Symbio Energy feedback

niktheguru

DragonQ said:

They are also blocked a friend of mine from switching away because they are in debit by £40. £40! That's less than a month's usage! Outrageous to block based on that and then not answer the phones when he tries to pay the outstanding amount. Even the website won't let him pay any amount other than what his latest bill says, so right now he's stuck with them.

They are a useless company that happens to be by far the cheapest provider right now. It's also a joke that they still don't offer smart meters despite legally being obliged to and being rapped by Ofgem for it multiple times. They even sent an email out about 5-6 months ago saying a new web portal was about to launch including the ability to order a smart meter. Hide nor hair of that!

Tell your friend to contact them by phone again and stand their ground that it is only £40, they've paid their bills every month as agreed and they are not allowed to block the switch. Insist that you will either pay the value with their final bill, or you will pay the amount now (as long as you've worked out thats exactly what you ower) and ensure they do not block the switch. This happened to me, I was infact in credit but their system thought I was in slight debit because of their advanced billing. I stood my ground, insisted the block be reversed and in fairness to them, they did that and it then went through. Persist with calling them until you get through.

They will not do smart meters until they are absolutely forced to. The idea of smart meters completely goes against their "business" model. They then wont be able to over estimate outrageously to generate the working capital to run their business. They only say things about smart meters because they legally have to as ofgem are pushing all the companies with their targets, they dragged their heels to join the DCC. I can guarantee you won't be getting any smart meters with symbio for some time to come.

Gerry1

niktheguru said:

DragonQ said:

They are also blocked a friend of mine from switching away because they are in debit by £40. £40! That's less than a month's usage! Outrageous to block based on that and then not answer the phones when he tries to pay the outstanding amount. Even the website won't let him pay any amount other than what his latest bill says, so right now he's stuck with them.

They are a useless company that happens to be by far the cheapest provider right now. It's also a joke that they still don't offer smart meters despite legally being obliged to and being rapped by Ofgem for it multiple times. They even sent an email out about 5-6 months ago saying a new web portal was about to launch including the ability to order a smart meter. Hide nor hair of that!

I can guarantee you won't be getting any smart meters with symbio for some time to come.

That's always useful to know !

rp1974

Smart meters and Symbio customers?,some people really are gluttons for punishment.
Have the hunch that Symbio will view smart meters as a considerable spanner in their works,distinctly not the kind of Symbiotic relationship with their customers that they have in mind.

thelight

rceebear said:

Despite giving regular meter readings Symbio have apparently under charged me so much so that they've tripled my direct debit! They also blocked me switching. I find their billing extremely difficult to understand and just want to leave as soon as I can.

Has anyone taken them to the Ombudsman for this switch blocking?

niktheguru

thelight said:

rceebear said:

Despite giving regular meter readings Symbio have apparently under charged me so much so that they've tripled my direct debit! They also blocked me switching. I find their billing extremely difficult to understand and just want to leave as soon as I can.

Has anyone taken them to the Ombudsman for this switch blocking?

I suppose you could, but is it worth the wait?. It certaintly is shady/irritating/unfair practice. However, it didn't impact on the date of my switch in the end. I'm sure most people who want to switch just want to move ASAP rather than prolong it with an ombudsman complaint for a measly £30.

CRISPIANNE3

niktheguru said:

DragonQ said:

They are also blocked a friend of mine from switching away because they are in debit by £40. £40! That's less than a month's usage! Outrageous to block based on that and then not answer the phones when he tries to pay the outstanding amount. Even the website won't let him pay any amount other than what his latest bill says, so right now he's stuck with them.

They are a useless company that happens to be by far the cheapest provider right now. It's also a joke that they still don't offer smart meters despite legally being obliged to and being rapped by Ofgem for it multiple times. They even sent an email out about 5-6 months ago saying a new web portal was about to launch including the ability to order a smart meter. Hide nor hair of that!

Tell your friend to contact them by phone again and stand their ground that it is only £40, they've paid their bills every month as agreed and they are not allowed to block the switch. Insist that you will either pay the value with their final bill, or you will pay the amount now (as long as you've worked out thats exactly what you ower) and ensure they do not block the switch. This happened to me, I was infact in credit but their system thought I was in slight debit because of their advanced billing. I stood my ground, insisted the block be reversed and in fairness to them, they did that and it then went through. Persist with calling them until you get through.

They will not do smart meters until they are absolutely forced to. The idea of smart meters completely goes against their "business" model. They then wont be able to over estimate outrageously to generate the working capital to run their business. They only say things about smart meters because they legally have to as ofgem are pushing all the companies with their targets, they dragged their heels to join the DCC. I can guarantee you won't be getting any smart meters with symbio for some time to come.

They advised me that we were introducing smart meters from June of this year. 

niktheguru

CRISPIANNE3 said:

They advised me that we were introducing smart meters from June of this year. 

They told me the same for June 2020!

hd216

DragonQ said:

They are also blocked a friend of mine from switching away because they are in debit by £40. £40! That's less than a month's usage! Outrageous to block based on that and then not answer the phones when he tries to pay the outstanding amount. Even the website won't let him pay any amount other than what his latest bill says, so right now he's stuck with them.

I can beat that - they're currently refusing to lift a block on my switch for an outstanding balance of £9. 
Bearing in mind this "debt" of £9 is based upon their overinflated estimate for this month, which if they weren't blocking the switch, would only be a partial month anyways and they'd end up owing me! When I told the guy on the phone that every other normal company would just reconcile this with the final bill, the guy on the phone stated that they don't know what other companies do, but they wont lift the block until it's paid!

Stratus

OFGEM confirms £100,000 penalty for Symbio.

rp1974

Well Symbio did tell us that OFGEM were racist and homophobic,this surely is proof,and Symbio are being unfairly treated.
Glad the playing of the ist,ism,phobic card has backfired on them,the repercussions of trying that as a gambit to skirt regulation could well become quite a spectacle.
Nice to see that OFGEM have called Symbios bluff on this nonsense and basically told them,enough already.