Symbio Energy feedback

tk47

Talldave said:

tk47 said:

Talldave said:

tk47 said:

Beats me why you are not also receiving this information if you are a genuine Symbio customer who is submitting meter reads.

I get those emails every month (two following my 2nd Feb meter reading) but they're just the usual Symbio crap - ie: they say they send the readings to the regulator (they don't). ..

What makes you believe they don't send the meter readings?
It's an automated reply.

You believe Symbio send my monthly readings to Ofgem? I don't.  ...

No. nor do I.

Please read the above posts carefully. No point me repeating them.

It's nothing to do with Ofgem

Edit: Please start your own conspiracy theory thread about the role, or even the non-existance, of the meter reading validation agency, or find an existing thread at least related to that topic.
This is supposed to be a feedback thread on the supplier Symbio Energy

CRISPIANNE3

tk47 said:

CRISPIANNE3 said:

I am transferring to Green Energy, Newcastle Upon Tyne and they are cheaper for me. than Symbio. The rate is 10.87 per kw and 20.00p  a day standing charge and that includes the VAT. So Symbio perhaps not so cheaper after all.

If, as it appears you are, you reside in the SWEB supply region, the Symbio's cheapest tariff currently available is just 10.439 per kw and 19.50p  a day standing charge, so perhaps they are the cheapest. (particularly for a fixed tariff)

As for us, we grabbed a super low Symbio tariff last summer. There is nothing currently on the market that does not cost at least 10% more, so we will succumb at this point to any actions, or inactions, by them to make us leave early.

Not worth the hassle over a few pounds. Not long to go now!  Also with me they have taken a dd payment for the £36.48 but are now saying they never received it. Going down the dd guarantee route at moment.  I am in the process of sending a letter with all documentation to their offices in this country. I realise now keep sending emails gets you no where they go to this out sourcing company in India and just disappear into a black hole. 

tk47

CRISPIANNE3 said:

tk47 said:

CRISPIANNE3 said:

I am transferring to Green Energy, Newcastle Upon Tyne and they are cheaper for me. than Symbio. The rate is 10.87 per kw and 20.00p  a day standing charge and that includes the VAT. So Symbio perhaps not so cheaper after all.

If, as it appears you are, you reside in the SWEB supply region, the Symbio's cheapest tariff currently available is just 10.439 per kw and 19.50p  a day standing charge, so perhaps they are the cheapest. (particularly for a fixed tariff)

As for us, we grabbed a super low Symbio tariff last summer. There is nothing currently on the market that does not cost at least 10% more, so we will succumb at this point to any actions, or inactions, by them to make us leave early.

Not worth the hassle over a few pounds. Not long to go now!  Also with me they have taken a dd payment for the £36.48 but are now saying they never received it. Going down the dd guarantee route at moment.  I am in the process of sending a letter with all documentation to their offices in this country. I realise now keep sending emails gets you no where they go to this out sourcing company in India and just disappear into a black hole. 

Honestly, if it were any other supplier, I would struggle to believe this, but based on their performance, unfortunately I have to believe you.

I don't think Symbio will get far with their excuse they have not received the payment, assuming you have evidence it has been deducted from your bank account.
You see, a Direct Debit deduction is a 'pull' payment, as opposed to most transactions that are 'push payments. Therefore, a payment that has been taken by direct debit (especially if it corresponds to a payment you were advised in advance they would take, date & amount) must have been received by them as they 'pulled' it; if they had not 'pulled' it, it would not have been deducted.

I'm not sure how you propose to use the DD guarantee to resolve this. I don't think it covers this type of claim as I cannot see how it can occur, so there are no grounds for you to genuinely claim.

I suggest you just file a complaint, and let the ombudsman sort matters out later if necessary. It's difficult to see how the ombudsman would ever accept they have not received a payment Symbio themselves pulled

(I'm not suggesting this has happened but if they were claiming you may have recalled the payment under the DD guarantee after it was collected, or it was not honoured in the first place, they would have records that specifically show that)

CRISPIANNE3

tk47 said:

CRISPIANNE3 said:

tk47 said:

CRISPIANNE3 said:

I am transferring to Green Energy, Newcastle Upon Tyne and they are cheaper for me. than Symbio. The rate is 10.87 per kw and 20.00p  a day standing charge and that includes the VAT. So Symbio perhaps not so cheaper after all.

