of a time.
"They just chill on the beach or by the pool most of the day. They have also hired out part of the restaurant.” Another angry honeymooner added: “They basically ruined our holiday. They were handing over business cards and giving us sales pitches.”
Warren Kirwan, of disability charity Scope, fumed: “This is a kick in the teeth for disabled Brits. They’ll be lying on a beach in the sun while disabled people are freezing and starving in their own homes.
“Companies should be focusing on supporting those in greatest need instead of patting themselves on the back. Nobody should be profiteering on the back of this crisis.” Utility Warehouse is built on word-of-mouth marketing. Its self-employed agents earn a commission every time they sign households to broadband, mobile and insurance deals. Lucky agents play volleyball while their partners bask on sun loungersCustomers get bigger discounts the more they sign to.
Meanwhile, in exchange for signing up four new customers every month for a year, the agents, also known as partners, can be sent to exotic locations such as the Maldives and Mexico.
If they sign up 75 customers they can get a cheap lease on a Mini Cooper. If they sign up 200 they can use a Porsche Boxster for a month.
The company has boomed in the past year as customers seek cheaper deals. And while it boasts its energy offer is £125 less than the price cap, it is still around £1,000 more than it was a year ago.
Simon Francis, from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “While these lucky people may be celebrating overseas, there is little joy back home among energy customers struggling to make ends meet.
“We’d urge energy firms to show restraint with bonuses and incentives while their profits are being made on the backs of young families, older people and those with disabilities living in cold, damp homes.”
Howard Cox, at FairFuelUK, added: “Utility Warehouse claim their environmental green tariffs make it easy for us to do our bit for the planet.
“Yet the company hypocritically and insensitively are happy to fly their people in a polluting jet on a free jolly to celebrate increased revenues.” Labour MP Khalid Mahmood added: “This just shows the greed that is going on. We need to look into this madness when we are living through a cost-of-living crisis. This incentive is disgraceful when it could be helping those who need it most such as the elderly.”
Tory Kevin Foster said: “Families sat in a cold home will be bemused and angered to see the firm they are with flying people to tropical climes on the back of prices paid.”
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