Avro Energy reviews: Give your feedback

youravinalarrrf

Just an update on the transfer process from Avro to Octopus. Looking on my Octopus account today the transfer appears to have moved to the second stage.

We'll ask you for a meter reading on the 18th Oct

We'll email you on the day you need to submit your meter reading with a simple link. No login required.

Cooling off period active

Your switch is on track

The cooling off period for switching your energy is 14 days.

This means you can contact hello@octopus.energy for up to two weeks after you start your switch to cancel.

If you do cancel in the cooling off period nothing will change. You'll stay with your old supplier as normal, as if nothing ever happened.

Your previous supplier is reviewing your switch

They have 5 days in which they can prevent you from leaving.

The most common reason for stopping a switch is money owing on your account.

We're aiming to have you on supply on Saturday 23rd October, and we'll keep you up to date here if that changes.

There's still no sign of the Avro administrators providing the closing meter readings or the final Avro bill. From a customer point of view this is what's currently letting the whole process down as there's no acceptable excuse for them not having done it already. They really need to get their finger out and get on with it. I fail to understand the reasoning behind Octopus now requesting meter readings on the 18th October when they have previously requested and been provided with meter readings for 26th September.

I'm just waiting for the Avro administrators to object to my switch to put the tin hat on it!

I would suggest that the over complex procedure they appear to be following is not fit for purpose for SoLR transfers and urgently needs reviewing.

I'll just have to see what happens on Saturday 23rd October.

QrizB

youravinalarrrf said:

There's still no sign of the Avro administrators providing the closing meter readings or the final Avro bill. From a customer point of view this is what's currently letting the whole process down as there's no acceptable excuse for them not having done it already. They really need to get their finger out and get on with it.

Why do you think the Avro administrators will bill you separately from Octopus?

When GNE went bust and EDF took over, the GNE closing bill was all part of the EDF opening one and we didn't get any of that info until 3 months after GNE went bust.

Rocox

For those worried about their DD, I didn't cancel my DD with Avro and was debited on the 7th October and the funds are now showing as received when I log into the Avro Assets site and have been added to my account balance.

youravinalarrrf

I'm not bothered where the final Avro bill comes from but I would expect it to be totally separate from any later Octopus transactions.

I'm further down the transfer track than most and the update below suggests it was imminent but this has not been provided in my case as yet. Hopefully it will be provided in the next few days and before my expected transfer completion date on Saturday 23rd October.

UPDATE 2PM TUESDAY 12TH OCTOBER

Today, we expect to send out final bill emails to the very first handful of Avro customers. This latest email will include your final bill with Avro (including all charges up to the 26th September when Avro ceased trading), and confirmation that your Avro account balance has been transferred over.

It’s crucial we get all this information right for every customer, so we’re moving forward very carefully. Today, we’re starting with a very small batch of customers, and will send the rest gradually over the next few weeks.

victor2

MWT said:

caveat_emptor said:

charge55 said:

MWT said:

charge55 said:

If I log into my new Octopus Account and click Switch Tarrif it shows my current tarrif as Flexible Avro and also has quotes for Octopus 12M Fixed and Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed. A big difference in the prices

No surprise there then

MWT said:

charge55 said:

If I log into my new Octopus Account and click Switch Tarrif it shows my current tarrif as Flexible Avro and also has quotes for Octopus 12M Fixed and Loyal Octopus 12M Fixed. A big difference in the prices

No surprise there then

No i meant a big difference in the two new Octopus quotes, one is £207M the other is £146M

My Octopus bill based on standing charge and rates works out at about £125/month (was £84/month with Avro) but they are offering a 12 month fix at £207/month which might prove to be a good deal the way things are going.

I probably wouldn't be tempted by a 1 year fix at that much of a premium.

If you are like most people, you will use the majority of your energy over the next 6 months of that year while your current 'flexible' capped tariff is actually fixed.

When it is able to change in 6 months you'll be into the lower use period for the rest of the year that you have fixed, so your risk is lower as well...

I'd agree with those sentiments, although there is of course the gamble in not knowing what energy prices will be like in 6 months.

It's certainly the approach I've taken with an ex-Avro account I manage. More by good fortune than skill, I switched another account to a 2 year fix with one of the "big 6" in early September. Involved a 50% increase in monthly payments, but the rates are already just below the current Standard Variable rates since the OFGEM raising of the cap this October.

youravinalarrrf

I emailed Octopus and asked them why they are now requesting further meter readings from me on the 18th October when they have previously requested and been provided with meter readings for 26th September. I received an automated reply until they get round to answering my actual question but it includes answers to the top questions they're currently being asked by Avro customers. I hope this may be of help to more than a few people.

