Globird Energy have changed the rates they propose to charge me five times this year, for both gas and electricity. 1 January, 12 August, 25 August, 26 November and 27 November.
Two of those were a notice by them; two were because I queried their rates and one was because they said (incorrectly) that I had queried their rates.
On the basis of usage shown on my bill on 6 November, the bills for gas would have been from $56.41 and $166.34 before discounts or rebates, depending on which set of rates was applied.
On the basis of usage shown on my bill on 10 November, the bills for electricity would have been from $766.57 and $953.92 before discounts or rebates, depending on which set of rates was applied.
How can they possibly give me notice of a set of rates on 26 November and then when I challenge them, offer me rates significantly cheaper the next day? A saving of $90 for electricity and $20 for gas. Is this not an attempted scam?
They tell me that I can challenge their rates at any time, which presumably means I have to write to them each month(?) to check I am getting their best deal?
Am I alone in having so much trouble with them or is this their normal practice?
I am in the process of leaving Globird but for a different reason. I caught them playing games with their plans at the annual price increase cycle so was not disadvantaged, but their monthly bills are all estimated use. The accuracy in my case has been pretty poor even though I send photos and customer data every month. If a bill is based on an actual read it is coincidental not planned. The only time it would get reconciled would be at a final read for a final bill.
The corrections part of the bill was so convoluted I could no longer reconcile (replicate) their bills in my tracking spreadsheet despite being fairly competent.
FWIW retailers are only supposed to change prices once a year but while I may be corrected, it appears they can change prices by introducing new plans virtually at will and âencouragingâ their customers to change plans and thus pricing.
I use Bill Hero to check every bill that is four bills, 2 gas 2 electricity. I changed from Globird based on a cheaper option some 18 months ago. When I tried to re sign sometime later using a billhero directed email address they refused to accept the sign on. They didnât like the fact that i used an agency to check bills and change suppliers. They were to me and Bill Hero mostly competitive over a long time.
Thanks for the tip. Although a Choice subscriber I had not taken up the suggestion of Bill Hero, but I have now subscribed to see what they say about my current Globird invoices. Maybe they will find me a more sensible supplier!
I have just had the same experience with Globird - having been with them in 2023, and with BillHero showing that I should change back to them, I duly applied. Rejected on the website. So I called them. They explicitly told me that I had been rejected as I was a BillHero customer. I had used an alternative email address, but they identified me through the residential address - which seems to be a potential privacy issue. When I challenged them that BillHero were doing exactly what they should be doing in a competitive market, I was simply told that BillHero customers did not match their business model. They went further in saying that both CEOs had spoken about this, and that BillHero were aware and should not be including Globird in their results. SoâŠ.I spoke to the BillHero CEO. He has not discussed anything with GloBird and continues to include GloBird in the results as they promise subscribers full coverage. Full marks to BillHero. Nil points to anti-competitive behaviour from Globird who have lost my energy business for good.
I contacted the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland who didnât seem able to help https://www.ewoq.com.au/make-a-complaint but suggested I contact two other organisations.
So next was the Australian Energy Regulator [email protected] who operate the website âEnergy Made Easyâ (I take it the title is a joke!). They said that retailers have to tell their customers at least once every 100 days whether there is a cheaper plan on offer. From 1 July 2026 retailers can only increase the price of a plan once per year, and this must be done in July. That does not stop retailers introducing new plans and offering a transfer, presumably. They didnât seem to think there was anything wrong with what Globird were doing.
So then it was the Queensland Competition Authority https://www.qca.org.au/contact/ who basically said the same thing, and suggested comparing energy prices is rather like choosing which supermarket to do your shopping (I donât recall having to sign a contract to shop at Aldi?).
So my conclusion is that the energy market is very badly supervised and seems to allow retailers to charge what they like. And then there is aking2âs experience of being rejected because they used a comparison website. That seems to me outrageous.
Maybe Choice could take it up with the government.
Question for current GloBird Customers. Have you recently been notified of an extraordinary electricity rate price hike? From July 1st my daily supply charge will rise by 21% and usage by 27%. This is despite the current DMO for South Australia showing a rise of 1.4. I tried ringing GloBird but was 69th in the queue, so have emailed them and am now in an email queue. I am keen to learn if this price rise is widespread - please specifically reply if this has or has not happened to you for 2026/27 financial year charges. Cheers
Following a recommendation by BillHero about a month ago, I have changed to Energy Local, which is much cheaper. It was a bit of a hassle as Bill Hero had in incorrect link for Energy Local - it should be https://energylocalsretail.com.au/.
Energy Local, like other retailers, have just announced their charges from 1 July and although they are a different structure, it seems there will be little difference in their total charge to me.
Thank you Roger. I am not looking for alternatives here though, I have already found some cheaper options should it come to it, but want to try negotiating with GloBird first. My aim here is to establish if these rises have been applied universally to GloBird customers. Cheers.
