Symbio Energy feedback

Mr_K

niktheguru said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them. No chance of building up credit or debit. One of their better options if you can afford it in winter. 

noooooooooo!! your first payment will be a big one as they'll overestimate your usage. Then when you supply your actual meter reading it is true they will subtract the overestimated usage on the next bill, but on the same bill the following months usage will be overestimated AGAIN, so you're basically giving them 1-2 months advance payments. The fixed direct debit is better every time.

Swipe said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them.

Big mistake, you should have selected the fixed seasonal option

Swipe said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them.

Big mistake, you should have selected the fixed seasonal option

Each to their own, worked fine for me for a couple of years.  I like the concept of only paying for what you use each month its  novel these days !

niktheguru

Mr_K said:

Each to their own, worked fine for me for a couple of years.  I like the concept of only paying for what you use each month its  novel these days !

Worked fine for you with symbio or with another provider? 

The concept is certainly very novel with symbio, as you aren't really paying for what you use.

Swipe

Mr_K said:

niktheguru said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them. No chance of building up credit or debit. One of their better options if you can afford it in winter. 

noooooooooo!! your first payment will be a big one as they'll overestimate your usage. Then when you supply your actual meter reading it is true they will subtract the overestimated usage on the next bill, but on the same bill the following months usage will be overestimated AGAIN, so you're basically giving them 1-2 months advance payments. The fixed direct debit is better every time.

Swipe said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them.

Big mistake, you should have selected the fixed seasonal option

Swipe said:

Mr_K said:

MWT said:

jrio said:

 How can they possibly be cheaper than NR was?  I don't believe they can for a year - even a few months doesn't seem likely -so I'm prepared for some interesting times.

Just do everything you can to avoid building up much of a balance as it can take months to get it back through the SoLR process if they fail...

That why I've gone down the variable monthly direct debit route with them.

Big mistake, you should have selected the fixed seasonal option

Each to their own, worked fine for me for a couple of years.  I like the concept of only paying for what you use each month its  novel these days !

Won't work fine any longer. About 12 months ago Symbio started estimating double and lately three times my monthly consumption every month.  It's now summer, last bill I used 102 units, they estimated 330, they have done the same for June's bill when they know exactly how much I use. I'd get on to them to change to fixed DD ASAP if I were you.

DancingQueen1

Biggest Mistake I have ever made was to sign up with Symbio Energy. Anyone thinking of joining them please go to the next cheapest provider. The tarriff is the cheapest, but once you are In Contract they change your DD monthly payments because they over estimate for the following month way above what you will use. They take no notice to reduce their estimates no matter how many times you contact them, by email & I only got through on the phone once I’ve been cut off before getting through since.My honest feeling is that they offer cheap, charge extra for agreed DD this is now making me feel I need to leave after only 5 months into an 18 month contract with them as I fear what my winter fuel I have electricity with them will go upto & have to pay the exit fees In Order to do so. 

niktheguru

DancingQueen1 said:

Biggest Mistake I have ever made was to sign up with Symbio Energy. Anyone thinking of joining them please go to the next cheapest provider. The tarriff is the cheapest, but once you are In Contract they change your DD monthly payments because they over estimate for the following month way above what you will use. They take no notice to reduce their estimates no matter how many times you contact them, by email & I only got through on the phone once I’ve been cut off before getting through since.My honest feeling is that they offer cheap, charge extra for agreed DD this is now making me feel I need to leave after only 5 months into an 18 month contract with them as I fear what my winter fuel I have electricity with them will go upto & have to pay the exit fees In Order to do so. 

This has all been covered in the last 288 pages. The way to minimise the pain is go with a fixed direct debit. Their advanced billing techniques to "borrow" extra money is well documented. Now neon reef is gone if customers want to pay the lowest prices you have to put up with symbio or pfp. Otherwise pay the extra few pence per kwh and take the lottery with any of the bigger players (probably with better customer service, but always a lottery)

rp1974

Guessing you had no knowledge of Symbio before you joined them?.
Whilst you can leave and pay exit fees as you agreed,it might not be the wisest thing to do depending on your tariff prices as you'll be aware that prices both fixed and variable have risen considerably through the entire energy market,wouldn't move without doing comparisons first.
Long term customers are well aware of their dubious methods of cash grabbing,your subsidising lower energy rates by overpaying Symbio for them in advance,unless you can allow for the overestimates Symbio aren't the supplier for you.
That's not to say what they're doing is in anyway acceptable,it isn't at all,that's a compromise that some,including myself are prepared to live with for the prices on offer,in my case no other alternative has been cheaper in almost two years,many have been markedly more expensive however.

jrio

carpy said:

found the tariff on their site (not on energy club) as it's expired 31/5/21 so i doubt very much they will honour it!!!

however signed up myself for it so will be interesting to see what they do!!!

I hadn't noticed that and it explains why it ends in May next year.  They've sent me all the confirmations so I shall wait to see if it does become active on 17th June.

Swipe

jrio said:

carpy said:

found the tariff on their site (not on energy club) as it's expired 31/5/21 so i doubt very much they will honour it!!!

however signed up myself for it so will be interesting to see what they do!!!

I hadn't noticed that and it explains why it ends in May next year.  They've sent me all the confirmations so I shall wait to see if it does become active on 17th June.

Odds are, they are too incompetent to notice. Good luck!

LessImpecunious

niktheguru said:

DancingQueen1 said:

Biggest Mistake I have ever made was to sign up with Symbio Energy. Anyone thinking of joining them please go to the next cheapest provider. The tarriff is the cheapest, but once you are In Contract they change your DD monthly payments because they over estimate for the following month way above what you will use. They take no notice to reduce their estimates no matter how many times you contact them, by email & I only got through on the phone once I’ve been cut off before getting through since.My honest feeling is that they offer cheap, charge extra for agreed DD this is now making me feel I need to leave after only 5 months into an 18 month contract with them as I fear what my winter fuel I have electricity with them will go upto & have to pay the exit fees In Order to do so. 

This has all been covered in the last 288 pages. The way to minimise the pain is go with a fixed direct debit. Their advanced billing techniques to "borrow" extra money is well documented. Now neon reef is gone if customers want to pay the lowest prices you have to put up with symbio or pfp. Otherwise pay the extra few pence per kwh and take the lottery with any of the bigger players (probably with better customer service, but always a lottery)

I have started submitting meter readings once a week; this should help prevent them overestimating and overcharging, though it may take a month plus to feed through to your bills, given their stated practice of charging upfront for one month.

rp1974

LessImpecunious said:
I have started submitting meter readings once a week; this should help prevent them overestimating and overcharging, though it may take a month plus to feed through to your bills, given their stated practice of charging upfront for one month.

That'll make no difference whatever,they will totally disregard the readings not sent on the last day of the month.