Bulb Energy Reviews: Give your feedback on the energy supplier

Richie7

Good Afternoon,


I've just spotted this thread after I posted in another one I started a few days ago.


I'm looking to switch my parents to Bulb from Scottish Power this week. I like the idea of their renewable energy, and I've not seen much in the way of a bad word said about them. Unlike Scots Power, who are one of the most inept and disgraceful companies I've ever had to deal with. I will never use them again, even they worked out cheaper than everyone else!


My parents are on an Economy 7 setup. They've always been billed on a separate day/night rate, so as per the above, this Bulb change of policy doesn't really affect them. And even with the potential price rise coming, I still calculate they will save compared to what they have now.


The only downside is the variable rate which a few of the guys on here don't really like. However for me, if there are no exit fees and things get too expensive come 2019, I can always leave and look for another deal. At this moment in time, joining Bulb seems like a no brainer to me.

oldagetraveller

I'm switching from E.on to Bulb at the moment. Going "live" on 3rd September.

They offered the best prices available, but I would have preferred a 12 months or longer fix.
However, as the previous poster states, it is a variable rate but there are no exit fees. I did receive an e-mail, very soon after initiating the switch, that as the wholesale energy prices have risen, they would be reviewing their prices in November.
There have been e-mailed updates as to the switch progress. Possibly these are a bit too flippant and familiar rather than professional but that could be an age thing!

Once the switch has completed I will further update.
My only concern, so far, is their referral offer. If they can pay their customer and a referred customer £50 each then why not do away with that referral money and reduce every customers' prices instead?

Richie7

Hi again.


Just gone through the switch process, and got an e-mail to say welcome and my switching date is 19th Sept.


In the meantime I need to send them pictures of the Serial numbers of my meters (this will be because of the Economy 7).


I take it now I need do nothing else? I don't need to contact the old supplier's or anything? Just wait till the 19th or they contact me?




Thanks.

Allanr

Bulb will contact your old supplier.



The meter readings which you need to supply to Bulb just prior to the switch will then be sent to your old supplier after verification by a third party validation process. This will ensure both Bulb and your old

supplier use the same set of readings, so that you wont pay both suppliers for the same energy use.

toshovull

switch from edf to bulb,nowt but problems,they cant even get the dd dates right or the amounts,their prices are advertised as cheaper than edf but they are now advising I pay £20pm more on my dd because of my usage,after 12 months with edf @ £100pm I was 10p in debit at the switch,i have had to contact bulb 3 times in the first month to get payments returned they had taken for the wrong amounts on the wrong day,now I have had to cancel my dd as they have taken over £300 in the first month,although I managed to get 2 back their customer service reps haven't got a clue,cant even alter set up a simple dd,wasted around 5 hours trying to get this sorted and they insulted me with a miserly £20 credit,waiting for £25 cash back from energy club then I will kick these cowboys into touch,appalling service.:(

Allanr

I would think your problem isn't typical of many other Bulb customers.


I've been a customer of Bulb for four months and there has been absolutely no problems.


They initially set up my monthly direct debit amount based on my previous 12 months energy usage in kWh.


My direct debit payment date was similar to the bill preparation date.


After my 2 nd direct debit had been taken I then went in to account dashboard and amended my direct debit date and amount to reflect my particular requirements but at the same time leaving my bill preparation date the same (this latter can't be done via the dashboard).


I have full control on my direct debit payments which wasn't the case with my two previous suppliers who were both one of the big six.


I set my direct debit payment to try and make sure it covers my next months energy usage (you pay for energy monthly in advance with Bulb) and at the same time aim keep it constant throughout the year for the fluctuation in summer and winter energy usage.



I'm able to do this by keeping a simple spreadsheet which takes into account any changes in tariff costs and I use my previous 12 months energy usage in kWh as an estimate for the following 12 months on a rolling basis..

ThreeLions

I heard Bulb will probably raise their prices in November of this year. Not sure how this will affect their overall rating of cheap providers but at least you can switch with no problems.

Allanr

Bulb are totally upfront in their communication to customers.



Bulb "may" raise their prices in November but any existing customer will have 60 days notice of any actual increase during which time they can leave Bulb with no penalty.



It is a simple matter of carrying out a price comparison if the price should rise and see if it is worth changing energy suppliers bearing in mind that other energy would probably have adjusted their prices upwards. If so Bulb should remain quite competitive and retain their rating as a cheap supplier.

notbritishgas

toshovull wrote: »

switch from edf to bulb,nowt but problems,they cant even get the dd dates right or the amounts,their prices are advertised as cheaper than edf but they are now advising I pay £20pm more on my dd because of my usage,after 12 months with edf @ £100pm I was 10p in debit at the switch,i have had to contact bulb 3 times in the first month to get payments returned they had taken for the wrong amounts on the wrong day,now I have had to cancel my dd as they have taken over £300 in the first month,although I managed to get 2 back their customer service reps haven't got a clue,cant even alter set up a simple dd,wasted around 5 hours trying to get this sorted and they insulted me with a miserly £20 credit,waiting for £25 cash back from energy club then I will kick these cowboys into touch,appalling service.:(

Do not worry, my switch from edf to bulb went differently.
As I did not enter my usage when I completed the application my DD was estimated on a 3 bed house and as they take the DD in advance it was taken on the day of the switch 3 weeks later, no problem.
After a week or so they obviously obtained my usage by other means and reduced the DD amount for the next payment.
I have not needed to contact bulb at all. But have found their online communication keeping me up to date first class.

As for edf, I received my final gas bill within a week and received the credit shortly after.
However I am still waiting for the final electric bill.

Allanr

From earlier correspondence on Bulb's own forum there is a national database of meter readings useed by all energy suppliers. I'm fairly certain this is where Bulb gets their information on past energy usage by customers to be able to set up estimated usage for the following 12 months (and hence estimated annual costs), the figures become more accuarte as you ideally submit regular monthly meter readings.