Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

reg091

Thanks all on the useful input. Let's leave it there as I realise that I have steered the thread away from it's purpose of being Avro Energy specific.

Hawkeye68

I was with Avro and switched my Dad to them as well. After the year's fix the tariff was due to go up so I switched us both to Bulb. Even though I was in credit Avro still took a further direct debit, kept quiet and didn't send a final bill. I complained and they refunded my money claiming it was my fault for not ending the direct debit. I took them to the Ombudsman and won my case with £50 compensation. My Dad was in debit by about £70 and Avro said they wouldn't allow him to switch unless he cleared the amount in full. He did this. They then still took the next direct debit and ended up owing him money. Again they kept quiet. I complained on his behalf and they refunded the money. However, they felt fully justified in taking more than they were owed from someone who was no longer a customer, claiming that if they hadn't then my Dad would have owed them money. I suggested that sending an accurate final bill and then just taking that amount was the correct approach. I took them to the Ombudsman and won again, securing £50 compensation for my Dad. The Ombudsman also ruled that it was unfair of Avro to prevent the switch until my Dad had cleared his debt, adding that it was not unreasonable for someone to be that amount in debit in February. I don't know if Avro just don't understand how the system is supposed to work or hope that customers don't, but suspect the latter. I also believe that if I hadn't complained they would still be sitting on my Dad's and my money.   

brewerdave

Hawkeye68 said:

I was with Avro and switched my Dad to them as well. After the year's fix the tariff was due to go up so I switched us both to Bulb. Even though I was in credit Avro still took a further direct debit, kept quiet and didn't send a final bill. I complained and they refunded my money claiming it was my fault for not ending the direct debit. I took them to the Ombudsman and won my case with £50 compensation. My Dad was in debit by about £70 and Avro said they wouldn't allow him to switch unless he cleared the amount in full. He did this. They then still took the next direct debit and ended up owing him money. Again they kept quiet. I complained on his behalf and they refunded the money. However, they felt fully justified in taking more than they were owed from someone who was no longer a customer, claiming that if they hadn't then my Dad would have owed them money. I suggested that sending an accurate final bill and then just taking that amount was the correct approach. I took them to the Ombudsman and won again, securing £50 compensation for my Dad. The Ombudsman also ruled that it was unfair of Avro to prevent the switch until my Dad had cleared his debt, adding that it was not unreasonable for someone to be that amount in debit in February. I don't know if Avro just don't understand how the system is supposed to work or hope that customers don't, but suspect the latter. I also believe that if I hadn't complained they would still be sitting on my Dad's and my money.   

Thanks for this; you have helped me make my mind up to cancel my DD now I've switched - I'll owe them ~ £35 whereas the DD was for £112 - I'd rather they chase me than me have to chase them for the refund!!

megafern

I make a fair few number of checks on an energy provider before switching. I have started to include viewing their premises on Google Maps street view. I believe the quality of the premises makes a statement about the quality of the company.  If I had done that with OutFoxTheMarket I wouldn't have gone anywhere near their derelict back street building. 
I'm hoping my theory is OK because Avro Energy look OK and I'm currently switching.

Gerry1

megafern said:

If I had done that with OutFoxTheMarket I wouldn't have gone anywhere their derelict back street building. 
I'm hoping my theory is OK because Avro Energy look OK and I'm currently switching.

Or check out their sister company !

https://www.google.com/search?q=asa+fischer+future+heat

I found Avro OK, and whilst with them I switched to their cheaper offers several times without penalty: they seem to bring out a new tariff every few weeks.

wrongplanet

Gerry1 said:

Or check out their sister company !

Now that's interesting. Fischer withdrew one of their ads after I put in a complaint to the ASA back in 2016.

twinklie

I've not had any problems with Arvo either, I've switched to cheaper tariffs with them several times. They've always been very responsive and super helpful. I've struggled to call (my fault not theirs) and have managed to do switches via email without any issues and they've been really clear with any costs incurred or reductions that would be made. 

I think their website could be nicer, but that's literally the only complaint I have. It's perfectly functional though and I've never actually had a problem with it. 

brewerdave

Left Avro ~ 10 days ago - they are aware as they sent me the "sorry you are leaving us" email about a month ago- also, strangely, all my meter reads have now vanished from the website but everything else is still there. I've stopped my DD as didn't want them taking 2 lots of £112 when I'll only owe ~ £35 if it takes 6 weeks or more to produce the final bill. 

Still haven't had any further communications from them. Anyone who has left recently - is this the norm??

quez

I've been with them for a couple of years, website is straightforward enough and not had a long wait getting through to customer service when wanting to transfer to a cheaper tariff - which has been twice now. I just wish suppliers would automatically inform you of a cheaper tariff when they bring one out.

Gerry1

quez said:

I just wish suppliers would automatically inform you of a cheaper tariff when they bring one out.

Be careful what you wish for.  As with insurance companies, cheap deals are needed to attract new punters.  If they were automatically made available to existing customers they couldn't be so cheap.

Yes, it might be fairer, but it would also mean that poor-but-savvy people would end up paying a lot more because they'd no longer be subsidised by the rich-and-don't-care.

Just check frequently for new tariffs at www.energylinx.co.uk/latest_energy_price_updates.htm