Symbio Energy feedback

Annette616

Hello
I went over to Symbio from Eversmart [ thats another story] and have had problems from day one. I have direct debit but Symbio just take any amount they seem to think fit. At the moment I am questioning there rates charged as I disagree with their totals by about £80. I have been charged over 68 days to 1 November £252.00 which I dispute by checking the unit rate and standing charge on my tariff. Judging from my experience I would suggest everyone does the same. As regards contacting them that is proving difficult, emailing customer services gets no reply, phone yes you get person on the other end who are very polite and talk the talk but 3 calls down and still not resolved. I think this is going to be drawn out but will wait for the response I have been promised in 48 hours.

Gerry1

Annette616 wrote: »

I have direct debit but I have been charged over 68 days to 1 November £252.00 which I dispute by checking the unit rate and standing charge on my tariff.

Why not tell us the figures so we can check the calculation?

rogcal

Over £230 savings offered on my current fixed tariff, how can they do it I asked myself and read their terms and conditions closely.

Payment in advance based on annual consumption calculation divided by 12.

No return of credit (without jumping through lots of hoops).

DDs fixed and no chance whatsoever of them allowing you to pay each month for what you actually use in that month by variable DD or bank transfer.

Slick, cut to the bone operation that will probably end up in trouble within a year or two if I'm not mistaken if it's not gobbled up by one of the big boys beforehand but why would they do that when they'll pick up all those customers left without a supplier when the bubble bursts.

Possibly shades of another Extra Energy debacle in the making and even when they go bust you'll have the administrators chasing you up for imaginary debt just like PWC have been ruthlessly doing for almost a year since Extra Energy went down the toilet.

Me, I'm going to stick with a supplier that puts the customer first and their pockets second, even if I'll miss out on the massive savings on offer.

merchcon55

As it happens Symbio's payment system is, in effect, a variable Direct Debit method.

Each month your statement starts out with your annual estimated usage on a daily basis multiplied by the number of days in that month. So you pay one month up front.

Assuming you supplied a meter reading near the end of the previous month, they then add or subtract an amount based on your actual usage the previous month.

So there is no credit build up or deficit build up.

It's not a bad system - what is bad - is that they are not upfront about this. As we are now approaching the colder months, monthly DD payments are going to be HIGHER - it's not a true "budget plan"

Tafrock

I'm a low user even in winter due to gas central heating so my monthly payment doesn't vary a great deal

I like that Im neither building up credit or racking up a deficit on my electricity bill. Having been with powershop previous to symbio where I had quite a substantial credit on my account due to the method in which you have to buy power with powershop.

It works for me and I'm quite impressed with symbio nowadays despite their rather ropey start

There are other companies out there though with prices just as low as symbio. Green.energy spring to mind

Biscuit_Tin

merchcon55 wrote: »

...
It's not a bad system - what is bad - is that they are not upfront about this. ...

It's stated in term 3.3.6. :cool:

molerat

molerat wrote: »

Received a letter from Utilita this morning - "We are attempting to return your electricity supply ......"

Received an e-mail from Symbio "Switching process initiated" but is the same as the one I received when I initially joined them and gives me a new customer number and a switch date. Will have to wait and see how it pans out I suppose :mad:

molerat

molerat wrote: »

Received an e-mail from Symbio "Switching process initiated" but is the same as the one I received when I initially joined them and gives me a new customer number and a switch date. Will have to wait and see how it pans out I suppose :mad:

Back with them officially tomorrow, not heard anything more from Utilita. I have a new on line account with the new number which shows me as being on the same Aug tariff as before so it looks like some of the bits are joining back together, again will have to see how it pans out.

rogcal

Hiya molerat.

A long time since those Extra Energy days.

I'll be watching this thread with interest now I know you are on the case.

BoxerfanUK

I contacted Santander yesterday regarding Symbio not being on their list for cashback purposes on their 123 account. They said they will submit my request for it to be reviewed for inclusion.

I know this was mentioned on this thread sometime ago but I thought it worth another push. Not holding out much hope but nothing ventured.