Add your feedback on energy supplier Tonik

Telegraph_Sam

I printed off a copy of my last statement and constructed a simple spreadsheet to calculate the cost of consumption and daily charges since then.  In the past I cancelled the excessive D/D and got them to agree a far more modest one instead.

Telegraph_Sam

I'm guessing that one's account with the existing supplier has to be in credit (as opposed to +/- £0) at the time of the switch to bridge the time whilst the move is happening?  In addition to paying up front the first (or more) D/D with the new supplier.

inspectorperez

Mabel2012 said:

Perhaps you should all post on Trust Pilot as Tonik Energy replies to some reviews on that site. Why they don't update the information on their own website is puzzling to me. That is where all their customers expect to manage their accounts and obtain 'up to date' information. Their transition is taking a very long time and there appears to be no end date.

Astonishingly every critical post on Trustpilot is matched by a dubious looking two liner post acclaiming the alleged virtues of Tonik. These 5 star posts are often from commenters posting for the first time and I do have serious doubts about how genuine they are. Funnily enough, Tonik admit in their published financial accounts, that Trustpilot ratings are one of their key performance indicators. For those in any doubt about the financial stability of Tonik, visit Companies House website and you will see for yourself the extent of their insolvent status at 31 March 2019! Unfortunately as I am a new member on this forum, I am not yet allowed to post links to other websites.

Ken68

https://www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company

Marsha76

I moved from Ovo to Tonik Energy last October and have had so much disappointment since joining. The two companies could not agree on my Gas reading and so it had to go to a "Read Dispute" (whatever that is!) I received an email from Ovo the other day stating that the Read Dispute had been closed due to no response from Tonik Energy. Another dispute has now been opened and this could take another 12 weeks and probably with the same outcome. Although I left the wonderful Ovo because I could save by moving to Tonik, I'm actually paying £4.00 a month more. I have put in the government's £200 so my Credit should be quite healthy but this is a guess on my part because I have never had a bill or statement since joining. I have been in touch with the Energy  Ombudsman but felt quite out of my depth, but I have at least shown that I care about what is going on.
So sorry for all of you, this is stressful & we could all do without it Tonik Energy.

Telegraph_Sam

I could be in the same boat having just put in for a switch to Octopus. Not that the Octopus telephone response is particularly impressive either, I am still waiting for their call back.  What I am trying to understand is what happens if the "new" and the "old" supplier cannot agree (because I cannot input the latest or even the past meter readings) does one just continue as before? I am loathe to just shovel in £££'s to the account in the blind hope that that might resolve matters. It would be useful to know just who has the overall responsibility in such situations - Ofgem, the Energy Regulator, or even the Citizens Advice Bureau who of the 3 were the most helpful when I did the rounds last week.

inspectorperez

Marsha76 said:

I moved from Ovo to Tonik Energy last October and have had so much disappointment since joining. The two companies could not agree on my Gas reading and so it had to go to a "Read Dispute" (whatever that is!) I received an email from Ovo the other day stating that the Read Dispute had been closed due to no response from Tonik Energy. Another dispute has now been opened and this could take another 12 weeks and probably with the same outcome. Although I left the wonderful Ovo because I could save by moving to Tonik, I'm actually paying £4.00 a month more. I have put in the government's £200 so my Credit should be quite healthy but this is a guess on my part because I have never had a bill or statement since joining. I have been in touch with the Energy  Ombudsman but felt quite out of my depth, but I have at least shown that I care about what is going on.
So sorry for all of you, this is stressful & we could all do without it Tonik Energy.

Having recently just completed a switch from Tonik to Octopus, I have become acquainted with how the system is supposed to work in accordance with Octopus very helpful guidance literature. If you are on dual fuel for instance, you are supposed to provide your closing readings for gas and electricity to the new supplier. They in turn provide that information to an independent data validation service who either accept your readings, or substitute their own calculation if your readings are outside certain parameters. These readings are then passed to the previous supplier for the purpose of raising final bills. You as the consumer to have a right of appeal if your reading has been changed, but only I believe if it is outside certain tolerance levels. This can be infuriating for those purists amongst us as your own correct readings may well be overriden by estimates!! It was also pointed out in the literature I read, that gas readings for some reason take longer to verify which can cause a further complication to the billing process. I am sorry for anyone mixed up in this current Tonik shambles and just sorry that OFGEM seem to take an eternity to get their act together. In my own case, I may well decide to bypass OFGEM altogether and go straight to litigation if there is much more delay over receiving my own refund. Might involve me in cost but I will claim back whatever I can and at least have more degree of control over the process.

mattskilondon

I'm in the same boat as everyone else.  I've not had statements since December and am dismayed at their lack of engagement.  Alarm bells started ringing when they tried to up my monthly payment by 25% last autumn (which I rejected, and they backed down).  I've now switched to London Power / Octopus which should take effect within 2 weeks.  I have a credit balance.  I don't anticipate a straightforward switch and am pessimistic about my chances of refund.  Can I just cancel my standing order to Tonik anyway, as I don't want them to have any more of my money.  

Ken68

No Matt...keep your DD, cancelling will make it worse.My guess is they are inundated with cancellations and they will place anything not normal to the back of the queue.

inspectorperez

mattskilondon said:

I'm in the same boat as everyone else.  I've not had statements since December and am dismayed at their lack of engagement.  Alarm bells started ringing when they tried to up my monthly payment by 25% last autumn (which I rejected, and they backed down).  I've now switched to London Power / Octopus which should take effect within 2 weeks.  I have a credit balance.  I don't anticipate a straightforward switch and am pessimistic about my chances of refund.  Can I just cancel my standing order to Tonik anyway, as I don't want them to have any more of my money.  

I cancelled my direct debit almost immediately after my new supplier confirmed that the transfer was complete. I did so in the knowledge that I would still be in credit after the final bill. Having said that, Tonik did attempt to argue by email that I had breached the contractual T&C's by cancelling the DD, therefore the calculations would be by reference to their more expensive variable tariff. Utter nonsense as the DD was always in place during the term of the contract and Tonik to their credit did concede this.

Funnily enough, I have just read that another Tonik director has just resigned (operations director) making it 2 in 4 months. That leaves 2 in office!

Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that the writing was on the wall. Pity because up to the back end of 2019, they did seem to be a well run company.