Bulb Energy Reviews: Give your feedback on the energy supplier

FullForce

Delilah766 wrote: »

I have just started the switching process to Bulb hrough the Big Switch but will have to pay early exit charges to my old supplier. One of the emails said that Bulb would pay this for me but I can’t find any info about how to do it. Can anyone help?
Thanks.

You should be emailed instructions by the supplier.

As I understand it, you apply via your online account. You will need to apply and provide a copy of your final bill(s) showing the exit charges applied.

Refunds are limited to a maximum of £60 per fuel (I'm not aware of anyone that charges more than that).
The refund will be applied as a credit to your Bulb energy account.

System

Delilah766 wrote: »

I have just started the switching process to Bulb hrough the Big Switch but will have to pay early exit charges to my old supplier. One of the emails said that Bulb would pay this for me but I can’t find any info about how to do it. Can anyone help?
Thanks.

I would strongly advise consumers to read the terms and conditions relating to the contract before initiating a switch. Not all supplier's terms and conditions are the same and often there are references to additional charges for missed payments etc.

From Bulb's terms and conditions:

2.4. If your previous supplier charges you an exit fee to terminate your contract, we will refund this as a credit to your Bulb account when your switch to Bulb completes, up to a maximum of £120 per switch (including VAT). To claim the refund, you must email a copy of the final bill from your previous supplier for the property switching to Bulb, with the exit fee amount itemised.

FullForce

Hengus wrote: »

I would strongly advise consumers to read the terms and conditions relating to the contract before initiating a switch. Not all supplier's terms and conditions are the same and often there are references to additional charges for missed payments etc.

From Bulb's terms and conditions:

2.4. If your previous supplier charges you an exit fee to terminate your contract, we will refund this as a credit to your Bulb account when your switch to Bulb completes, up to a maximum of £120 per switch (including VAT). To claim the refund, you must email a copy of the final bill from your previous supplier for the property switching to Bulb, with the exit fee amount itemised.

Thanks

That's not what they indicate elsewhere on their website
https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115001227591-What-about-exit-fees-from-my-current-supplier-

... but I agree that their terms and conditions which the customer will have agreed to will over-ride anything elsewhere on the website.

I wonder what other contradictions exist between what Bulb advertise and what their terms actually say?

Will_at_Bulb

Delilah766 wrote: »

I have just started the switching process to Bulb hrough the Big Switch but will have to pay early exit charges to my old supplier. One of the emails said that Bulb would pay this for me but I can’t find any info about how to do it. Can anyone help?
Thanks.

Hi Delilah, we'll email you a couple of days before your switch completes with instructions on how to claim back your exit fees. Here's the link to where you can do it online in your Bulb Account - https://account.bulb.co.uk/dashboard/exit-fees-refund

FullForce wrote: »

Thanks

That's not what they indicate elsewhere on their website
https://help.bulb.co.uk/hc/en-us/articles/115001227591-What-about-exit-fees-from-my-current-supplier-

... but I agree that their terms and conditions which the customer will have agreed to will over-ride anything elsewhere on the website.

I wonder what other contradictions exist between what Bulb advertise and what their terms actually say?

Hi Full force, I'm unsure what you mean by contradiction here. Our T&Cs and the help article you linked say the same thing. Is there anything I'm missing here? We absolutely want to be consistent here.

MalMonroe

I'm so very disappointed. Martin was full of praise for bulb. Like an absolute fool and because I trusted his judgement (he'd praised them more than once), I switched towards the end of January this year on a very reasonable and acceptable tariff, which I was really pleased about. Comes April, I receive an email to let me know they've almost doubled my direct debit payment - which makes their energy the most expensive I've ever had. They say that I'm using a lot of energy - after only three months (the coldest three we've had for decades) - how can they possibly gauge my annual usage? I forfeited the chance to get a WHD too this year (they didn't offer it this winter), simply because I thought on balance, bulb was great and I was going to be quids in. Not so. The good thing is that I can switch with no penalty and I shall be doing so but I am so disappointed. I can't possibly recommend them, or receive £50 for doing so. What if the same happened to my family and friends? I'd feel awful, and they'd not be too pleased with me either. I've been in touch with bulb and they've reinstated the original monthly payment until I switch but I feel like I've been scammed. I'm not looking for sympathy, criticism, or any clever sarcastic comments, just want to let people know that what Martin says, "if it looks too good to be true it probably is", is absolutely true. (Oh, and they didn't believe my own reading of the electricity meter and asked me to send a photo!) (I declined.) I feel so let down and cannot, in all conscience, recommend bulb. I don't know how Martin can, and feel that he should let people choose their own energy companies.

