Bulb Energy Reviews: Give your feedback on the energy supplier

Patr100

Gerry1 said:

Patr100 said:

Gerry1 said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

I've just had a very unprofessional "sales" call from Bulb

Browntoa said:

Final insult is they have the cheek to keep attempting to ring me to retain me as a customer but I've blocked their number

Block sale calls by registering with the Telephone Preference Service on 0800 398 893.

-TPS  won't stop it if you already consented to certain forms of communication as you are already a customer which you probably agreed to when you originally signed up with them. They have to be able to send you bills etc , but you may be able to opt out of phone calls. Usually boxes you tick/untick when you join online.
You need to review that aspect. 

Telegraph Sam appears to be an Octopus customer, so being on the TPS list would block sales calls from Bulb.

The TPS comment  was  made in reference to Browntoa (who you also quoted) who said:

Final insult is they have the cheek to keep attempting to ring me to retain me as a customer but I've blocked their number

thfc2020

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

Telegraph_Sam

I made a note previously for such situations to contact the Citizens Advice Extra Help Unit on 0800 458 2245  complaints@ehu.org.uk.  Failing which the local Trading Standards Office.  If the problem is deep seated then the Resolver tool as listed on this screen.  I have heard mixed (mostly negative) reports about the success and hassle people have had when going to the Ombudsman. Many solicitors offer a time-limited free advice service.

Gerry1

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

The neighbour probably hasn't done the pensioner any favours because Bulb are unlikely to be the cheapest supplier.

The answers are:-

• Always send monthly readings.  The pensioner should be on the Priority Services Register and then the energy company may be able to send a meter reader round if necessary.

• Understand that the fixed DD amount is a merely a contribution to a kitty that may or may not have enough in it to pay each bill.  Always think in annual cost based on annual kWh consumption derived from actual meter readings, not estimates.
  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#whatyoupay
  

• £80 was probably way too low for a property occupied 24/7, especially if it's a bungalow and/or all electric.  Again, this may be down to the greedy neighbour's so-called 'help'. The bills themselves won't be £200 every month, it's just that the fixed DD has been increased twice, once to reflect higher than estimated usage and again to claw back the arrears. Ask for a longer period to catch up on the arrears.

• Switch to more competitive suppliers when free to do so, watching out for any exit fees.  Start comparing using Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?', and perhaps a few others in case there are deals exclusive to certain comparison sites. 

xespa

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

If the neighbour has changed the account, then it's now the neighbour's problem.
The neighbour is more than welcome to take over my energy accounts too, if they wish to be that generous.

I've heard about switching tarts in the past, but switching other peoples accounts into your name just to get a bit of kick-back is taking matters far too far.

SpanishBlue

xespa said:

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

If the neighbour has changed the account, then it's now the neighbour's problem.
The neighbour is more than welcome to take over my energy accounts too, if they wish to be that generous.

I've heard about switching tarts in the past, but switching other peoples accounts into your name just to get a bit of kick-back is taking matters far too far.

The way I read it is, an existing Bulb customer persuaded their elderly neighbour to switch to Bulb so that they (the existing Bulb customer) could profit from the £50 referral bonus.

Gerry1

Telegraph_Sam said:

I made a note previously for such situations to contact the Citizens Advice Extra Help Unit on 0800 458 2245  complaints@ehu.org.uk.  Failing which the local Trading Standards Office.  If the problem is deep seated then the Resolver tool as listed on this screen.  I have heard mixed (mostly negative) reports about the success and hassle people have had when going to the Ombudsman. Many solicitors offer a time-limited free advice service.

Not sure that Bulb have done anything wrong, so complaining may well be a dead end and a waste of time.

More likely to be down to the widespread problem of estimated bills because the meter hasn't been read, and similarly that the Bulb DD has been set too low, in this case by a greedy neighbour's guesstimate.

xespa

SpanishBlue said:

xespa said:

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

If the neighbour has changed the account, then it's now the neighbour's problem.
The neighbour is more than welcome to take over my energy accounts too, if they wish to be that generous.

I've heard about switching tarts in the past, but switching other peoples accounts into your name just to get a bit of kick-back is taking matters far too far.

The way I read it is, an existing Bulb customer persuaded their elderly neighbour to switch to Bulb so that they (the existing Bulb customer) could profit from the £50 referral bonus.

I'm not sure why you read it that way. I thought the poster was quite clear...

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. ...

Telegraph_Sam

"Not sure that Bulb have done anything wrong, so complaining may well be a dead end and a waste of time.

More likely to be down to the widespread problem of estimated bills because the meter hasn't been read, and similarly that the Bulb DD has been set too low, in this case by a greedy neighbour's guesstimate"

The most appropriate course of action will obviously depend on the true background facts of the situation as known to thfc2020

thfc2020

SpanishBlue said:

xespa said:

thfc2020 said:

I know a 83 year old pensioner who recently changed to Bulb electricity supply. A neighbour changed it over for them. Maybe there are referral fee's so maybe this was the neighbours incentive. Bulb Customer Service has nearly caused the pensioner to have a breakdown with their rubbish customer service. They are demanding £300.00 in arrears and are going to put the monthly direct debit upto £200.00 a month. The property is only small and there is no way the electricity bill is £200 a month as the previous bill was £80 a month. I have never had problems with energy companies, what would be the best way to try and resolve this problem because this problem isnt going to get resolved by contacting Bulbs customer service, any feedback appreciated.

If the neighbour has changed the account, then it's now the neighbour's problem.
The neighbour is more than welcome to take over my energy accounts too, if they wish to be that generous.

I've heard about switching tarts in the past, but switching other peoples accounts into your name just to get a bit of kick-back is taking matters far too far.

The way I read it is, an existing Bulb customer persuaded their elderly neighbour to switch to Bulb so that they (the existing Bulb customer) could profit from the £50 referral bonus.

Correct this is what has happened.