TERMS & CONDITIONS
Terms & Conditions
Terms & Conditions
The following document sets out the terms and conditions of service for Synergy
Business Energy Limited. We have set out below the principal terms which come
into effect once a customer uses Synergy switching service.
If you have any further questions about these terms
and conditions, or anything else, please contact our Customer Services team who
will be more than happy to help you further. Our Customer Services team can be
contacted on 01253 882094
These terms and conditions govern the use of the
services Synergy provides to customers. It is important that you read these
terms and conditions carefully before accepting these terms and conditions. By
using Synergy BE service/s you signify that you have read, understood, and
agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these
terms – DO NOT use our service.
Price Comparison / Switching Service
Synergy provides a price comparison / switching
service to UK businesses. To be eligible to use this service you must be;
- A
business that is resident in the UK;
- Eighteen
years or older (if a sole trader);
- Meet
the credit scoring requirements of any supplier (if applicable)
We reserve the right to refuse to provide our
services to any customer at our discretion.
If the customer agrees to use our services, Synergy
will use its reasonable endeavours to identify, negotiate and secure
competitive energy prices. Energy prices are obtained from a panel of energy
suppliers using price books or live market prices provided by suppliers.
The customer agrees to provide Synergy with
accurate information to allow accurate quotations to be obtained – including
estimated or actual usage of energy, contract end dates and other know factors
that may influence prices and quotations.
The provision of a quotation by a supplier via
Synergy does not constitute an offer to the customer and offers will each have
their own supplier’s terms and obligations attached.
If the customer accepts a quotation and a contract
is executed between the customer and the supplier, the contract is binding, and
the customer will not be permitted to revoke such an acceptance.
The supplier shall be entitled at any time to
refuse to accept a customer’s offer of acceptance at their discretion.
If the customer and supplier wish to enter into a
contract, Synergy will provide a switching service (or renewal service) which will
include organising the contract between the customer and the energy supplier
for the purchase and supply of the energy services.
Synergy will not be responsible for any delays or
failures caused by either the customer, Synergy, the proposed supplier or any
existing supplier in relation to effecting either a transfer of supply or
renewal of supply.
Synergy makes no guarantees as to either the
quality of the service suppliers operates, or the prices obtained at quotation.
Energy prices fluctuate on a daily basis and whilst
we attempt to help secure competitive rates to enable switching or renewal, we
cannot guarantee any quote is the cheapest.
The customer is reminded that ultimately it is
their responsibility to validate the accuracy of any quotations presented.
Also, it is the customers responsibility to ensure that the contract(s) have
been submitted to the supplier and will go live. This is usually represented by
receiving/accepting communication from either the new or old supplier to
confirm that the switch/ renewal is occurring.
The customer acknowledges that they are entering
into a contract with a supplier for the provision of energy supply and not with
Utility Bidder. The customer agrees that Synergy is not liable in any way for
any dealings, contracts or transactions between the customer and the supplier
and that any such transactions, contracts, dealings or payment obligations are
the customers responsibility and risk.
The customer agrees by using the service that Synergy
Business Energy is an independent energy brokerage and that Synergy is not
instructed by the customer to act as their agent or representative.
The customer agrees that Synergy are not
responsible for the provision of any supplier services.
Charges
Synergy is remunerated directly by the suppliers
and receives a commission for securing and finalising the contract between the
customer and the energy supplier. This is usually by way of an uplift that is
applied within your unit cost for energy. The cost of Synergy’s service is
therefore included within the unit cost of the energy contract that you agree
with the supplier.
By way of example, we may secure a price for
electricity at 16 pence per KWH and apply a 0.9p uplift. The contracted price
we would offer would therefore be 16.9p. Our commission would be calculated as
0.9p multiplied by your annual energy consumption and multiplied by the
contract term. Our uplifts depend on the size of contract, type of contract, (fixed
of flexible) length of contract, and other factors such as credit risks. Our
average uplift is a few percent of your total energy cost and typically under
1p. Because we get paid by suppliers, we only offer prices from those suppliers
on our panel. Our panel currently consists of over 90% of the UK business
energy suppliers (by customer numbers) so we have a very wide range to price
from. This is not a free service – our fees form part of your energy unit rate.
Further information on how much commission we
expect to receive on a contract can be found by contacting our customer
services team.
Duplicate contract fees
Where the customer enters into a contract with a
supplier and uses the Synergy’s service, this contract must be accepted as
legally binding. In the event the customer enters into another contract with
another supplier, and the contract facilitated by Synergy fails to proceed to
live status, Synergy will receive no fee for its services from a supplier and
will have incurred time and loss
In those circumstances, Synergy reserves the right
to charge the customer a one off “failed contract” fee of £750 per meter, or
the total value of commission we would have earnt on the contract introduction
(per meter) – whichever is the higher figure. This is in addition to any
charges the supplier may also attempt to recover for the failed contract. It is
important that once you have entered into a contract with a supplier that you
honour that contract and do not enter into duplicate contracts with other suppliers.
A “Win Back” is where we introduce you back to your
incumbent supplier (renew) after beating another price from another supplier
you have agreed to move too. By winning back the contract you are effectively
cancelling the contract you have agreed to leave your incumbent supplier and
renew again with them.
Change of Tenancy Notifications and Fees
Where a customer enters into an energy contract
through Synergy but decides to move premises mid contract the contract will
terminate. This is called a “change of tenancy” or “COT”. Synergy’s fees are
adjusted by supplier if a COT occurs. Its therefore important that you notify Synergy
at least 14 days before the end of your energy contract in the event that you
are moving premises and a COT will occur.
Failure to notify Synergy will incur a fee for the
loss / reduction in commission the supplier pays us. In those circumstances,
Synergy reserves the right to charge the customer a one off “failed contract”
fee of £750 per meter, or the total value of commission we would have earnt on
the contract introduction (per meter) – whichever is the higher figure. Synergy
will discount the % of the contract that’s been fulfilled from the failed
contract fee.
Failure to go live
If a contract fails to go live (commence supply) due to the customer failing to
provide us with information or documentation requested by either us or the
supplier, or through a failure of a supplier / supplier refusing to accept
supply, Synergy reserves the right to charge the customer a one off fee of
£750. Critical information required, but not limited too includes – signed
letters of authority, current supplier information, meter numbers, contract
start or end dates, termination notifications, supplier ceasing to trade /
onboard contracts and banking details including setting up direct debits or
standing orders with a new supplier.
Failure of Contract due to insolvency
If you or your current supplier fails, and you
enter insolvency or your supplier enters the supplier of last resort (SOLR), Synergy
fees may not be paid by the supplier. This is due to commission being clawed
back for the length of any contract that has not been fulfilled. In those
circumstances we will charge a fee of £750, or the total value of commission we
would have earnt on the contract introduction (per meter) – whichever is the
higher figure – LESS commission paid for the part of the contract that has been
fulfilled. We may at our discretion agree to waive those fees if the customer
instructs Synergy to introduce another contract.
Auto Renew
If you have provided us with delegated authority (DA) to renew your energy
contract on your behalf, our Auto Renewal terms and conditions also apply and
are binding.