Symbio Energy feedback

BoxerfanUK

BoxerfanUK wrote: »

Struggling to understand this!! Been with them since 20th August this year.

Direct debits paid out Aug to Nov inc' = £144.22 - Actual usage 20/8 to 01/12 1047 KWH which translates to £139.53 so they technically owe me £4.49 for that period.

Now I get their 'winter reconcilliation' e-mail and they want to take a DD for December of £87.03!!!

My av' daily use is around 10.5 KWH so my December bill should actually be around £43.20 inc' standing charge so quite why they want to take DOUBLE is beyond me.

I submit readings on the 1st of each month without fail.

I've written to their quality assurance dept for an explanation.

Well, following my e-mail to them 2 days ago questioning why my DD is going up to £87.03 this month, no actual reply to my e-mail as such, but received a revised DD notification today confirming they will now take £50.06. I still don't envisage my actual bill being that much, but it's a lot better than £87.03 so will leave it at that for now :cool:

NeilW

Just tried a switch to these and they refused on the grounds that the house has a Smart Meter!

It's a brand new house (admittedly with a recycled SMET-1 Smart Meter installed)

jazzy

Tafrock wrote: »

This variance figure has been on my bill since June. Probably been on Yours too jazzy. However up until the cold snap of the winter months on my bill it's been a credit deducted from my bill. Now that winter has kicked in and electricity usage has gone up it is a deficit that you owe symbio so its added to your bill. its the difference between symbios estimated reading and your true reading on a given date. If like me you give regular monthly meter readings it shouldn't be too great a figure. Symbio have started using winter calculations for estimated bills now so it should even out. Its not an extra charge. It's what you have used

But my account is in credit, so I cannot understand why I have been charged this "Variance Charges of Reconciled Variance Units Consumption charge" and also an increase on my monthly direct debit payment.
This company appeared so good at first, however I now have my doubts and I expect they will go downhill from now on.

Talldave

Symbio's billing method doesn't support being in credit or debit beyond the monthly correction of what you've actually used vs what they estimated you would use.

jazzy

Talldave wrote: »

Symbio's billing method doesn't support being in credit or debit beyond the monthly correction of what you've actually used vs what they estimated you would use.

If you are not submitting regular meter readings your Symbio account can go into credit or debit. For some reason my account is in credit for the amount I have used to the amount I have been billed and paid.

BoxerfanUK

jazzy wrote: »

If you are not submitting regular meter readings your Symbio account can go into credit or debit. For some reason my account is in credit for the amount I have used to the amount I have been billed and paid.

I HAVE been submitting regular readings and they STILL way over estimated my December usage!

MABLE

I submit regular reads on the last of every month and they have always used my reads. However I do take a snap shot of the meter supporting the actual read taken and never any issues.

Also they allowed me to change tariffs and I know my doing my own calculations a useful saving will be made. So for me no complaints.

I just hope they stay the course.

Swipe

I've just read this on Trustpilot:

Company is owned by Gold Nuts Limited which has had a winding up order served on October 2019 (check companies house for symbio).

Symbio have started upping the rates for fixed tarrif customers which seems to be a money grab before they go bust. Looking at other reviews they're not answering the phone either. if you've had a rate increase and you're on a fixed rate plan, please refuse to pay the increase and complain to ofgem about this shady company..

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/symbioenergy.co.uk

Can anyone find out of there's any truth in it?

griffb

Swipe wrote: »

I've just read this on Trustpilot:
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/symbioenergy.co.uk

Can anyone find out of there's any truth in it?

I think there's some misunderstanding / misinformation in that Trustpilot thread. It suggests existing fixed tariff customers are having their prices increased, which is simply not true (afaik at least). The "Variance unit charge" is then referred to as an "extra fee" rather than what it actually is - a reconciliation of actual usage against estimates, with a corresponding charge / refund as appropriate.

The system is so far working perfectly for me, obviously not for others, for whatever reason.
Whether or not they are going bust - no idea, just enjoying the cheap electricity while it lasts

Talldave

jazzy wrote: »

If you are not submitting regular meter readings your Symbio account can go into credit or debit. For some reason my account is in credit for the amount I have used to the amount I have been billed and paid.

You've agreed to provide meter readings every 90 days and when requested by Symbio. So you shouldn't be running a credit or debit beyond such a 90 day interval.


That said, why wouldn't you provide monthly readings to ensure you're being billed accurately?