Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

Biggus_Dickus

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

Simple&SuperPremium was withdrawn from sale on 15.1.21.

It was replaced by Simple&SuperPremier on the same day. 

I do wish Avro would change their tariff naming convention;...it can get confusing at times.

msfb88

Biggus_Dickus said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

Simple&SuperPremium was withdrawn from sale on 15.1.21.

It was replaced by Simple&SuperPremier on the same day. 

I do wish Avro would change their tariff naming convention;...it can get confusing at times.

And then, just 7 days later, they withdraw Simple&SuperPremier, for the new more expensive Simple&SuperSwitcher.
At least the name change is less confusing this time, but I wish they didn't have tariffs for such short periods of time when they can't reply to an email in that amount of time.

[Deleted User]

Biggus_Dickus said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

I do wish Avro would change their tariff naming convention;...it can get confusing at times.

Yes, but sadly I think that's what they're trying to do.

johnbhoy70

JohnB47 said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

You are confused. Superpremium is a fixed price tariff. It is no longer available. So to say that Avro have increased that tariffs charges makes no sense. I managed to change to Superpremium just before it was withdrawn, so my costs will remain unchanged until 19th Feb next year.

Phew..thought so!! Very easily done though!! 
You'd be tempted to think they were doing it deliberately!!

gwapenut

polymaff said:

Having a high balance is really bad news for someone on their uppers.

For those who aren't, look at this rationally. The monthly loss of interest on that high balance excess is, approximately,  the cost of one unit of electricity.

It's not just about the loss of interest though. Repayments can be delayed for quite a long time after switching to another provider,
who might in the meantime demand furher payment upfront.

And then there is the problem of when a supplier goes under. If you're lucky, you'll be moved to the supplier of last resort, and then you can expect to have your money back in 1-9 months depending on who they are.
If you are really unlucky, you may have initiated a switch but not got your refund before your old supplier went under, in which case you fall outside normal procedures and either (I'm not sure which is the legal case) are not automatically entitled to your money back, or stuck negotiating with your bankrupt old supplier, or the SOLR, neither of whom are your new supplier. With no contract in place with the SOLR who are dishing out refunds, things get very thorny indeed.
I saw this happen to someone when Breeze went under. Not myself luckily, I had my money back after a couple of months. But the last I heard, they'd been fobbed off by everyone and were seriously thinking they would not get any money back.

[Deleted User]

JohnB47 said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

You are confused. Superpremium is a fixed price tariff. It is no longer available. So to say that Avro have increased that tariffs charges makes no sense. I managed to change to Superpremium just before it was withdrawn, so my costs will remain unchanged until 19th Feb next year.

I agree.  I'm currently on Simple and SuperFixed and this is due to expire on 20th February 2021 when I will be switched to Simple and SuperPremium (I renewed on 13th January, so just managed to get this tariff before it was withdrawn on the 15th and replaced by Simple and SuperPremier).  My renewal "pack" (letter) states the charges I will be paying for Simple and SuperPremium as:

• Electricity Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Electricity Unit Rate (p/unit): 15.488p/unit

• Gas Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Gas Unit Rate (p/unit): 2.578p/unit

This is what my contract with Avro states and this is what I expect to pay.  They're going to hike my monthly DD from £83pm on my current tariff to £96pm (I'm £58 in credit in mid-Winter!) but I'll just ask for a refund of any credit that's built up at the end of Spring, as I did last year (and which I received without any fuss). 

[Deleted User]

gwapenut said:

polymaff said:

Having a high balance is really bad news for someone on their uppers.

For those who aren't, look at this rationally. The monthly loss of interest on that high balance excess is, approximately,  the cost of one unit of electricity.

It's not just about the loss of interest though. Repayments can be delayed for quite a long time after switching to another provider,
who might in the meantime demand furher payment upfront.

And then there is the problem of when a supplier goes under. If you're lucky, you'll be moved to the supplier of last resort, and then you can expect to have your money back in 1-9 months depending on who they are.
If you are really unlucky, you may have initiated a switch but not got your refund before your old supplier went under, in which case you fall outside normal procedures and either (I'm not sure which is the legal case) are not automatically entitled to your money back, or stuck negotiating with your bankrupt old supplier, or the SOLR, neither of whom are your new supplier. With no contract in place with the SOLR who are dishing out refunds, things get very thorny indeed.
I saw this happen to someone when Breeze went under. Not myself luckily, I had my money back after a couple of months. But the last I heard, they'd been fobbed off by everyone and were seriously thinking they would not get any money back.

