Symbio Energy feedback

niktheguru

PennineAcute said:

Regarding my previous post about Symbio wanting to replace my SMETS1 meter with a SMETS2.  Both gas and electricity meters (SMETS1) were installed in 2017 by SP.  Zog, my current gas supplier, can auto read my gas meter, so they have to have been upgraded.

After noticing on here people mentioning the Bright app, I have downloaded and installed this.  It gives my readings for both gas and electricity.

Now, if I hyperthetically allow Symbio to install a SMETS2 meter, then it will transmit the data in the same way that my current meters are transmitting.  So there is no excuse (except financial - which they seemed to imply) for them wanting to mess everything up and install a new meter.

As you quite rightly point out, an upgraded SMETS1 meter does the same job as a SMETS2 meter, so there is no need for you to change. If symbio were inclined, they should be able to read your meter smartly. Definitely do not change to a smets2.

[Deleted User]

SPOWER said:

DerwentMailman said:

  Are there any suppliers out there that you can recommend and why?  Or are they all rubbish these days?

Hi.  I would say personally Logicor seem fine.  I am getting 15p a unit and 15p per day standing charge.  I can't seem to find anything cheaper to be honest.  It all boils down to money and that's it.  

Thanks for pointing another supplier out - the overall numbers for my usage look similar to Symbio for cost.  However very little out there re reviews and experience of cutomer service, ease of online portal etc.

apt

niktheguru said:

devondiver said:

Oh come on. You have to admit that, by all accounts, Symbio are in a class of their own. PFP are comparative beginners in the dirty tricks department, and at the moment I'm just having a little fun with them. But, given time, who knows?

Id say nabuh and neo energy come first in terms of the dodginess category, followed by symbio, and after that pfp!

Nabuh have been taken over by British Gas, not that the latter are incapable of poor customer service. Neither Nabuh nor Neo are currently taking on new customers.

gt94sss2

Neo are also putting up their prices from the start of October for existing customers..

Swipe

Just chased my final bill credit refund with them. They said refunds are being delayed and will take a further 1-2 weeks due to them changing banks. I reminded them that in that case as my final bill was emailed 10 days ago, I will be due £30 compensation. They have agreed to pay this on top of my credit refund. I'll definitely be pursuing this with the ombudsman if it's not paid as promised, along with the extra £30 on top for late payment of compensation.

spot1034

They don't seem to stay with any bank for very long before moving on, do they?   

slimbuck

Swipe said:

Just chased my final bill credit refund with them. They said refunds are being delayed and will take a further 1-2 weeks due to them changing banks. I reminded them that in that case as my final bill was emailed 10 days ago, I will be due £30 compensation. They have agreed to pay this on top of my credit refund. I'll definitely be pursuing this with the ombudsman if it's not paid as promised, along with the extra £30 on top for late payment of compensation.

You are right to be cautious of any 'promise' you receive from Symbio Energy.
It seems it is not just their customers they treat with contempt, but it seems the regulator themselves have been on the receiving end of communications from Symbio Energy that  "were repeatedly unclear and inconsistent".

However, as I am sure you are aware, before you can go to the ombudsman service you need to follow the supplier's own complaint procedure. You won't be able to start an official complaint against Symbio in regards to a missing £30 compo payment for another 10 working days, which is how long the supplier has to pay it.

Then you will need to allow at least 8 weeks from then (unless Symbio provide you with a deadlock letter beforehand, which they will not in this regard, as the compo is automatic if the situation is as you describe.)

It will then take the Ombudsman Service a good 3 months to get around to reviewing your complaint (possibly even longer as they battle the backlog built up due to Covid, WFH, etc)

So we are probably talking a good 6+ months before a judgement is reached and any compo falls due if you are hoping to secure an ombudsman judgement in your favour.

Are you sure Symbio will still be around in 6+ months time?
Any compo due, but not paid, falls away should a supplier cease to trade.

You'd probably end up getting your credit refund  quicker if the supplier does cease to trade soon, especially as you already have the final bill.

slimbuck

spot1034 said:

They don't seem to stay with any bank for very long before moving on, do they?   

Does anyone actually have details of any of their recent bank accounts?

This was their bank account details when they started out (January 2019) :

Account Name: Symbio Energy Limited
Sort code: 40-23-13   [HSBC]
Bank account number: 82453630
Reference: Your Symbio account number

I would hate for anyone to be sending payments to them using these details, if they have since changed.

slimbuck

Interesting...

I appear to have just validated that bank account real time as still live
https://www.sortcodes.co.uk/

MWT

slimbuck said:

Interesting...

I appear to have just validated that bank account real time as still live
https://www.sortcodes.co.uk/

With that site you have validated the sort code, and checked that the account number returns the right modulus check to be an account number for that bank, not that it is a currently active account...