Avro Energy Disgrace

michael1234

I tend to review my supplier every year and end up switching most years.
This time, I came to the end of 12 months with Avro Energy. I have always paid my bills via direct debit every month on time and according to the amounts they request.
I started initiated a switch to another provider but Avro has just contacted me via email and said there is a debit on the account and they are not allowing the switch.

I replied and asked them to take the amount via direct debit to avoid me wasting both our time on the phone. The amount is a little more than a normal monthly amount.

I rang up and sure enough it starts with the usual annoying crap about high volume of calls blah blah and after 20 minutes I had to put the phone down with a view to possibly calling later.

This amount of debit that has "built up" can't be the final bill since I haven't yet provided the final meter readings. Can they stop or delay the switch due to this? I've asked via email that they call me back but can they insist I must wait god knows how long on their phone line just to may a manual payment?

Sorry just venting a bit. :mad:

48york

Same thing happened to me!!
Only just managed to activate my change after applying from February.
When I asked why they did not contact me about this they said legally they do not have to inform anyone so then they just switch you to the standard tariff.
Seems they only want clients that over pay so they can keep your money for an extra few months before paying you back!!
I think the authority should make them complie that they must inform you if they will not allow the switch

System

Technically, a debit balance on an account is not a debt. A debt is an amount owing that has been notified to the customer by the supplier and one that remains unpaid for 28 days. That said, Avro is not alone in playing the blocked switch card when there is a debit balance on an account. It is time that Ofgem started a formal investigation into transfer blocking.

MothballsWallet

Hengus wrote: »

Technically, a debit balance on an account is not a debt. A debt is an amount owing that has been notified to the customer by the supplier and one that remains unpaid for 28 days. That said, Avro is not alone in playing the blocked switch card when there is a debit balance on an account. It is time that Ofgem started a formal investigation into transfer blocking.

There also needs to be a Parliamentary Select Committee looking into Ofgem...

System

This is the latest Ofgem position on blocked transfers:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2016/07/decision_on_review_of_domestic_objections.pdf

TeddyRose

Be warned AVRO Customers:

I always shop around for my energy supplier and came across who could save me a substantial amount of bills compared to AVRO.  I started then switching over to a new supplier towards the end of my contract.  Without any information to me AVRO blocked the process then I found out that I had a £300 plus debt in my account which AVRO hid it to show me a low cost.  I had a direct debit in place therefore should not have any issues with non paying of bills.  Then after lots of struggle they released my GAS blockage and then without any notice to me again put a block on my electricity switchover because again they said I had a £3.31 remaining in my balance.  Be aware that if you try to leave this supplier they will do anything to make your life difficult and frustrate you as well as the new supplier's.  Over 20 years of changing and shopping around competitive energy suppliers I had never come across company like AVRO.  Never again and I would also like to warn other households to be aware.  It is taking me more than two months to switchover to my new supplier and I am still struggling to complete the procedure.

fahidq

Avoid AVRO ENERGY at all costs!!!

This is a terrible company with terrible customer service. I joined them because they were the cheapest provider but after 3 months they increased my direct debit by two and a half times. I gave them accurate meter readings and my usage has remained consistent over the past 3 years (across several companies), so there was nothing to justify this exorbitant increase in the direct debit. I completely understand that direct debits can fluctuate in the summer/winter months but never by this much.

They then shifted me onto a more expensive tariff, take ages to respond to emails, and make promises of phone calls but then dont call. In the meantime, as I've been trying to resolve this dispute my bill has continued to rise at an extreme rate.

AVRO missold the policy to me with a low intial teaser rate, have used threatening behaviour, and their slow customer service means that my bill continues to rise as the dispute it being resolved.

Absolutely unacceptable. The worst service I have had with any company.