This is exactly why I would never allow my credit to get too large (certainly not into three figures) - quite apart from the basic principle that it's better my money is in my pocket than theirs!  I'd be aggrieved if I lost £99 or less in this kind of situation, but I could chalk it up to experience.  However, I've read some reports of people who are in credit with their utility supplier by £100's of pounds and I just don't understand why anyone would think that money's "safe".  I do hope your friend hasn't lost too much. 

Telegraph_Sam

msfb8

... but then I will have a £100 exit fee if a good big switch is announced in March.

Are there grounds for hoping that a (community) switch will be announced in March? MSE?

gwapenut

AngelicKaty said:

JohnB47 said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

You are confused. Superpremium is a fixed price tariff. It is no longer available. So to say that Avro have increased that tariffs charges makes no sense. I managed to change to Superpremium just before it was withdrawn, so my costs will remain unchanged until 19th Feb next year.

I agree.  I'm currently on Simple and SuperFixed and this is due to expire on 20th February 2021 when I will be switched to Simple and SuperPremium (I renewed on 13th January, so just managed to get this tariff before it was withdrawn on the 15th and replaced by Simple and SuperPremier).  My renewal "pack" (letter) states the charges I will be paying for Simple and SuperPremium as:

• Electricity Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Electricity Unit Rate (p/unit): 15.488p/unit

• Gas Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Gas Unit Rate (p/unit): 2.578p/unit

This is what my contract with Avro states and this is what I expect to pay.  They're going to hike my monthly DD from £83pm on my current tariff to £96pm (I'm £58 in credit in mid-Winter!) but I'll just ask for a refund of any credit that's built up at the end of Spring, as I did last year (and which I received without any fuss). 

How gutting. I got my renewal invite on the 13th, when you renewed, and deferred the comparisons 2 days until the Friday night, when I was offered Super Premier which comes at a premium to Super Premium. That short delay unti the weekend has cost me about £120!

[Deleted User]

gwapenut said:

AngelicKaty said:

JohnB47 said:

Consumerist said:

I notice that Avro has recently (15/01/21) increased the cost of its SuperPremium and the only way to get Avro's cheaper tariffs is to be a "new" customer.

I've been looking at London Power who are currently cheaper than Avro's SuperPremium and backed by Octopus Energy with no exit charges. I've got a few weeks to go before my existing Avro contract ends but a jump to London Power at that time would set me up nicely as a "new" Avro customer if Avro's pricing comes down later.

This option is probably only available to customers in the GLC but, for me, it's going to be one to watch.

You are confused. Superpremium is a fixed price tariff. It is no longer available. So to say that Avro have increased that tariffs charges makes no sense. I managed to change to Superpremium just before it was withdrawn, so my costs will remain unchanged until 19th Feb next year.

I agree.  I'm currently on Simple and SuperFixed and this is due to expire on 20th February 2021 when I will be switched to Simple and SuperPremium (I renewed on 13th January, so just managed to get this tariff before it was withdrawn on the 15th and replaced by Simple and SuperPremier).  My renewal "pack" (letter) states the charges I will be paying for Simple and SuperPremium as:

• Electricity Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Electricity Unit Rate (p/unit): 15.488p/unit

• Gas Standing Charge (p/day): 15.750p/day

• Gas Unit Rate (p/unit): 2.578p/unit

This is what my contract with Avro states and this is what I expect to pay.  They're going to hike my monthly DD from £83pm on my current tariff to £96pm (I'm £58 in credit in mid-Winter!) but I'll just ask for a refund of any credit that's built up at the end of Spring, as I did last year (and which I received without any fuss). 

How gutting. I got my renewal invite on the 13th, when you renewed, and deferred the comparisons 2 days until the Friday night, when I was offered Super Premier which comes at a premium to Super Premium. That short delay unti the weekend has cost me about £120!

Well if it makes you feel any better, there was a cheaper deal on 8th January when I first started looking (I can't remember the name of it now) and my five days of prevarication cost me too.  I guess it shows that the "soaring" prices the latest MSE newsletter referred to since November 2019 are continuing to soar.