Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

wavelets

Consumerist wrote: »

...

For future reference - always cancel energy DDs as soon as the new supplier has confirmed the switch (for both fuels in the case of dual fuel tariffs).

Good luck.

For future reference, never do this until you have received a final bill, and any outstanding amount is collected.

If I switch supplier, what should I do about my Direct Debit?

When you switch supplier, you will be asked to set up your direct debit ahead of the date the new supplier takes over the supply of your energy.


After paying off any final bills to your old supplier, you should cancel your direct debit as a precautionary measure to ensure you are no longer charged by them

https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/guides/direct-debit/#step4

Consumerist

wavelets wrote: »

For future reference, never do this until you have received a final bill, and any outstanding amount is collected.

Why?

It is not necessary to wait until the final bill. Providing the new suppler has confirmed the switch for the fuel(s) involved, the DD can be cancelled at your bank.

wavelets

Consumerist wrote: »

Why?

It is not necessary to wait until the final bill. Providing the new suppler has confirmed the switch for the fuel(s) involved, the DD can be cancelled at your bank.

As per the Direct Debit Guarantee, you can cancel your DDI at any time by contacting your bank. No need to wait for anything.

However, doing so may put you in breach of the underlying contract the direct debit was set up to pay

Consumerist

wavelets wrote: »

As per the Direct Debit Guarantee, you can cancel your DDI at any time by contacting your bank. No need to wait for anything.

Agreed.

However, doing so may put you in breach of the underlying contract the direct debit was set up to pay.

If you have confirmed that you have switched supplier, the contract with your former supplier has ended. There may be outstanding settlement due but the contract has ended.

wavelets

Consumerist wrote: »

Agreed.

If you have confirmed that you have switched supplier, the contract with your former supplier has ended. There may be outstanding settlement due but the contract has ended.

Despite the contract having ended, it is often the case that a direct debit can remain in place to settle the now cancelled contract.

The rules of the direct debit scheme also allow this.

If you think the advice of uSwitch is wrong, I would suggest you contact them directly to correct the advice, I do not work for uSwitch.

victor2

red_robin wrote: »

Was guided to Avro Energy through the energy club a few wks ago and decided to switch to them after reading favourable reviews.
Obviously wanting to switch to get a better deal, but after only a few wks I’m actually out of pocket already with Avro.
I pay by direct debit as I’m on a monthly wage and paid at end of every month. I had one email from Avro to say about switch over which was 3rd nov, so waited on reply from them to get final reading and what my payments would be and when they would be coming off.
But checked my bank statement on Friday past, and noticed they had taken a full payment off , less than wk after I paid my dd to my old supplier, thus making me overdrawn at the bank & will now incur bank charges.
Called Avro to tell them my predicament & got little sympathy.
Was told they take a payment after 21 days when I started the wheels in motion to switch, even though the actual date of switch was 3/11!
So basically in the process of trying to save a little money, I’m paying in excess of £150+ for my troubles.
Tied into a contract for 18 mths as cooling off period was 14 days. So here is one of the pitfalls of switching your supplier.
Not happy at all

A lot of the "smaller" suppliers take the DD in advance of the actual usage. It helps their cash flow and ability to offer competitive tariffs. As has been pointed out, it is clearly stated by CEC and Avro themselves.
The good news is that if you switch away from Avro in the future and go to a supplier who collects the DD in arrears, you effectively get a free month where no DD is taken by either party. Of course that's only a benefit if you have kept on top of your payments and usage to ensure you haven't run up a significant debit balance.

Consumerist

wavelets wrote: »

Despite the contract having ended, it is often the case that a direct debit can remain in place to settle the now cancelled contract.
The rules of the direct debit scheme also allow this.
If you think the advice of uSwitch is wrong, I would suggest you contact them directly to correct the advice, I do not work for uSwitch.

uSwitch are merely reflecting the recommendations which the energy suppliers always seem to refer to in there FAQs regarding the switching process. It is clear that the suppliers are taking very good advantage of that recommendation.

That said, if you prefer to wait until the supplier decides to stop increasing your credit balance then, by all means, do so. I certainly have not in the past and will not in future.

wavelets

Consumerist wrote: »

uSwitch are merely reflecting the recommendations which the energy suppliers always seem to refer to in there FAQs regarding the switching process. ....

I think I prefer to follow the recommendation of the energy suppliers involved, even if you have issues with an independent comparison site who also follows those recommendations, than the views of an anonymous forum user

The recommendation is there for good reason

e.g term 9.3 from Bulb Energy terms and conditions:

9.3. You must notify us that you have cancelled your Direct Debit, so that we can update our records. You should also ensure that you arrange alternative means of making any required payment to us. However, we may charge you the additional costs to us of you using alternative payment channels ...

Some suppliers also charge £15-£25 for a failed direct debit collection, which they claim is the cost they incur by their bank for a failed collection

Consumerist

wavelets wrote: »

. . . The recommendation is there for good reason

e.g term 9.3 from Bulb Energy terms and conditions:

9.3. You must notify us that you have cancelled your Direct Debit, so that we can update our records. You should also ensure that you arrange alternative means of making any required payment to us. However, we may charge you the additional costs to us of you using alternative payment channels ...

Some suppliers also charge £15-£25 for a failed direct debit collection, which they claim is the cost they incur by their bank for a failed collection

With regard to Bulb's Ts&Cs above: Firstly the contract has ended once you have switched so the Ts&Cs no longer apply. Secondly, if you are in credit there is no "required payment" requiring alternative payment channels.

I agree, however, that the supplier should be notified of the cancellation of the DD and I always do so, giving my reasons - usually because I have a credit balance.

wavelets

Consumerist wrote: »

With regard to Bulb's Ts&Cs above: Firstly the contract has ended once you have switched so the Ts&Cs no longer apply. Secondly, if you are in credit there is no "required payment" requiring alternative payment channels.

I agree, however, that the supplier should be notified of the cancellation of the DD and I always do so, giving my reasons - usually because I have a credit balance.

So are you suggesting once a switch has occurred, there is no requirement to pay any further charges billed as the contract has ended???

Likewise, there would be no requirement for a supplier to return any accrued credit???

Think about it.

You can contact uSwitch here:
https://www.uswitch.com/about-us/contact-us/