When you move into a new apartment in the UK, especially London, it is very likely that you will be approached by a scam company called Homebox (formerly Billing Better) with a promise of seamlessly organizing all your bills into one so you don’t have to go through the stress of paying your utility bills separately. Usually, they partner with several letting agencies so your letting agency may even recommend that you sign up with them. Sometimes they also disguise themselves as being part of the letting agency or the energy supplier themselves. Some of their emails will also carry Voidlink.
Here are five reasons never to sign up with Homebox (formerly Billing Better) in the UK
1. They charge you £15 service fee every month
Imagine paying an extra £15 every month on top of your bills which are already high enough under Homebox/Billing Better. The service they offer is redundant as you can easily set up a direct debit for all your bills through your bank and they go off the same period.
2. They don’t get your bills right
When I was with Homebox/Billing Better, I was paying nearly £120 for electricity. When I eventually left them and signed up directly with the supplier, my electricity bill was reduced to £76. That’s a nearly £50 cut in bills!
3. Their post-sale customer service is terrible
Before you sign up, you will be receiving loads of calls from them enticing you with their promise of excellent service. All that ends as soon as you sign up with them. Enquiries can stay unanswered for weeks and they have a rehearsed response to every issue you raise because they have obviously been dealing with these same issues from many of their other customers.
4. They will charge you about £120! or more to cancel the service
Most people never bother to read their terms of service when they sign up so if unfortunately, you are not able to cancel within the 14-day window, they will make you pay a cancellation fee of £120 for the remainder of your tenancy. I was more than happy to pay this charge to detach myself from the nightmares of Homebox/Billing Better.
5. Refunds are a hassle
It is very common for Homebox/Billing Better to take out bills you don’t need to pay from your account. When this is realized and you ask for a refund, it will take them months to process it. In my case, they charged me for water bills I don’t need to pay and as I write this, the refund hasn’t yet been finalized. Such a shady company.
6. You don’t really need the service
As I already mentioned, the service Homebox/Billing Better offers is redundant because you can easily set up a direct debit for all your utilities via your bank at no additional charge! Homebox/Billing Better will drain you – both mentally and financially. Avoid them at all costs.
***
Have you had to deal with Homebox/Billing Better yourself, please share your experience in the comment section. This article is based on my experience with Homebox/Billing Better. I have also read countless other negative reviews about their service. If you feel your experience with them has been different, please also share.
