Symbio Energy feedback

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Stratus said:

Symbio's current terms and conditions request meter readings are submitted monthly. The reference to 3 months relates to the time to submit an opening reading.

It used to be every 3 months but they've changed their Ts&Cs a couple of times since then

PixelPound

MostUnhappyCustomer said:

We joined Symbio in 2019 following confirmation of the amount we would pay each month.  However, Symbio has taken and consistently attempts to take much larger sums than they are entitled to and way in excess of our fuel consumption; from our bank account.

Part of their Terms & Conditions state: 

Please remember you can only be charged for electricity to use which can only be determined with meter reads. We will send you a reminder to provide meter reads every 3 months. You can supply reads more frequently should you wish. There is no limit on the meter submissions you make.

However, Symbio harasses us on a monthly basis for meter reads instead of every 3 months as stated in their T & C's above, we are a low income household and (our meter is not located within our home).

If you are open to being consistently harassed on a monthly basis for meter reads and is happy to make monthly payments in excess of your fuel consumption, ignore the above.

So, do you want to give readings every three months so you can moan about how much extra money they are taking? Surely if you are a low income household you would want to give regular readings to ensure any overcharge is kept to a minimum. Not sure how a low income prevents you from taking a reading monthly. Would you rather they don't do readings at all and when you leave have a large excess, or worse a large underpayment that you can't clear in one go and end up with debt collectors?

Talldave

If you provide monthly readings, the over-estimates are consolidated every month so you've only ever handed over an extra amount equal to Symbio's estimate above your estimated monthly consumption. They don't accumulate if you provide meter readings. 

It's actually good practice to submit monthly meter readings and receive accurate monthly bills. If everyone was submitting monthly meter readings and getting/paying monthly bills, the number of posts to this forum would halve!

t0rt0ise

I opted to pay a set amount each month and after the first couple of months when they said they would take more, and I had to remind them of the contract, it's worked fine. I work out each month how much I've used from the start and see that I have paid almost exactly the right amount so far. The bills are pretty much incomprehensible but I keep a spreadsheet to see where I am. 

smor

How do I download my Symbio .pdf ills please?  I like to keep a digital record of utility bills and although I can "view" my bills, I can't see to download them.  Symbio have now acheived really poor ratings for their customer service across the board but are happily pushing for new business.  (Wish I'd stayed with Outfox and paid slightly more).

Talldave

They email you the bill pdfs. I don't think they're available to download from their Fisher Price website. I only use the website to enter meter readings.  The rest of it is rubbish - but they're cheap and not run by the Bastians, so I'm OK with that.

matelodave

smor said:

How do I download my Symbio .pdf ills please?  I like to keep a digital record of utility bills and although I can "view" my bills, I can't see to download them.  Symbio have now acheived really poor ratings for their customer service across the board but are happily pushing for new business.  (Wish I'd stayed with Outfox and paid slightly more).

You have to download them when they are e-mailed to you (or at least save the e-mail). AFAIK they can't be obtained directly from their website. I guess you can request copies. The bill & consumption info on the website only relates to their guesstimates although you can access your meter readings so you can do your own sums

My PDF bills get downloaded as soon as they are e-mailed, however tomorrow will be my last day with Symbio going to Neon Reef and hopefully my next Symbio bill will be my last. It will remain in my bill archive with all the others for the next six years (just in case)

CRISPIANNE3

Actual 311kw against  a forecast of 307kw for September. Again well done Symbio!

Talldave

Actual 324kWh compared to Symbio estimate of 350kWh.  Even I'm a bit surprised why Sept has been our lowest consumption in 14 months, especially as the full heating system including UFH is now in regular use (multiple pumps running for several hours).  I suspect it's the TV being on less due to little one starting school.

CRISPIANNE3

Talldave said:

Actual 324kWh compared to Symbio estimate of 350kWh.  Even I'm a bit surprised why Sept has been our lowest consumption in 14 months, especially as the full heating system including UFH is now in regular use (multiple pumps running for several hours).  I suspect it's the TV being on less due to little one starting school.

Mine is also less.  However not sure why.