Symbio Energy feedback

niktheguru

PennineAcute said:

niktheguru said:

PennineAcute said:

So, if my understanding is correct, they want to move away from variable DD (which I signed up for) and eventually move everyone over to fixed DD with summer and winter adjustments?

Believe me, you're better off NOT ok variable direct debit with symbio as you don't just pay for what you use!

Yes, I have just found that out.  I am on the ball with my usage, and I gave them a slightly over estimated annual usage of 2582.

Went live yesterday and so far this month, I am using a mean of 4.48 kWh a day on elec.  Just received my first bill, 20 June - 30 June and been charged for 104.14 kWh for 11 days (£13.93), which is a mean of 9.47 kWh a day,.  Now 2582 is a mean of 7.07 kWh a day.  God knows what they think I will be using during winter. 

You made two cardinal errors with symbio. (haven't you been reading this thread!!!)

1. Always go with the fixed direct debit - it allows you to know exactly what you'll be paying, and not rely on what "estimate" of your usage symbio choose for that month depending on the weather, how many goals c.ronaldo scored at the euros or whatever else contributes to their fantasy estimates.

2. When joining give an EAC below what your EAC is - They will over estimate it, so if you go slightly less, their estimate will be closer to your actual use. By going ABOVE your actual EAC you have shot yourself in the foot, they will estimate over and above that so your estimates will be wildly out. Getting them to change their estimates after you've joined is a struggle!! (they will ask for proof)

molerat

Symbio no longer have the option of fixed DD, only fixed seasonal DD which is worse option than variable DD.

Rodders53

molerat said:

Symbio no longer have the option of fixed DD, only fixed seasonal DD which is worse option than variable DD.

Except that, so far, they've kept me on my original fixed DD amount after renewal in January/February and move to seasonal... 
Has anyone actually seen a seasonal DD variation on their account?

devondiver

niktheguru said:

devondiver said:

Tallerdave said:

The 5% interest (per month, year, millennium?) Is so far detached from reality that it sounds like an unsustainable pyramid scheme. 

I'd love to see the maths behind the £50,000,000 they've apparently saved their customers. They probably meant rupees not pounds!

Er.. you did mean £50,000,0000 didn't you? Whatever that means.

I believe Symbio have always run their operation as a quazi-Ponzi scheme. The one thing you can say about an unsustainable operation is . . . . . . . . . . it can't go on (- much longer?).

And when it does fold where will we spend half of our free time if we cant comment about them anymore on these forums! 

Start an energy company? 🤔

GinOClock

My email said that they would never bill you more than 20% of the amount due, as such amounts would be automatically refunded. But when you click to give consent, the figures showed they intend to bill me an additional 30% more on account over the year, with the refund only due at the end of contract. Not what I agreed to and you aren't presented with those figures until after you consent.

If this is happening to all customers, Ofgem should be looking into this.

niktheguru

What the email should say is......

Some customers have now caught on to how we overbill you for our working capital, so we are proposing a new scheme to stifle you again.....

spot1034

GinOClock said:

My email said that they would never bill you more than 20% of the amount due, as such amounts would be automatically refunded. But when you click to give consent, the figures showed they intend to bill me an additional 30% more on account over the year, with the refund only due at the end of contract. Not what I agreed to and you aren't presented with those figures until after you consent.

If this is happening to all customers, Ofgem should be looking into this.

This is the relevant passage

'In line with Ofgem best practice guidelines and unlike our competitors, we will not allow any excess amount on your account to exceed 20% of your annual bill and will automatically refund any excess at the end of your contract period.'

In theory, this means that once your excess amount reaches 20% of the sum due for the year they will refund anything which takes you over 20% and continue to do so each month until the contract ends, when the whole of the remaining unused sum will be returned. 

Whether this will happen in practice - who knows?! It would be particularly interesting to know whether they intend to refund all the excess at the end of the contract if the customer is staying with them so that the slate is wiped clean. We will have to wait a while to find out. 

I have eight months of my present fixed deal left, so I might get close to the 20% excess by next February but doubt I will go above it. 

Jeremy_Klein

GinOClock said:

My email said that they would never bill you more than 20% of the amount due, as such amounts would be automatically refunded. But when you click to give consent, the figures showed they intend to bill me an additional 30% more on account over the year, with the refund only due at the end of contract. Not what I agreed to and you aren't presented with those figures until after you consent.

If this is happening to all customers, Ofgem should be looking into this.

They won't look into it unless people raise it with them.  They have a consumer affairs helpdesk with contact details on their website.

jbuchanangb

Is there an android app for this mob, i cannot find it in my google play store?
Regards

This also does not work for my Android Phone running Android 9. Symbio say:

For Android Version ICS and above: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symbioenergy.symbiok

molerat

jbuchanangb said:

Is there an android app for this mob, i cannot find it in my google play store?
Regards

This also does not work for my Android Phone running Android 9. Symbio say:

For Android Version ICS and above: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symbioenergy.symbiok

Not available for my old Android 9 phone but is for my new Android 11.