Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

Talldave

BooJewels said:

Obviously my haphazard way of sending readings in trips up their primitive computer system, but I can't help it when I'm over 50 miles from the meter.  They're well aware that it's an unoccupied property and the nature of the arrangement.

The suggestion from another poster that you estimate your own readings isn't such a bad idea. If you're confident of the daily average consumption (feed your actual readings into a spreadsheet?), just add the necessary extra to your previous actual reading to provide the meter reading when they ask for it.

If you can synchronise one of your trips to the house within their readings window, take photos of the readings and then you're in a good position to insist that they accept that reading, even if their historic consumption estimating algorithm is telling them otherwise.

BooJewels

Talldave said:

BooJewels said:

Obviously my haphazard way of sending readings in trips up their primitive computer system, but I can't help it when I'm over 50 miles from the meter.  They're well aware that it's an unoccupied property and the nature of the arrangement.

The suggestion from another poster that you estimate your own readings isn't such a bad idea. If you're confident of the daily average consumption (feed your actual readings into a spreadsheet?), just add the necessary extra to your previous actual reading to provide the meter reading when they ask for it.

If you can synchronise one of your trips to the house within their readings window, take photos of the readings and then you're in a good position to insist that they accept that reading, even if their historic consumption estimating algorithm is telling them otherwise.

Actually it was myself that suggested extrapolating my own 'estimates'.  I do keep regular readings in a spreadsheet and know what a typical daily average would be.  If you might recall, it was me - at this property - that had a sudden spike in electricity use due to a blocked water pump in the garden.  I got an electricity monitor and used that to eliminate the culprit.  It also spiked in December when my sister and I stayed there for a few days and used the electric shower, cooked etc etc.  But I took readings at the start and end of our stay to be able to isolate that period.

I personally always take photos of my own - with a date stamp on screen too - but I'm not attending the house in person at the moment, as my husband is very ill, but my sister is doing it and she just texts me the readings.  I'm very overdue for getting over as we have a lot to do and are now way behind, so I'll get photos next time.

Shutup

 

Hi All, Just a quick note about Avro energy so everyone is aware before they switch.  I completed the switch to Avro Energy and received an e-mail from them with my acc number and other information regarding my switch to them. It stated the following - Your switch is on track and you’ll be with Avro on 16/03/2020. Your current supplier may be in touch, too, to tie up any loose ends. (Fine so far) then went onto say - We will be taking your first Direct Debit on the 07/03/2020 and monthly thereafter.  As they wished to take a direct debit before I had even switched to them and I would be one of their customers I decided to give them a quick call, (just to check this would really be the case) I spoke to one of their call staff (after waiting for 15 minutes) and was informed they always take the first Direct Debit 12 days after you complete your switch form with them and monthly thereafter. I then pointed out to them this would be 9 days before they became my supplier and again she said "as I've already explained sir we take the first Direct Debit 12 days after you complete your switch form with us and monthly thereafter". I then stated to her I'm sorry but I will not pay you until you are my supplier and was told "well that’s the way we do it!!" I cancelled the switch and have now joined another supplier. (That does not take the first Direct Debit until they are your supplier and you are there customer)

I just thought I'd let everyone know.

2010

Shutup said:

 

Hi All, Just a quick note about Avro energy so everyone is aware before they switch.  I completed the switch to Avro Energy and received an e-mail from them with my acc number and other information regarding my switch to them. It stated the following - Your switch is on track and you’ll be with Avro on 16/03/2020. Your current supplier may be in touch, too, to tie up any loose ends. (Fine so far) then went onto say - We will be taking your first Direct Debit on the 07/03/2020 and monthly thereafter.  As they wished to take a direct debit before I had even switched to them and I would be one of their customers I decided to give them a quick call, (just to check this would really be the case) I spoke to one of their call staff (after waiting for 15 minutes) and was informed they always take the first Direct Debit 12 days after you complete your switch form with them and monthly thereafter. I then pointed out to them this would be 9 days before they became my supplier and again she said "as I've already explained sir we take the first Direct Debit 12 days after you complete your switch form with us and monthly thereafter". I then stated to her I'm sorry but I will not pay you until you are my supplier and was told "well that’s the way we do it!!" I cancelled the switch and have now joined another supplier. (That does not take the first Direct Debit until they are your supplier and you are there customer)

I just thought I'd let everyone know.

Well, everyone should know if they read Avro T&C, which incidently they tick a box to say they have, Regarding ypour own switch, is the supplier you switched to cheaper than what Avro would have been?

