Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

[Deleted User]

Consumerist said:

AngelicKaty said:

I'm sorry that's been your experience; it hasn't been mine and the Co-op were the worst energy company I've ever dealt with.  I agree that Avro set DDs too high, but when I was over a month in credit last May I emailed them asking for a refund and they replied within 5 days agreeing to do this and promptly did so (I'm in credit again though in mid-winter, so I should have asked for more!).  I think timing is everything when asking for some credit to be refunded - for example, I don't think they'll agree if winter is looming or if you're near the end of your contract (because then they can hang on to your money for up to 8 weeks).  To be fair, I haven't experienced all the "service" that Avro has to offer - I don't want smart meters and I've yet to switch away from them (which, from the comments I've read on this forum will be an experience all of its own!    )

The switch itself is not normally a problem providing your account is in credit. In my experience, the final bill always takes 6 weeks and any refund takes another two. Given the amount they have saved me when with them I can live with an 8-week "delay" in getting my credit balance back.

If I had gone to another supplier I wouldn't have seen that money EVER again because it would have been swallowed up in higher energy charges.

I agree; they supply me with gas and electricity at very competitive rates - not much more I can ask for.
My account's never not been in credit (helped by the fact they charge us a month in advance) so that shouldn't be an issue if I were ever tempted away.  Some consumers don't seem to know that the reg's allow an energy company to take 6 weeks to prepare the final bill and another 10 days to repay any credit, but I'm well aware so I wouldn't bother getting vexed until more than a couple of months after I've left them (someone's going to have to come up with cheaper prices though - I keep looking!    )

Consumerist

Telegraph_Sam said:

I've never been able to grasp why it should not be acceptable to run a more or less zero credit balance fine tuned and topped up regularly as necessary, and forget all the hassle with begging for refunds.  Luckily Octopus seem to go along with this and this is a consideration that I would certainly weigh up if it was a case of switching to Avro or anyone else.

I take your point but at what cost in terms of energy charges?

[Deleted User]

MidlandsGlory said:

AngelicKaty said:

JohnB47 said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

It took me 4 minutes earlier this afternoon to read my monthly gas and electric readings manually, and a further 7 minutes to submit them online (if I had done this a day earlier or later it would have made no difference).  I have already received, printed off, checked and filed the corresponding bill (from Octopus).  I will do a manual top up so that my account remains at zero.  I really struggle to accept that faffing around with a smart meter would make life any easier. If I was to switch to Avro I hope that a SM would not be imposed on me.

I'm with Avro. A couple of months ago I was contacted by their SM installers. I declined and they've not contacted me since. Let's hope it stays that way.

I'm in my third year with Avro.  They contacted me about smart meters once in the first year, but like you, I declined and I've heard nothing more on the subject since.  I don't intend to get smart meters until their operation is standard across the industry i.e. there's no risk of them going dumb when switching suppliers.

I got SMET2 meters so should transfer to a new supplier, there won't be any other option rolled out so no point waiting for anything better to come along. Even if they do go dumb they just become the same as the meter you have so nothing lost.
However, I wouldn't have bothered if I didn't have 'ulterior motives' and Avro are installing reluctantly so won't be hassling you to do it.

Yes, I suppose I wouldn't have a choice if my meter(s) suddenly became faulty - fingers crossed after 27 years they continue to behave!

Telegraph_Sam

Consumerist said:

I take your point but at what cost in terms of energy charges?

At this point in time at no cost since their current tariff is more or less unbeatable from what I can tell.  Crunch will come in April at renewal but so far they seem to be OK.

[Deleted User]

Telegraph_Sam said:

I've never been able to grasp why it should not be acceptable to run a more or less zero credit balance fine tuned and topped up regularly as necessary, and forget all the hassle with begging for refunds.  Luckily Octopus seem to go along with this and this is a consideration that I would certainly weigh up if it was a case of switching to Avro or anyone else.

I think Avro's prices have always been cut close to the bone so they need to charge a month in advance and set DDs high to give them operating capital.  It all comes out in the wash eventually and it's a price I'm prepared to pay (no pun intended) to ultimately pay less for a year's energy.  As I posted previously, if you ask for a credit refund at the beginning of the summer, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on to refuse it (unless you're near the end of your contract).

Telegraph_Sam

Classic trade-off situation, how much extra one has to pay in order to avoid the credit balance refund scenario. Tonik Energy was a classic example of where the cost savings were not warranted.

[Deleted User]

Telegraph_Sam said:

Consumerist said:

I take your point but at what cost in terms of energy charges?

At this point in time at no cost since their current tariff is more or less unbeatable from what I can tell.  Crunch will come in April at renewal but so far they seem to be OK.

The latest MSE newsletter advises that energy prices have soared since last November and the price cap is due to rise by £90 per year, so I think everyone renewing this year is going to struggle to find the kind of deals we've found in the past (I struggled -  I managed to squeak in on Simple & SuperPremium, but even this doesn't give me a saving on my current deal, whereas I've always had cheaper prices in previous years).

Telegraph_Sam

https://energycentral.com/c/pip/energy-price-forecast-2021-covid-19-brexit-and-much-more

JohnB47

wakeupalarm said:

If anyone is thinking of joining Avro Energy then my advice is DON'T.  They are the worst energy company I have ever dealt with.  They ignore emails, they ignore complaints, they set Direct Debits way too high.  They don't refund huge credit balances, they ignore Ofgem's license conditions.  Don't even think about having a smart meter installed with these incompetents.  Forget the cheaper prices, the savings are not worth the hassle you have to go through in dealing with these muppets.. AVOID THEM AT ALL COSTS.

Well, I can't disagree with you more . I've always had good service and costs with them. I recently asked them for a credit on my balance and it was agreed in a week. All very easy. I simply log in and supply my meter readings each month and they bill me the correct amount. What could be simpler?Perhaps you could explain your actual problem rather than a general rant?

Atomdogs

I'm with Avro. I give them a meter reading every month. Is it legal for them to then estimate the reading. If they are doing this then what is the point of giving them a reading. I have asked the question and all they say is. "we dont provide a pay as you go tariff"