Given $n\geq 2$, $z_{ij}\in\mathbb{T}$ such that $z_{ij}=\overline z_{ji}$ for $1\leq i,j\leq n$ and $z_{ii}=1$ for $1\leq i\leq n$, and integers $p_1,...,p_n\geq 1$, we show that the universal $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebra generated by unitaries $u_1,...,u_n$ such that $u_i^{p_i}u_j^{p_j}=z_{ij}u_j^{p_j}u_i^{p_i}$ for $1\leq i,j \leq n$ is not simple if at least one exponent $p_i$ is at least two. We indicate how the method of proof by `working with various quotients' can be used to establish nonsimplicity of universal $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebras in other cases.

3 pages. Small improvements from the first version. Final version, to appear in Annals of Functional Analysis