Octopus Energy reviews: Give your feedback

savvy

MWT said:

savvy said:

I'm probably paying your bill as well as mine, I can not believe my energy bill has doubled with this company!!!!!

If your DD is higher than you believe it should be just change it on their website.

Are you providing meter readings at least once a month, or do you have a smart meter?

When was your last bill produced and what period did it cover?

They won't let me change it as I am already in debt to them within 6 months of starting with them. I was paying £59 D/D with previous supplier (final bill just £20), changed to Octopus and D/D started at £55, they reckon I owe them around £230 already.....and this is with 1.5 less adults in the house. I'm using far less energy compared to this time last year when I was paying £59 per month, so now they've whacked the D/D up to £102 per month. I'm scared to switch anything on at the moment!

Talldave

Why did you change to Octopus if they are more expensive?  Just out of interest what were the rates with the previous supplier and now with Octopus? Are you comparing summer consumption with winter consumption (which will be higher).

Shakin_Steve

This is the part I find confusing. I've only just switched, they've taken the first dd but I haven't had a bill yet. The blurb reads that my dd may change when I enter my meter readings, but why?
I've told them how much fuel I use each year and, I guess, the dd will cover the bill over the 12 month period. So why alter it at various points? If you start your 12 months in the summer, you're going to be ahead for a while, vice versa in winter. Don't they trust you to pay for a whole year?

Umiamz

Shakin_Steve said:

This is the part I find confusing. I've only just switched, they've taken the first dd but I haven't had a bill yet. The blurb reads that my dd may change when I enter my meter readings, but why?
I've told them how much fuel I use each year and, I guess, the dd will cover the bill over the 12 month period. So why alter it at various points? If you start your 12 months in the summer, you're going to be ahead for a while, vice versa in winter. Don't they trust you to pay for a whole year?

The initial DD is based on your verified consumption details for the previous year. You may use more or less this coming year so they reserve the right to adjust the DD to prevent you getting too far ahead or behind. They won't do it every time you enter readings - just a couple of times a year.

MWT

savvy said:

They won't let me change it as I am already in debt to them within 6 months of starting with them. I was paying £59 D/D with previous supplier (final bill just £20), changed to Octopus and D/D started at £55, they reckon I owe them around £230 already.....and this is with 1.5 less adults in the house. I'm using far less energy compared to this time last year when I was paying £59 per month, so now they've whacked the D/D up to £102 per month. I'm scared to switch anything on at the moment!

Have you actually given them any meter readings yet, or are you on a smart meter?

Tank40

We were transferred to Octopus after Iresa quit and they said our DD wouldn't change. We thought it was because they were keeping us on an identical tarriff as had happened with a similar transfer when a supplier ceased trading. They haven't come chasing us yet for £200-300 as I accidentally cancelled the DD after I thought they'd taken their final payment (that was November 2019).

savvy

Talldave said:

Why did you change to Octopus if they are more expensive?  Just out of interest what were the rates with the previous supplier and now with Octopus? Are you comparing summer consumption with winter consumption (which will be higher).

Lol they were menat to be cheaper as per the MSE energy club   Nope, the D/D with previous supplier remained the same throughout, and as said I only owed them £20 for their final bill, so obviously the £55 per month with 2.5 adults in the house was set correctly.

savvy

MWT said:

savvy said:

They won't let me change it as I am already in debt to them within 6 months of starting with them. I was paying £59 D/D with previous supplier (final bill just £20), changed to Octopus and D/D started at £55, they reckon I owe them around £230 already.....and this is with 1.5 less adults in the house. I'm using far less energy compared to this time last year when I was paying £59 per month, so now they've whacked the D/D up to £102 per month. I'm scared to switch anything on at the moment!

Have you actually given them any meter readings yet, or are you on a smart meter?

Yep given regular readings despite it be a complete ballache having to try and get round the side of a Fridge Freezer to film the meter!

BargainBear

The only possible ways they could be more expensive are if:

1. Your usage has increased since your last supplier.
2. The unit costs are more expensive than your last supplier. I presume you checked this before switching?

Most don't realise before switching that suppliers like Octopus need enough in your account to cover one month in arrears, so that they can purchase energy ahead of time at cheaper rates. If this doesn't work for you then you'd be better off with one of the big 6 who have enough money in their accounts from charging higher rates and ripping customers off, to allow customers to PAYG or always be one month behind with your bill.

Been with Octopus since may last year, had no issues whatsoever. They've refunded money within 48 hours of the request when we've been in credit by more than 1 month. They allowed us to switch to a cheaper tariff one month after joining with a simple email. Bills are almost instantaneous after monthly submission of meter readings etc. Can't fault them.

Raxiel

One thing to bear in mind, switching during the winter can lead to a higher initial Direct debit payment because there's no summer credit to absorb the extra winter heating consumption. Any credit refund from the previous supplier should be put aside to cover this.