If, as it appears you are, you reside in the SWEB supply region, the Symbio's cheapest tariff currently available is just 10.439 per kw and 19.50p  a day standing charge, so perhaps they are the cheapest. (particularly for a fixed tariff)

As for us, we grabbed a super low Symbio tariff last summer. There is nothing currently on the market that does not cost at least 10% more, so we will succumb at this point to any actions, or inactions, by them to make us leave early.

Not worth the hassle over a few pounds. Not long to go now!  Also with me they have taken a dd payment for the £36.48 but are now saying they never received it. Going down the dd guarantee route at moment.  I am in the process of sending a letter with all documentation to their offices in this country. I realise now keep sending emails gets you no where they go to this out sourcing company in India and just disappear into a black hole. 

Honestly, if it were any other supplier, I would struggle to believe this, but based on their performance, unfortunately I have to believe you.

I don't think Symbio will get far with their excuse they have not received the payment, assuming you have evidence it has been deducted from your bank account.
You see, a Direct Debit deduction is a 'pull' payment, as opposed to most transactions that are 'push payments. Therefore, a payment that has been taken by direct debit (especially if it corresponds to a payment you were advised in advance they would take, date & amount) must have been received by them as they 'pulled' it; if they had not 'pulled' it, it would not have been deducted.

I'm not sure how you propose to use the DD guarantee to resolve this. I don't think it covers this type of claim as I cannot see how it can occur, so there are no grounds for you to genuinely claim.

I suggest you just file a complaint, and let the ombudsman sort matters out later if necessary. It's difficult to see how the ombudsman would ever accept they have not received a payment Symbio themselves pulled

(I'm not suggesting this has happened but if they were claiming you may have recalled the payment under the DD guarantee after it was collected, or it was not honoured in the first place, they would have records that specifically show that)

I have been consumed by this situation for the last few weeks. It's so frustrating when you know you are right and you cannot get anywhere. I spend about an hour today talking to them at their contact centre in India and he sympathised and said there was not a lot he could do. 

Talldave

tk47 said:

Talldave said:

You believe Symbio send my monthly readings to Ofgem? I don't.  ...

No. nor do I.

Please read the above posts carefully. No point me repeating them.

It's nothing to do with Ofgem

I know that, you know that. But Symbio tell me every month:

        "We have sent your meter reads to our regulator as part of the meter audit and validation."

which is utter rubbish and just another part of the incompetence that exudes from everything Symbio do (apart from setting the lowest price).

I think that the incompetence of a supplier is very relevant on a feedback thread.  I will happily recommend Symbio as the cheapest, but with the caveat that they can't spell, tell the truth, do simply multiplication, design a website or even charge you the tariff you signed up for.  But they are cheap, give away free units and are more entertaining than any other supplier I've ever dealt with.

Tafrock

Entertaining?? Is that what you call it!! Can't wait til I get my money back and close the door on this mess. It's not what electricity companies are about. 

Talldave

Tafrock said:

Entertaining?? Is that what you call it!! Can't wait til I get my money back and close the door on this mess. It's not what electricity companies are about. 

I know what you mean but they're the underdogs and everybody expects them to fail. I suppose I feel a bit sorry for them that whatever they do they're useless. Whilst their errors are in my favour I can smile each month with amusement as I open the bill, with it's spelling and mathematical errors, to see how much they're giving away for free. 

PixelPound

You should only be charged once for electricity, so the only readings that matter are when you started supply and when you end. In between is more about trying to ensure you don't build up a large amount of credit or deficit for when you change.

Talldave

nic_c said:

You should only be charged once for electricity, so the only readings that matter are when you started supply and when you end. In between is more about trying to ensure you don't build up a large amount of credit or deficit for when you change.

I can't build up credit or deficit with Symbio because they consolidate the account every month. Their flaw is that as part of that consolidation calculation they give you credit against an estimated amount they never charged for in the first place. So far it's only ever been for one day's estimated consumption each month, but every little helps (and their estimates are wildly pessimistic which maximizes the value).
This month they ignored my reading so there was no free electricity as the estimate flaw wasn't triggered.

CRISPIANNE3