The one everyone should check very carefully is that they intend to move your Avro Direct Debit as is i.e. the payment amount and payment date remain the same with no recalculation being done by Octopus. In view of the large increase in prices this will create an immediate build up of debt or a fast reduction of any credit balance you've managed to build up if you do not recalculate your Direct Debit using the new Octopus prices and amend your Direct Debit yourself.

Quick answers to common questions from Avro customers

Will I be on the same rates I was with Avro? Will I pay more?

The prices Avro were charging were unsustainable, which is why they went out of business. Your Avro tariff came to an end on 26th September, the point when the company ceased trading.

Customers will be moved onto our Flexible Octopus tariff, which is currently £10 under the price cap for a typical home.  This is cheaper than anything available from any other large supplier, and it is also cheaper than the fixed prices we're able to offer new customers on our website.

For most people however, this is an increase, and we are sorry about that. We know how hard it is when prices rise. Wholesale costs, which make up 50% of your bill, are up over 300% in the last year - meaning new tariffs are more expensive across the board. 

Should I cancel my direct debit? 

No. If you have an active direct debit already set-up with Avro, this will be moved across to us so any future payments will be directed to Octopus Energy under the current mandate.  

Avro Energy have just taken a Direct Debit payment but you said not to cancel it, should I be worried?

No, please don’t worry. Avro Energy are in the hands of the administrators and any payments taken will be applied to your account. Over the next few weeks your Direct Debit will be moved over to us, and payments will then go directly to Octopus Energy. You won’t pay twice.

What happens if I have already cancelled my direct debit? 

Don’t worry, we’ll be in touch soon to ask you to set up a new one. Even if you have some credit on your Avro account to be brought across, as we head into winter, it may be worth ensuring you are making regular monthly payments to avoid building up any debt over winter

Will my direct debit payment date remain the same? 

Yes,  We’ll move your direct debit over to us as the same amount, and it will be paid on the same day of the month.

Can I still get the Warm Home Discount?

Yes.  If you usually get the Warm Home Discount as part of the core group (so you don't normally apply for it but are entitled to it), you will still get it automatically from Octopus. If you usually apply for the WHD as part of the 'broader group' you will need to apply with Octopus Energy. Please don't do this yet - we will contact all customers soon, before applications close, with instructions on how to do this. There's no risk of missing out from waiting until we send our update. All WHD credits will be applied to your account by 31 March 2022.

I moved home prior to the 26th of September and already let Avro know. What should I do?

We will be working closely with Avro’s administrators to bring any historical changes to accounts up to date. If you moved out prior to the 26th of September, your final bill will likely be issued by Avro and we will work with the administrators so this process is as smooth as possible.

Over the coming weeks, either we or the administrators will be back in touch with you but if this information still doesn’t look right, please get back in touch.

Please make sure you noted down a meter reading on the day you moved out and that you have sent this already to Avro so they can prepare your final bill.

youravinalarrrf

Today's Octopus update for Avro customers

UPDATE SUNDAY 17th OCTOBER

This weekend, our remote teams across the UK have been busy answering your emails, getting us ready for a new week.

We’re ramping up sending final Avro bills and initiating industry processes to officially transfer more and more customers over to Octopus.

youravinalarrrf

Today's Octopus update for Avro customers

UPDATE 12PM MONDAY 18th OCTOBER
We’ve now initiated the transfer of around 35,000 Avro customers, and emailed them to share next steps about their switch, as well as their new tariff rates. This is going to be our big job for the week: we expect to have initiate all Avro customers’ switches by early next week at the latest. That means everyone should be hearing from us with their prices within in the next week.

Don’t want to wait to find out your tariff rates? There's a way you can check them right now on our site, as the tariff lines up exactly with our current variable tariff, Flexible Octopus.

1. Head to octopus.energy/tariffs
2. Put in your postcode
3. Click 'filters' and tick 'flexible'
4. Scroll to find a tariff called Flexible Octopus October 2021 v2
5. These will be your rates – as promised, around ~£10 cheaper than the price cap for the average home, and cheaper than anything available from a major supplier.

MWT

Just for added clarity:

Do not use the 'Get a quote' button, just enter the post code...

wrongplanet

youravinalarrrf said:

Scroll to find a tariff called Flexible Octopus October 2021 v2

That confirms what we expected. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual tariff name will be something with 'Avro' in it to distinguish ex-Avro customers.