Symbio Energy feedback

Cisco001

matelodave wrote: »

I really cant see the point of all these mathematical gymnastics.

It seems unreasonably complex for a simple energy bill.

Those who cant understand an energy bill in the first place, r cant work out the simple sums of a normal direct debit or just dont bother to send in readings are going to be totally stuffed.

If they think they've signed up for a fixed monthly DD and then find all sorts of random amounts being taken then heaven help them, especially if they are based on guesses by Symbio or the verification organisation.

I guess we can look forward to a very long and entertaining thread

You have to admire them for they try their best afford to charge you accurately and fairly.

So there will be no one moaning about their bills go up by double.

Or if they go burst at anytime, there won't be large credit hold in the account.

By the way, I check their info at companyhouse before. I remember some Indian name.
Indian seems to be better in Maths in general...

GunJack

Hmmm...I've been thinking of Symbio for leccy for £100pa savings, but it sounds like a fair old faff in terms of billing & variable DD...do I really want that hassle??

Redboot

GunJack wrote: »

Hmmm...I've been thinking of Symbio for leccy for £100pa savings, but it sounds like a fair old faff in terms of billing & variable DD...do I really want that hassle??

Probably not.

Over half the UK energy domestic customers who are on credit meters are languishing on their suppliers most expensive, default tariff.
And half of those have been there for over 3 years!

Almost 90% of those on a default tariff are with one of the Big 6 suppliers.

But from those who are actively switching, the majority are to suppliers other than the Big 6.

But who wants to save almost £300 a year on average anyway, despite it being the same gas and electricity coming through the same pipes and wires?
Obviously over half those on credit meters don't!

Redboot

Cisco001 wrote: »

...
So there will be no one moaning about their bills go up by double.
....

I'm sure the vast majority of Symbio customers would have opted for a 12 month fixed tariff to guard against that eventuallity. Until recently, they were all without early exit fees so no worry about an unexpected price drop either :money:

Once the tariff comes to an end, I'm sure anyone who has switched to Symbio will be just as active about searching out the best deal for them again.

Btw, have you seen the Price Guarantee posted above? Might come in very handy indeed come renewal time.

ywlgy

I submitted opening reads to Symbio on Sat 28 Sep and received an automatic reply on the following Monday that the reads were sent for validation. Two weeks later I am still waiting for final bill from British Gas. Symbio said they have sent the reads and it was validator's responsibility to send to BG and asked me contact BG. BG told me they had not received final reads and asked me to contact Symbio...

Last time I switched supplier the final bill was sent in 1 week. What could go wrong in this process?

Redboot

ywlgy wrote: »

I submitted opening reads to Symbio on Sat 28 Sep and received an automatic reply on the following Monday that the reads were sent for validation. Two weeks later I am still waiting for final bill from British Gas. Symbio said they have sent the reads and it was validator's responsibility to send to BG and asked me contact BG. BG told me they had not received final reads and asked me to contact Symbio...

Last time I switched supplier the final bill was sent in 1 week. What could go wrong in this process?

It sounds like whoever you were with last time took a flyer when they produced you a final bill, and didn't await a validated meter read.
That can result in having to produce a revised final bill later if the validated read differs from the meter reading they had used.

Suppliers are generally permitted up to 6 weeks to produce a final bill, which allows time for the meter reading to be validated.

Edit:
Just been reading your recent thread. Seem BG were the existing supplier when you moved in a couple of months back.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6042317/change-supplier-as-a-new-tenant

How long did it take the supplier at your previous address to send you a final bill? Or are you still waiting?

Edit2:
Now makes we wonder how long ago you switched from Utility Point which you only posted about a couple or three weeks ago :huh:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=76309692&postcount=466

merchcon55

So here is how I get my head around their weird billing system:

Unlike other companies where we pay a fixed amount per month by Direct Debit, then at some point, the DD amount will be adjusted up or down to account for any credit or balance due, Symbio prefer to adjust your Direct Debit amount EVERY MONTH.

From your original estimate of your annual usage, they calculate a daily figure (in my case £1.95/day)

So in a 30 day month £58.50 and in a 31 day month £60.45


Based on the monthly meter reading you submit, they then calculate what you actually used the previous month - they either then add an amount to one of the above figures OR deduct an amount, if they over-estimated.

In my case, OCTOBER BILL was 60.45 LESS 17.50 for over estimate for SEPT = £42.95 DIRECT DEBIT to be taken on 20 October.

So it's not a true "spread your costs through the year" budget plan - your Direct Debit amounts are likely to be higher in the NOVEMBER - APRIL billing period, while they are likely to be smaller in the MAY - OCTOBER billing period.

I know that quite a few utility companies request higher payments in colder months and smaller payments in warmer months - and they are very upfront about this.

Symbio should be more up front - and let their customers know that it's not a "budget plan" payment scheme, but rather a "pay as you use" scheme.

It works for me - but I can fully understand where this could put some others on the back foot - especially as we approach the colder months - expect HIGHER MONTHLY PAYMENTS required.

ywlgy

Redboot wrote: »

It sounds like whopever you were with last time took a flyer when they produced you a final bill, and didn't await a validated meter read.

No, the validated read was used. So it means the process can be done quickly, and it should be, simple algorithm for validation. Dont't know what went wrong this time.

Symbio also told me they wouldn't receive validation result and would just use the reads I gave for opening read. I think the CS chap either lied or had no clue. Am I right?

PS to Redboot: UP was the supplier at my old address and produced the final bill promptly like 10 min after I told them the closing read. The switch process I referred to was from So Energy to UP at my old address a year ago.

Redboot

I don't know about CS, but the Woodster as part of CSI would be having a field day if he was here. :cool:

Blocked!

BoxerfanUK

merchcon55 wrote: »

So it's not a true "spread your costs through the year" budget plan - your Direct Debit amounts are likely to be higher in the NOVEMBER - APRIL billing period, while they are likely to be smaller in the MAY - OCTOBER billing period.

I know that quite a few utility companies request higher payments in colder months and smaller payments in warmer months - and they are very upfront about this.

Symbio should be more up front - and let their customers know that it's not a "budget plan" payment scheme, but rather a "pay as you use" scheme.

Not a problem for those of us that heat our homes with gas but yes if you heat with electric then a much bigger winter fluctuation with regards to usage and thus, payments.