Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

Telegraph_Sam

Let us know what results with you - and if you find any Avro deals - either as a new or as an existing customer!

[Deleted User]

Consumerist said:

I've been trying to see what tariffs are available through moneysupermarket.com but no matter which browser I use (Firefox, IE, MS Edge), the tick box to get all-of-market results is just not appearing so I can only select tariffs which they can switch.

Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me?

I use MS Edge and I can see (and tick) the "Show me widest range of tariffs" box.  Before I tick it I get 3 pages of results, but when I do tick it this doubles to 6 pages - none of these pages lists any Avro tariffs.  However, I'm already an Avro customer, so I ran another comparison, choosing an address nearby where Avro isn't the current supplier, and then Avro does come up in the results (Simple and SuperSwitcher).  So, it appears that if you're an existing Avro customer you will only ever be offered at renewal what Avro want to offer you, regardless of any other tariffs they appear to have available at that time.
I emailed Avro on 15.1.21 to ask them to reduce their proposed £96pm for my new DD to £90pm, as I'm still in credit (despite being repaid a whole month's DD in May 2020) and I currently only pay £83pm on Simple and SuperFixed which ends on 19.2.21.  I haven't heard back from them (although their automated response says it can take up to 10 working days for some queries) but this morning I received an "Advance Notice of DD Collection" saying they're taking £96 on 28.1.2021 (because, of course, they charge one month in advance, rather than in arrears).  Looks like I'll be asking for an even bigger credit back at the end of Spring! 

Telegraph_Sam

These are the interesting "below the line" considerations that ideally should be taken into account.  There is not much to choose between my (future) Octopus tariff and SuperSwitcher now, but taking your comments into consideration my interest in Avro is beginning to wane. In your circs I would be  tempted to cancel the D/D until the a/c was in "balance".

[Deleted User]

Telegraph_Sam said:

In your circs I would be  tempted to cancel the D/D until the a/c was in "balance".

Unfortunately, you can't do that - the DD is part of your contract and cancelling it puts you in breach of contract and will result in a marker on your credit file.

Telegraph_Sam

I did this with Tonik before they went under!  If there was not some kind of a safeguard then the D/D system would be open to abuse. But I am not an expert in the small print beyond knowing that one has the right to reclaim D/D's in the face of non-cooperation by the originator. Better not to get involved with co's in the first place that don't have evidence of good customer service.

Gerry1

AngelicKaty said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

In your circs I would be  tempted to cancel the D/D until the a/c was in "balance".

Unfortunately, you can't do that - the DD is part of your contract and cancelling it puts you in breach of contract and will result in a marker on your credit file.

Most unlikely unless you end up owing them money and persistently refusing to pay.

Gerry1

Consumerist said:

I've been trying to see what tariffs are available through moneysupermarket.com but no matter which browser I use (Firefox, IE, MS Edge), the tick box to get all-of-market results is just not appearing so I can only select tariffs which they can switch.

Is anyone else having this problem or is it just me?

The checkbox is extremely faint and easlily missed.  It's immediately to the left of 'Show me widest range of tariffs* '.  It does show Avro.

Telegraph_Sam

Now you sees it, now you don't.  I am beginning to have more faith in the MSE search algorithms compared with MSM even though as I understand it they are the same group and should in - theory - produce the same results. But for a start the cashback amounts appear to differ in come cases.

[Deleted User]

Telegraph_Sam said:

I did this with Tonik before they went under!  If there was not some kind of a safeguard then the D/D system would be open to abuse. But I am not an expert in the small print beyond knowing that one has the right to reclaim D/D's in the face of non-cooperation by the originator. Better not to get involved with co's in the first place that don't have evidence of good customer service.

I'm not talking about cancelling the Direct Debit per se - I do have the right to do that - but in doing so I would be in breach of the terms of my supply contract with Avro since it is a condition of this tariff that payment will be made by monthly DD and I have agreed to this.
The Avro contract states: "You have the right to cancel your Direct Debit at any time although you should be aware that doing so does not imply cancellation of your energy supply contract, and you will be switched to a tariff that does not require payment by Direct Debit however this switch of tariff is likely to lead to an increase in your future bills. This is in accordance with AvroEnergy’s terms and conditions which can be found at www.avroenergy.co.uk/terms-and-conditions."

The relevant clauses in Avro's Ts & Cs state:
Notice of Amendment
means a notice we will send you before we make a particular amendment to the Contract without your consent. This notice will inform you: ... (iv) that we may prevent you from changing supplier if you have failed to pay our charges as required under the Contract; ...

12. Ending The Contract

12.1 You may end this contract by giving us at least 28 days’ notice provided;

12.1.2 All sums and charges due for longer than 28 days have been paid.

In short, the contract terms would put me at a disadvantage if I unilaterally cancelled my DD during my contract, and could also cause me problems switching away from Avro without being sure that I have sufficient credit on my account to cover their final bill (and I couldn't be sure of that until I've received the final bill 8 weeks after requesting a switch).
Maybe you didn't suffer any detriment because Tonik went under?

[Deleted User]

Gerry1 said:

AngelicKaty said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

In your circs I would be  tempted to cancel the D/D until the a/c was in "balance".

Unfortunately, you can't do that - the DD is part of your contract and cancelling it puts you in breach of contract and will result in a marker on your credit file.

Most unlikely unless you end up owing them money and persistently refusing to pay.

Maybe, but I wouldn't want to take the chance since Avro's Ts & Cs state:

10. Non Payment of Charges

10.1 If you do not pay any sums due to us, we may;

... 10.1.5 Provide information about your non payment to credit reference agencies