Talldave

BooJewels said:

Actually it was myself that suggested extrapolating my own 'estimates'.  I do keep regular readings in a spreadsheet and know what a typical daily average would be.  If you might recall, it was me - at this property - that had a sudden spike in electricity use due to a blocked water pump in the garden.

I do recall now! The name sounded familiar but the new format is a bit disorientating. I'm preaching to the already converted then, but I do hope things improve for your husband soon.

reg091

onlyfoolsandparking said:

@BooJewels
That doesn't make any sense to me and having just moved to Avro a little concerning. So are you saying that unless you (or I) submit readings on the day Avro want them they use estimates BUT don't calculate usage based off your actual submitted readings? say on the next bill and if so then would that mean you (or I) will never get billed for actual usage, I'm not getting what your saying, When I was with Bulb I used to submit readings every month but if I missed one they billed me on an estimate BUT adjusted it on the next bill when I HAD submitted readings, I thought that's how it had to work,maybe someone whos been with Avro a while could enlighten me?

That's what I want to know too! Do they adjust to your readings on next bill, or annually, or not at all?

reg091

After my first year with Avro I knew (from my own records) how much Elec and Gas I had used. I had paid Avro approx £1800 for this.
I obviously used these numbers when getting quotes. Prices had gone up and I was looking at about £2k per year.
The renewal quote from Avro estimated my usage over the next year and the cost to be £1500. In other words, less than I had paid them for the past year, and on a more expensive tariff! Obviously this meant cheaper monthly payments than I had been paying them so I went for it. Yes, I will probably use £2k of energy and will owe them money in the end (I am currently running at a £364 debit).
To summarise: they had my exact usage numbers for the previous twelve months and decided that I would use considerably LESS than that in the next twelve months!! Madness.

youravinalarrrf

I have noticed that my estimated annual usage for electricity is updated on each and every monthly statement whilst the estimated annual usage for gas is never updated and had remained exactly the same since I joined them.

I contacted them via email and insisted that they reviewed my account to correct the estimated annual usage for gas to reflect reality. However that change was a few months ago and the estimated annual usage for gas has been never updated since has remained exactly the same on each and every monthly statement since.

I'm guessing that the complex calculation used for gas kWh is beyond their current computer system's/programmers capabilites and as a result the estimated annual usage for gas is still not being automatically updated each month.

In view of that it would make sense to get an account review done to get the estimated annual usage figures corrected to prevent large build ups of credit or debit. If your account is in debit Avro will automatically object to any transfer request and prevent you leaving until it's been paid in full.

BooJewels

reg091 said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

@BooJewels
That doesn't make any sense to me and having just moved to Avro a little concerning. So are you saying that unless you (or I) submit readings on the day Avro want them they use estimates BUT don't calculate usage based off your actual submitted readings? say on the next bill and if so then would that mean you (or I) will never get billed for actual usage, I'm not getting what your saying, When I was with Bulb I used to submit readings every month but if I missed one they billed me on an estimate BUT adjusted it on the next bill when I HAD submitted readings, I thought that's how it had to work,maybe someone whos been with Avro a while could enlighten me?

That's what I want to know too! Do they adjust to your readings on next bill, or annually, or not at all?

I haven't fathomed it yet - I've just printed off the readings page off the last few bills so that I can try and make sense of it, but from a quick look, the calculations for fuel used only seem to subtract last months estimate from the later one, ignoring my meter readings between them.  Apart from the one month I already mentioned where they did make an adjustment as the meter reading was quite a chunk different.  I don't know if they have periodic review dates where they do adjust it back in line and maybe that was it.

I did have a manual adjustment done in May last year when I first took over managing it as my Dad had mis-read a 0 as 9 or vice versa and they appeared to owe him 3 grand, but even though it was clearly erroneous, they wouldn't take it off the billing until my power of attorney was accepted and they saw a photo of the meter.

Mine isn't quite as far out as I'd initially guessed as the price lowered in October last year and it made more difference than I'd allowed - so I've re-calculated my own usage at the two different prices (meter reading is 4 days from the tariff change, so that's my margin of error) and I think my debit works out around 80 quid and theirs is showing as around 140.  I'll get meter readings as close as I can to my billing date, adjust it myself for the days difference and submit that on the right day and see if that brings it back in line.  If not, I'll request another manual adjustment.

Spuggy69

Good prices and average customer service but widespread and disgraceful blocking tactics when you try to switch away from them. Note: they can only block for debt (not debit balances) under the supplier code