Symbio Energy feedback

Talldave

molerat said:

No bill posted yet but DD notification received and Sep usage showing on account.

Their renewal seems a bit of a mess.  Despite the e-mails stating change to new tariff on 1st October they seem to have changed my daughter's account to the new tariff already, her 1 year point was 2nd Sep and we assumed the e-mails meant they would, as many do, carry on until the end of the month.  I am still trying to figure how they can move you to an expensive 12 month with exit fee tariff without a positive acceptance of that tariff rather than an opt out.  Also the first notification of ending tariff, which was a totally corrupted e-mail, was received on 4th August so 2 to 3 weeks too late for the 42-49 day notification.  They really do seem to break every one of their licence conditions !

I too have just had a DD notification without having seen any bill.  The "bill" on the website doesn't really tell you anything, so will have to email to ask for a proper bill.

molerat

I am sure the bill e-mail will be along shortly

Talldave

molerat said:

I am sure the bill e-mail will be along shortly

Indeed it was!  Bill arrived, and I appear to be switched onto my new variable rate OK.  The only quirk caused by their weird billing algorithm is that the variance units for August are credited at my new Low, Fair and Green 2020 Variable v18 rate rather than at the Symbio Monthly DD Fixed August 19 v1 rate I paid for them at.  But I only lose out by 11p and I gained 154kWh for nothing from their free units flaw!

So now it's into year 2 and things look good as September's estimate looks to be about right, and at 10.9p per unit, I'm happy.

PixelPound

molerat said:

No bill posted yet but DD notification received and Sep usage showing on account.

Their renewal seems a bit of a mess.  Despite the e-mails stating change to new tariff on 1st October they seem to have changed my daughter's account to the new tariff already, her 1 year point was 2nd Sep and we assumed the e-mails meant they would, as many do, carry on until the end of the month.  I am still trying to figure how they can move you to an expensive 12 month with exit fee tariff without a positive acceptance of that tariff rather than an opt out.  Also the first notification of ending tariff, which was a totally corrupted e-mail, was received on 4th August so 2 to 3 weeks too late for the 42-49 day notification.  They really do seem to break every one of their licence conditions !

My year 1 point is 4 Sept. Just got my bill and charged at the old rate. I have had email confirmation that I will keep on my old rate until 1st Oct (old rate is cheaper for me) before go on to the new variable rate. Their estimation seems fine, though slightly lower than I used this last month.

Swipe

My bill came in at £8

rosina90

My electricity is with Ebico. And don't want to switch to British Gas as their prices are obviously expensive but service is good, I reckon. Now I am looking at the following:
Orbit Energy (10% for Life Tariff)
          Unit rate: £0.14711
          Standard rate: £0.20998
Octopus (Super Green Tariff)
          Unit rate: £0.15026
          Standard rate: £0.21672
Symbico is the cheapest I found.
I am not sure about their customer service of these suppliers though.

Gerry1

rosina90 said:

My electricity is with Ebico. And don't want to switch to British Gas as their prices are obviously expensive but service is good, I reckon. Now I am looking at the following:
Orbit Energy (10% for Life Tariff)
          Unit rate: £0.14711
          Standard rate: £0.20998
Octopus (Super Green Tariff)
          Unit rate: £0.15026
          Standard rate: £0.21672
Symbico is the cheapest I found.
I am not sure about their customer service of these suppliers though.

You'll be switched to British Gas whether you like it or not.

Those Orbit and Octopus rates are hopeless.

Did you do a full market comparison starting with Citizens Advice and 'Switch with Which?'?

Citizens Advice rate Octopus higher than BG but Orbit as lower.

You don't have to look for a new tariff because BG will match or beat your existing Ebico tariff.

matelodave

Companies like BG, Octopus, Orbit etc are far too expensive for me. I'm with Symbio who are probably probably the cheapest but you need to get your head around their strange billing/estimating system so I'd be inclined I'd give them a miss (unless you like a mental challenge every month) 

Try Neon Reef, Gerry reckons that they are OK and I'm tempted to jump over from Symbio to them even though it will probably cost me an extra £20 a year. 

Gerry1

matelodave said:

Try Neon Reef, Gerry reckons that they are OK and I'm tempted to jump over from Symbio to them even though it will probably cost me an extra £20 a year. 

Yes, joined them in January and everything's fine so far.  No phone number, but very quick and helpful personal responses to emails.  Of course, you can't be sure until after you've left, but they seem very cheap and very cheerful.

Very strange that the CEC are still 'Neon Reef Deniers'...

Talldave

Although Neon's unit rate is slightly above Symbio's (on comparison sites today),  I think Symbio's standing charge increases have lost them their "cheapest" crown to Neon for most users now.

Even though Symbio's billing estimating silliness this year has been appalling, their prediction of my EAC for the coming year is excellent.  I signed up a year ago with an EAC guess of 5000kWh (new to the property so a total guess), we've actually used just under 4800ķWh and Symbio have estimated 4650kWh for the coming year, which is probably going to be pretty spot on as the LED light bulb savings work through.