Octopus Energy reviews: Give your feedback

System

fox_warrior wrote: »

A big thing that doesn't get discussed about smart meters, is that it's easy for potential thieves to know when your property is not being used. Like when your away on holiday etc. If you work for an energy provider it would be easy to access this information. Don't be naive and think things like this are too far fetched, the modern criminal will go to extraordinary lengths to part us with our valuables and money. Take my advice, if you haven't already got one, don't bother getting one. This link is interesting. https://octopus.energy/blog/smart-meters-truth-behind-energys-next-big-thing/

I am sorry but this is just a scare tactic. It is pretty easy to walk down any street and see which properties are occupied and which are not. How exactly is a modern criminal going to access your smart meter data? I don’t doubt that major actors such as States will try to hack smart meters but I doubt that the average criminal will even bother when there are far easier ways to steal your goods and money. Yes, they may well be a risk of a rogue employee but smart meter or not that employee may still have access to bank information that you have provided.

PennineAcute

Well, I am waiting to hear about anymore who as been burgled, due to your scenario. I am sure the press would be having a field day, if this happened.

Do you take your mobile on holiday. It would be so simple for someone working for a mobile phone supplier to get this information. Hey Joe Bloggs is in Europe, check out his house.

Yorshireguy

I am inclined to agree to a point although in any environment where information is stored electronically it often makes that information easy to access for people with the relevant knowledge.
I am sure it would be easy for dishonest workers to obtain information of properties where energy consumption has suddenly and dramatically dropped and use it or sell it.
There has to be a certain amount of trust associated with the workers, but having said that, there may be the one bad apple amongst them.
In my work as an IT freelancer working for Financial Institutions and Government Departments, I was very often privy to live and sensitive information about individuals.
Had I been so inclined, I could easily have retained information to use for various nefarious reasons.
It was only my nature and honesty which prevented me from doing so.

Further, and to provide a feel-good factor about smart meters, the circumstances need not to be so complex.
I am sure we have all heard of the instances when a house has been burgled because the newspapers had been cancelled.

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** My memory is so good, I can’t remember the last time I ever forgot anything! **

fox_warrior

Hengus and PennineAcute, That's what I mean about being naive. Take the trouble to read the link. The last few paragraphs especially.

PennineAcute

I have read. I stand by my comments. Stop presuming that because I disagree with you, I do not read. That is insulting.

System

fox_warrior wrote: »

Hengus and PennineAcute, That's what I mean about being naive. Take the trouble to read the link. The last few paragraphs especially.

Smart meters will in future connect to The Data Communications Company and then on to the supplier. There are at least 3 levels of security. My ‘naive’ view is that the only people who will have the will and the hacking skills necessary to attack these systems will be State Actors who are intent on causing chaos through mass disconnections of a geographic area of smart meters which, if successful, may result in considerable damage to the National Grid. The risk of getting burgled as a result of fitting a smart meter is in my view miniscule.

The above is not to say that the design of UK smart meters is in anyway smart. The meters are overly complicated for what they do as a result of pressure from suppliers and not Government policy. The rollout is also being managed in a very inept way.

UnhappyAndy

I have now been with Octopus Energy for nearly 18 months. My fixed rate Tariff recently finished and I transitioned onto their variable rate. I have to say that I would recommend Octopus to anybody based on my experience with them.

My switch was seamless from the dreaded NPower in Dec 2016. I am so glad that I moved. Octopus are quick to reply to any queries via e-mail and submitting meter readings is quick and painless. I used to have so many issues with understanding my bills and usage, but with Octopus it is so much easier. I have looked at switching to save money, but unless its a massive saving and the new company has great reviews, then I am reluctant to leave this hassle free supplier. They also continue making improvements to their processes all the time.

Many Thanks,
Andy

Expression93

The switch was a little bit rough, and it ended up taking a lot of effort from me. Mostly because the meter estimates were way out from what I submitted as a starter reading, so I then had to send proof of my meter readings. I wasn't really kept up-to-date about how the "meter appeal" was going either.

The only meter readings coming up on my account since I joined them are ones I've submitted myself, even though I have smart meters and they claim they're picking up the readings remotely... the only time they did this gave them a janky reading and they accused me of falsifying the readings I submit.

They only have email support, and the attitude of their staff is not very warm and welcoming. I've also asked about 3-4 times since I joined them for an In Home Display, and they told me their "metering partner" has sent this out... I started asking late December, it's now (almost) May and I've still not received any of the ones they apparently sent.

Overall the prices are pretty good, but the rest of the package is quite a letdown and I can't track my usage because I haven't got an IHD... save money? maybe check, save time and effort? no check.

System

I cannot comment on Octopus and smart meters (and quite frankly there is nothing that a smart meter IHD could tell me that I do not know already). Three months on, it is clear to me that Octopus Energy are primus inter pares and deserve all the sector awards that they have received. For example, I got an e-mail reminder this morning to submit a meter reading for electricity. I submitted a reading online and received an e-mail with a PDF statement about 20 minutes later. What's not to like?

martinlewisjunior

I'm sad to have moved away from Ocotopus Energy, my only reason for changing was I could save £150 elsewhere by moving to Outfox The Market which tbh with you in comparison to Ocotopus, they're rubbish. Anyways if you want to switch to Ocotopus and save money I would recommend it.