fatbelly

MalMonroe wrote: »

I'm so very disappointed. Martin was full of praise for bulb. Like an absolute fool and because I trusted his judgement (he'd praised them more than once), I switched towards the end of January this year on a very reasonable and acceptable tariff, which I was really pleased about. Comes April, I receive an email to let me know they've almost doubled my direct debit payment - which makes their energy the most expensive I've ever had. They say that I'm using a lot of energy - after only three months (the coldest three we've had for decades) - how can they possibly gauge my annual usage? I forfeited the chance to get a WHD too this year (they didn't offer it this winter), simply because I thought on balance, bulb was great and I was going to be quids in. Not so. The good thing is that I can switch with no penalty and I shall be doing so but I am so disappointed. I can't possibly recommend them, or receive £50 for doing so. What if the same happened to my family and friends? I'd feel awful, and they'd not be too pleased with me either. I've been in touch with bulb and they've reinstated the original monthly payment until I switch but I feel like I've been scammed. I'm not looking for sympathy, criticism, or any clever sarcastic comments, just want to let people know that what Martin says, "if it looks too good to be true it probably is", is absolutely true. (Oh, and they didn't believe my own reading of the electricity meter and asked me to send a photo!) (I declined.) I feel so let down and cannot, in all conscience, recommend bulb. I don't know how Martin can, and feel that he should let people choose their own energy companies.

You haven't forfeited your WHD. The qualifying date is July I think, so you are fine for this year (Bulb have joined now) but starting in Jan 2018 you would have had to get it from your previous supplier.

Go on to your account and look at 'payments and statements'. Mine says I pay £53 (gas & elec) but they would like £54. However, clicking on payment settings I can change it to anything I want. I have just had 4 months of not paying anything as I wanted to use up all the referral bonuses I got. You could halve your payment and see how you go - I got no problems from them at all.

The business of 'photo your meter' is odd though - I do agree there.

Dandytf

Confused, re visiting bulb.
Some price comparison sites are advertising Bulb as offering Winter Home Discount
(This is worth 140 per year as I have m.s./pip. Successful SP payment 2017 -I could actually use the electric fire when the ice cold weather hit)
When I read about Bulb during 2017 they weren't taking part in WHD
Has this changed?
If so are there any intro codes I could use.
I'm in a better position since I could afford any crossover DD payments for the duration of switching, which I chose to advoid late2017.
Thanks in advance mser's

Dandytf

Since reading Bulbs version of 2018-2019 Warm Home Discount.
I'm very confused.
I received 140 late 2017n fron SP for one of the following reasons which I included with my application.
1. I receive PIP -was lower rate daily living+lower rate mobility
2. I changed to part time employement 10.5-11k p.a. (Lower than the whd 16900 earnings rate
Can't remember which of the two qualified me for whd.
According to Bulbs whd statement I'd need to be getting income support and kids
Or Pension credit and kids
Or JSA job seekers allowance
With my M.S. disability thrown in.
I don't get any of the above.
Question mser's-Has WHD 2018-2019 Qualifying criterea changed since last years

Dandytf

Answered this SP WHD 2017-2018 myself.
This years is still under consultation.
2017-2018 SP were offering WHD to anyone earning <16190 + lots more qualifying benefits such as WTC which I claim
Hope SP continue with that qualifier.
Currently Bulb have the earnings bracket tied up with some benefits, which I don't receive.
This idea of switching from. SP to Bulb is not as straightforward as it may have seemed

dinah46

I'm just switching to Bulb and they are asking for my meter readings but only allowing 1 electricity reading when I need to enter off-peak reading as well.
Anyone know how I can enter the second reading? There doesn't seem to be a phone number anywhere.