Thinking of switching to Ebico? Read first (sorry its long!)

Paul1001

I’m not going to make any judgements about whether or not you should use Ebico. I’m just going to tell my story and you can make up your own mind.

In February I moved into a small flat that had a pre-payment electricity meter (smart card). I live alone and use very little electricity. I try and live as green as possible, using low energy light bulbs and switching evetything but the fridge and my alarm clock off at night. I have two storage heaters set to minimum that come on overnight on economy 7. The meter was eating up £20 per week on Npower so I was desperate to find an alternative.
I applied to Ebico at the beginning of March. I was given a lead time of four to six weeks. Four weeks later they called to tell me I would be switched on April 7th.
By the 9th I had heard nothing and had not received a new meter card.
So I called them.
They said I was switched over and the card should be there in a couple of days. They asked me for a meter reading and I gave it.
A week later no card had arrived
I called again.
They said that one had been sent two weeks ago and must have got lost in the post. They promised to send another one first class. Five days later nothing.
I emailed Ebico asking for an explanation. No reply came.
I called again.
This time they told me that my supply had not been switched and was not due to be switched until 5th May. I was very annoyed. ‘Why wasn’t I told this?’ I asked. ‘I don’t know, its all on the computer’. They said.
Then came a reply to my email. ‘A card was sent on the 15th of April you should receive it by the end of the week’.
I called again.
‘Why have I been told several different stories?’ I asked. ‘Please just give me one definitive answer’ I said, and then asked to speak to a manager. ‘They will only tell you the same thing’ she said.
Every time I called the Ebico number it was answered by Scottish & Southern Energy. All Ebico phone numbers route through to Scottish & Southern Energy except one which permanently announces that Ebico are closed ‘for staff training’. There is no way to contact Ebico directly. I’m not even sure they actually exisit. I suspect they may be just a front for Scottish & Southern.
The 5th of May arrived and I still have heard nothing from them. No card either.
I called them again on the 6th May.
I was told that I was not due to be switched until next month. I was just about to unleash world war three on them when they said ‘hang on, yes you were switched over yesterday. You should have a card by Thursday’.
At last I was getting somewhere. This morning the new smart card arrived, brilliant. I put it in the meter and checked it had adjusted to the new rates. It had, apart from one. The standing charge was still there.
I called again.
I asked why there was a standing charge when Ebico advertise that they do not charge for this. ‘So you want to go on the Ebico tarrif?’ he asked. ‘Well that is the company I applied to and the rates I was quoted.’ I said. He told me I would have to phone back tomorrow as the department was now closed. ‘Will I need another smart card to reprogram the meter?’ I asked. ‘Er yes’ he said.
Obviously I’m not holding my breath.
I have posted this because I’m angry and there is no way of contacting Ebico directly to complain.

UPDATE: Spoke to Ebico about the standing charge and they now say that they still charge a standing charge for smart card customers. They said I should have been told before because it is not made clear in their literature. This is unbelievable.
So if you are thinking of switching to Ebico Equipower and you have a smart card meter you will still have to pay a standing charge.

I suppose its a choice between cheaper electricity and good service, you can't have both.

ray50

Well blow me down with a feather.
Good job I found your post. I got their bumf in the post and have been hanging on till Martin tells us a good time to switch. Why is everything so damn complicated? Makes me wonder how these companies get off the starting blocks. What ever happened to the sale of goods and trade descriptions act? Think I'll just carry on paying off the arrears on the meter and TRY to have it removed when I'm back on m'feet.

[Deleted User]

You have been unlucky op. My switch to ebico was incredibly smooth. Their agent down here is swalec. I wouldn`t want to be with any other energy supplier