Decision Dilemma - Symbio, Pure Planet, or....?

Gerry1

SaraD said:

Gerry1 said:

Not sure you've done your sums correctly and compared all suppliers if a single rate tariff with Neon Reef works out cheaper than E7.

It works for me because my night usage is only 22%, but yours is likely to be much higher.  But if everything adds up, go for Neon Reef.  I wouldn't think of going to a company that tries to deter critical reviews by threatening £25,000 damages claims (have a look at Symbio's boilerplate replies on Trustpilot).

My night usage is 31% - I've re-checked that a few times. So a bit higher, yes, but the sums do still work.
So I've just signed up with Neon Reef but already I'm confused? They're charging me less on the Direct Debit than the estimate on the tariff quoted on this MSE site -  which I thought was based on the details I have input about my usage - so what changed? I must be thick as I just don't get how it all works! One day I'll figure it all out! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the next 12 months and interested to see how/if my new smart meter can be used or not. Thanks all.

Looks like a good choice if you got your sums right, but I'm still doubtful that single rate will be cheaper than an E7 tariff.  That said, it's a small studio so that may explain the low night usage.  But never compare £DDs, only annual costs: Gerry1Heat&LightCo could lure you in with a DD of 1p per month and then hike it six months down the line.  Any DD is just a contribution to a kitty with no guarantee that it'll turn out to be sufficient to pay the bills. You'll have to send monthly meter readings to Neon Reef, ideally five or six days before the bill is issued.

Remember to come back all tell us how it went, many posters don't bother.

[Deleted User]

SaraD said:

 I've recently had a smart meter installed by EDF - it's a Chameleon 3 type and I'm guessing that's a type 1? Does anyone know whether Pure Planet/Neon Reef can use this or if I'll have to provide meter readings?

The Chameleon 3 is not a smart meter: it is an In House Display. The smart meters along with the comms hub will be located in your meter box. The IHD connects to the comms hub via a Home Area Network. As it is a recent installation, your meters will most likely be SMETS2. You will have to ask PP or Neon Reef if their systems can accept smart meter readings. 

Tallerdave

SaraD said:

Tallerdave said:

Symbio - massively over-estimate to gain interest free loan from customers

Can you explain this sentence, please? Sorry if it's obvious to others. I'm assuming you switched to Symbio purely on cost, then? And I'm curious to know if you plan to stick with them or return to Pure Planet (or another supplier) when you next can?

Yes, I chose Symbio for cost.  At the time they were quite new so their incompetence wasn't widely known. It's first appearance was a flaw in their bonkers billing algorithm that allowed you to get free units.  They fixed that after a few months!

By over-estimating (and charging for) what they think you will use in the month ahead they get more money from you than they need. Each month they reconcile this overcharge,  credit it back and then over-estimate again.  Come summer they effectively have to give you this money back as their over-estimates drop. At one point last summer I got a negative bill!! Come winter, they start again. This month they've ramped the estimated annual consumption up by 10-12% for no valid reason,  but it means the estimates they are working from are now bigger. 

I've been with them for 18 months and they are so stupid they refuse to lower my EAC to reflect my actual consumption.  I've never encountered such stupidity before!!

Hasbeen

UnclaimedEnergy said:

@Hasbeen You sound like you work for them... seriously, stop defending them just because they're offering rates way below costs 

UnclaimedEnergy said:

Never been with Symbio and I never will 

Edit: Just went back over my 4 posts on this thread. Where did I defend them?

1:  Customer service nil but so what. If they go bust like all my previous suppliers. I just move on.   

2:  Never had any major "agg" with Symbio. If I went now for neon reef an extra £50 per year.  But each to their own on a Money Saving site.  

3:  As others have said Symbio's billing system is "different" you provide the reading and they "calculate" forward to a reading when the bill is validated and approved LOL. But as others have said in other threads, it all works out in the end. even when they leave.
And they do give you the option of not paying by DD, but on receipt of bill. I have been with them now up to 2 years. All companies have posters providing horror stories about them, but as long as I am saving my money then fine. 

4: Yes. Last time I renewed it was between Symbio and Neon Reef. So in your position, I would go for Neon Reef

Is it still ok to give opinions and personal experiences??

Sorry do not usually get accused on here. I try to help when I can, to the best of my abilities and do try to give helpful advice, but do get annoyed by some posters!

SO!

LOL.  You sound like a NEW Immature poster. With the old you must work for them line! 

Frankly, I am disappointed that an "experienced" poster would even think that of me.

Yes rightly or wrongly, I have Symbio, as my supplier.

