Symbio Energy feedback

SPOWER

@ previous MR K, (cant do underscore) This sounds excellent advice and is something I will need to work out what to do.  Yes, agree 100 per-cent, 2 can play that game.  Many thanks

allowit

Hi could I clarify something when considering Symbio? (coming from Neon Reef)

The last couple of threads suggest going with a fixed direct debit plan

Assume this is what Symbio term as `seasonal fixed` right?

What do Symbio consider as the winter period, plan displayed on their website suggests October through to March?

In comparison to non-winter periods what sort of % uplift do they tend to apply for the winter period, do they base this on your rolling usage / their over estimated values?    Thanks 

niktheguru

allowit said:

Hi could I clarify something when considering Symbio? (coming from Neon Reef)

The last couple of threads suggest going with a fixed direct debit plan

Assume this is what Symbio term as `seasonal fixed` right?

What do Symbio consider as the winter period, plan displayed on their website suggests October through to March?

In comparison to non-winter periods what sort of % uplift do they tend to apply for the winter period, do they base this on your rolling usage / their over estimated values?    Thanks 

Yes, the seasonal fixed. 
When I was with them recently I had a fixed direct debit for the whole year. I negotiated this with them in the first month after they had for some reason had my EAC at 4x what it should have been so took about 6 months of payment in one month. I managed to get the majority refunded after a few calls, and arranged a fixed amount monthly. This worked out really well for me, they would automatically increases it every 3 months (and notify me by email) but these were justified increases as my account was going into debit. By the end my account was only a couple of pounds in credit when i switched out, so it all worked out well.

Having just done a switch for my parents to them they haven't quoted the actual direct debit figures yet, though have set up the direct debit.
What I would suggest is that the switch is going to be during the "summer" period at the moment so the values will be low. If you find over 2 months that the payments are too high, contact them and decrease them. They are usually quite amenable to changing the amounts, as long as you're not in debit.  Some people have trouble getting through to their customer services, they reply to emails but can take a long time. I've always found it easier by phone. Hope that helps.

Just be aware that symbio arent for everyone, they can be hard work and a lot of people don't think they're worth the hassle. It wont be as seemless as neon reef.

Tallerdave

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

niktheguru

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

It doesn't really matter, as the amount you pay is fixed. You send your meter readings each month, so the following month the excess is taken away. Yes on the final month before switching you may have a large over estimate, but if you stand your ground (if they block your switch) they will unblock it and your end balance should be minimal.
I was only with them a year so don't know if they would have over estimated the next EAC, but with a fixed direct debit its not really that important.

Swipe

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

Yes, the estimate for my June bill was 333 units, actual use will be approx 100. It will just result in a couple of negative bills over summer and no DDs taken for those months so will even itself out.

niktheguru

Swipe said:

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

Yes, the estimate for my June bill was 333 units, actual use will be approx 100. It will just result in a couple of negative bills over summer and no DDs taken for those months so will even itself out.

if you're on a fixed payment direct debit the same amount will go out in DD every month regardless if your balance is negative in the summer, the balance will just catch up nearer winter time.

Tallerdave

niktheguru said:

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

It doesn't really matter, as the amount you pay is fixed. You send your meter readings each month, so the following month the excess is taken away. Yes on the final month before switching you may have a large over estimate, but if you stand your ground (if they block your switch) they will unblock it and your end balance should be minimal.
I was only with them a year so don't know if they would have over estimated the next EAC, but with a fixed direct debit its not really that important.

I know it doesn't matter, I just wondered if they did it?

If they only ramp up EACs for variable DDR customers, it would further confirm that it's only done to increase the size of the interest free loan they can get from their variable DDR customers. 

Swipe

niktheguru said:

Swipe said:

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

Yes, the estimate for my June bill was 333 units, actual use will be approx 100. It will just result in a couple of negative bills over summer and no DDs taken for those months so will even itself out.

if you're on a fixed payment direct debit the same amount will go out in DD every month regardless if your balance is negative in the summer, the balance will just catch up nearer winter time.

Not with Symbio it doesn't when you get a negative bill, they just don't take the DD for that month. It must be some kind of flaw in their billing system. This happened twice last summer and ended up owing them some money at the end of my contract so they raised my DD for 3 months and then dropped it again.

niktheguru

Swipe said:

niktheguru said:

Swipe said:

Tallerdave said:

Have customers on fixed payments suffered from Symbio upping their EACs to ludicrous levels?

Yes, the estimate for my June bill was 333 units, actual use will be approx 100. It will just result in a couple of negative bills over summer and no DDs taken for those months so will even itself out.

if you're on a fixed payment direct debit the same amount will go out in DD every month regardless if your balance is negative in the summer, the balance will just catch up nearer winter time.

Not with Symbio it doesn't when you get a negative bill, they just don't take the DD for that month. It must be some kind of flaw in their billing system. This happened twice last summer and ended up owing them some money at the end of my contract so they raised my DD for 3 months and then dropped it again.

Oh fair enough. New one from symbio. 
My bills were always close to break even after the previous month was taken off and the new month overestimated, so often went into negative, so my direct debit was increased over 2 three month periods.