Bulb Energy Reviews: Give your feedback on the energy supplier

Stevemole

Been with Bulb for electricity since end of Feb 2019 (they were the cheapest)  and have just switched because of the price increase which makes their electricity prices not even in the top 5 (eon even beat them when i checked cheap energy club). If my usage is the same as last year, i'm cutting 13.6% off last years electricity bill. The fall in price of natural gas is the reason as gas is 56% of the national grid. Orbit was cheapest for me this time but obviously it depends on your usage and setup.

hermante

Is there a minimum period you have to stay with Bulb after getting the referral bonus or could you switch away immediately?

I suppose you have to stay with them for at least 3 weeks unless it is possible to start a second switch before the first has completed...?

In reality I plan to report a low annual usage figure and then stay with them at least until the £50 and my first DD payment is used up.

GunJack

Just last week I initiated a switch away from bulb - NOT because of any bad service, in fact on the few times I've contacted them customer service has been spot-on. I've been with them for coming up a year and am only switching away based on price.

I won't go with the Symbios of this market, the cheapest of the cheap as too many of them have gone under. Bulb weren't the absolute cheapest when I switched to them but they are stable, but now a £200 a year saving is worth going for and when calling the company I am switching to I got a similar feeling so all should be good. Could have saved another £30 by going with the ultra-cheap companies, but I value stability and hassle-free so £30 is worth it..

So, just for clarity, bulb have been good and stable for me for a year, only moving for costs.

Pulpopelirojo

I am looking to switch from Bulb because a) they’ve just increased my monthly charge 50% but my energy use hasn’t increased, and b) their service has taken a massive downward spire and they are
now utterly useless.  

It took me over 6 months to get my smart meter installed (having waiting another 18 months unsuccessfully with previous supplier), only for them (via Siemens) to only connect the electricity and not the gas - that was back in Sept ‘19 and I’m still waiting for the gas to be switched on.  

Multiple calls and emails to ‘customer Services’ go unanswered, and when they do it’s always that they have to refer to someone else.  The smart team don’t call customers apparently, so I’m presuming they haven’t been trained in how to dial a telephone number yet either?!

At this moment I would not recommend Bulb - because they will keep you in the dark. 

JJ_Egan

< they’ve just increased my monthly charge 50% but my energy use hasn’t increased>

Have you worked your actual usage out and compared to payments made .

Gerry1

Pulpopelirojo said:

I am looking to switch from Bulb because a) they’ve just increased my monthly charge 50% but my energy use hasn’t increased

Welcome to the forums.

Unfortunately you are likely to encounter a similar problem at some point in the future unless you understand how the Fixed Direct Debit system works.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay

bristolleedsfan

Gerry1 said:

Pulpopelirojo said:

I am looking to switch from Bulb because a) they’ve just increased my monthly charge 50% but my energy use hasn’t increased

Welcome to the forums.

Unfortunately you are likely to encounter a similar problem at some point in the future unless you understand how the Fixed Direct Debit system works.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay

As long as someone has at least a months usage credit in hand and unless T+C  of a tariff say someone must do this or that people do not have to pay monthly how that guide says/ how it suits energy companies to hold as high balances as possible

It is possible via  Bulb/Octopus and probably other energy companies customers online portal when in credit to reduce monthly payment to minimum £5.00, Both Bulb and Octopus are very good at giving credit refunds at any time of the year, when someone is in credit neither of these companies insist on monthly payments being increased, they are system auto produced, customer can reply saying keep it as they are and/or change monthly payment back themselves within online account portal

MWT

Pulpopelirojo said:

I am looking to switch from Bulb because a) they’ve just increased my monthly charge 50% but my energy use hasn’t increased...

You are reacting to the wrong thing here... ... this isn't a 'charge' it is an amount held on your account ready to meet the bills that will come in.

The better question is do you have enough on your account to meet the charges that are due or not?

If you do then the increase is unwarranted, especially at this time of year when the heating costs typically fall.

If you are already in debt then the increase may be entirely justified.

Check your last bill and make sure it is based on actual meter readings, not estimates, then decide if your monthly payment is too high or not and if it is too high just change it in the web portal, or contact Bulb and ask them to reduce it to an acceptable number. 

GunJack

Just to add to my previous....
Completed switch away from bulb to Yorkshire Energy on 25th April. Date chosen to coincide with my normal bulb statement date, so final bulb/opening YE reading submitted to both suppliers on 24th (Friday). In all fairness, bulb produced the final bill on the following Monday 27th, and have processed my credit balance refund on 30th April. 

So I'm still happy with bulb, has been a trouble-free 12 months including the prompt final bill and refund. If YE are as efficient  I'll be happy (and a couple of hundred quid better off )

Rosa_Damascena

I've been with Bulb for the last 11 months and give them 8/10. I switched because I found the standing charges could be reduced, plus they had put the tariff up slightly. If that changed for the better and I could make savings, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.