If you bothered to look at my previous posts in the past regarding Symbio.

I am not a big fan or work for them. All my previous 5? suppliers went bust. But have saved money. And make no secret of the fact that they will go bust too.

I believe that is what this site is about? Saving money?

But once you get off your must work for them comment.  

Please see my last post where I recommended the OP goes for Neon Reef.

And as the OP has just signed up to Neon Reef. So I must work for them as well?   

In my opinion you looked beneficial to helping new posters etc, but now I am sorry to say perhaps wrong and disappointed in your accusation.

Attacking, accusing and slurring other posters giving personal opinions is not the way forward to help people coming here for advice. 

Apologise to SaraD for my personal reply above to the accusations by  UnclaimedEnergy as this does not help you. In your thread. So sorry!

But pleased you have taken the decision to go with Neon Reef. As for the DD check your bills against the actual meter. You can always increase the DD if you feel it is to low. 

bristolleedsfan

Tallerdave said:

SaraD said:

Tallerdave said:

Symbio - massively over-estimate to gain interest free loan from customers

Can you explain this sentence, please? Sorry if it's obvious to others. I'm assuming you switched to Symbio purely on cost, then? And I'm curious to know if you plan to stick with them or return to Pure Planet (or another supplier) when you next can?

Yes, I chose Symbio for cost.  At the time they were quite new so their incompetence wasn't widely known. It's first appearance was a flaw in their bonkers billing algorithm that allowed you to get free units.  They fixed that after a few months!

By over-estimating (and charging for) what they think you will use in the month ahead they get more money from you than they need. Each month they reconcile this overcharge,  credit it back and then over-estimate again.  Come summer they effectively have to give you this money back as their over-estimates drop. At one point last summer I got a negative bill!! Come winter, they start again. This month they've ramped the estimated annual consumption up by 10-12% for no valid reason,  but it means the estimates they are working from are now bigger. 

I've been with them for 18 months and they are so stupid they refuse to lower my EAC to reflect my actual consumption.  I've never encountered such stupidity before!!

And this bit which I am also curious about as well    "And I'm curious to know if you plan to stick with them or return to Pure Planet (or another supplier) when you next can?"

Tallerdave

bristolleedsfan said:

And this bit which I am also curious about as well    "And I'm curious to know if you plan to stick with them or return to Pure Planet (or another supplier) when you next can?"

I've just fixed with Symbio for another 12 months but if someone else comes along with a £100 saving I'd be off in an instant.  I'd love to go back to Pure Planet if the price was right but they've never been stunning on price for electric only (it was gas price that took me to them in the past). I liked the way they listened to constructive criticism of their app in the early days.

I think I've only got 3 suppliers I refuse to use:
   Utility Warehouse - more cult than supplier
   npower (Eon??) - suffered a 12 month argument over new meter start reading 
   Outfox The Market - Symbio's as low as I want to go! 

BetterCallSaulNow

My experience with pure planet has been shocking, I wouldn't bother if they were free and yet they aren't the cheapest anyway.

niktheguru

My experience with neon reef has been very good. their online chat seems efficient and prices are good.

I've been with symbio for the last 12 months and am just in the process of switching away. For the vast majority of time it has been absolutely fine, but as has been widely reported their customer services are frustrating to say the least. You just have to be super proactive and on the ball with them.

If you don't want that hassle then you shouldn't be a symbio customer. The main problems I had with the. Were initially they had my eac was 20000kwh when I actually stated it was 6500kwh. After noticing they took over 200 quid on my first bill I had to have a massive go at them. They didn't believe my consumption was 6500 and asked for proof in form of previous bills (even though when you apply you just type a number in!!) I managed to get a refund and ensure I had a fixed rather than variable direct debit. Since then they were fine, but upon  switching away they blocked my switch as they thought I was in debt, mainly because I run the account close to breaking even (as I don't want the hassle of chasing large credits at the end) but their estimated advanced billing had me down as 20 quid in debit despite my current reading (which I gave them) showed I was in credit. Again, after speaking to a couple of people in customer services I managed to get the block reversed and it looks like its all going through.

In my opinion it was worth sticking with symbio as their prices were excellent.....the hassle of customer services are a burden but surpass let. You just have to be aware of everything. (I never had them double dipping direct debits from me)

However, with unit rates now being much closer between symbio and competitors it may no longer be worth the hassle sticking with them. My unit rate was going up from around 10p to 13p, so I've decided to leave to octopus go where its 14p and 5p (for charging my ev) 

If you want the easy life, it's prob not with symbio. Neon reef are good, never dealt with planet.