Unresolved Symbio Energy Final Bill problem of £1,866.00!

MWT

Reed_Richards said:

But now it has emerged that the OP may have been supplying a single reading when Day and Night readings were required.    

So many posts and yet we still don't have enough details to actually help the OP to get to a resolution.

[Deleted User]

Reed_Richards said:

@[Deleted User] the fundamental problem here is that the OP paid scant attention to their bills until landed with one for £1,866.  As far as I can see there is no suggestion that the opening/closing readings used by the two suppliers are different, they just differ a lot from contemporary readings supplied by the OP.  But now it has emerged that the OP may have been supplying a single reading when Day and Night readings were required.    

Guilty of just dipping in and not noticing that Bulb and Symbio appear to have used the same readings. If the readings were agreed between the two suppliers then why would a dispute be raised? The simple truth is that if Bulb's Data Collector had come up with a reading that was, say, 10000kWhs above the actual meter reading supplied then Symbio would have been overpaid and Bulb would have been the loser. Why no dispute: simply, because people misread meters and both suppliers were happy. Yes, a dispute could have been initiated by the consumer but this didn't happen. Given that, I would be interested to know what the OP has complained about to Bulb?

The OP's only hope, as far as I can see, is that the he can show that units paid for previously have been re-charged to his account by Bulb. Ignore any billing estimated readings as these can quickly be eliminated by the OP providing actual meter readings. The problem for the OP is that The Energy Ombudsman has no powers to ask Symbio for a customer data file: it can only go on the evidence that the complainant and Bulb provide to it. The risk of escalation to The Energy Ombudsman is that it will find in favour of Bulb which will only serve to add weight to any future claim: The Energy Ombudsman adjudicates it doesn't investigate.

Coffeyboy

Good morning. I did provide Day and Night readings as they are the format required - I only have a record of the totals at the time.
 I've lodged a complaint/query with BULB asking why they did not used the three readings I provided during my short stint with them. If I do not get a response saying they'll revise the readings they provided to Symbio (not hopeful), then I will raise this issue with the Ombudsman. I think that's all I can do.
 I agree that I can see why some might consider it mutually beneficial for both BULB and Symbio to go with the estimated readings. Bottom line is, I'm being billed for energy I did not use by a supplier that did not provide the energy.

Coffeyboy

I only kept a record of the totals I'm afraid, (with photographs). I would have had to provide Day Night readings. In a way, it's a distraction as it is the totals that matter in this instance; ie: 14,800+ KWH for a aid up 40 day account.

[Deleted User]

Coffeyboy said:

Good morning. I did provide Day and Night readings as they are the format required - I only have a record of the totals at the time.
 I've lodged a complaint/query with BULB asking why they did not used the three readings I provided during my short stint with them. If I do not get a response saying they'll revise the readings they provided to Symbio (not hopeful), then I will raise this issue with the Ombudsman. I think that's all I can do.
 I agree that I can see why some might consider it mutually beneficial for both BULB and Symbio to go with the estimated readings. Bottom line is, I'm being billed for energy I did not use by a supplier that did not provide the energy.

Have a read of this Blog:

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

It is a very complicated process to estimate switch readings IF there has been a shortage of actual readings during the past year. 

MWT

Coffeyboy said:

... it's a distraction as it is the totals that matter in this instance; ie: 14,800+ KWH for a aid up 40 day account.

Unfortunately that isn't the way to get out of this problem, there is a logical chain of meter readings that will show exactly what you owe, or do not owe, but so far it has not been possible to pull the sequence together correctly.

If you end up with the Ombudsman you will get one shot to present your case so I would strongly suggest that you get your hands on all the bills from the moment you took responsibility for the property and map out the meter readings to identify where the error has occurred...

Right now I suspect the suppliers are just going to say that they have followed the industry process and have correctly used the estimated readings provided by that process...

Just saying you couldn't have used that much doesn't explain things as clearly as the meter readings will do, so you need the details...

Do not just use the total reading, you need the day/night registers if as you say you were on E7 at all times?

You are not going to prove your case by using the total only...

QrizB

Coffeyboy said:

I only kept a record of the totals I'm afraid, (with photographs). I would have had to provide Day Night readings. In a way, it's a distraction as it is the totals that matter in this instance; ie: 14,800+ KWH for a aid up 40 day account.

OK, can you at least tell us what the separate Day and Night readings are today?

molerat

Going to the ombudsman with a simple "I can't have used that much" will not cut it as the energy supplier will counter with " this is the use figures provided by the approved validation process".  You need a blow by blow list of energy readings, all 3 - D, N & T, along with photos if available and a good narrative of why the approved validation estimated figures are incorrect.

Reed_Richards

I'm a former Symbio customer.  I can still access their web portal and this still allows me to request them to send me a copy of any past bill (which does arrive, I experimented).   So even if you have deleted the original emails you can see any past Symbio bill which will include whatever actual or estimated meter reading they used.  Just ignore any estimates of future use beyond the date of the bill.  

BikingBud

Did you sign for an agreed reading on the check in paperwork when you took over the property?

Does this tally with the reading you first provided to Bulb, it should be that you took the photo at the same time in the presence of the LL/LA.

If there is conflict between you and the landlord/letting agent they may be keeping very quiet about this as you kindly bail out them or the previous occupant.