Switching to Octopus

Dogmum7

Currently with Utilita, with a Smart meter (not Smart or cheaper) already installed. 2 bed flat; I’m at work long hours, but utilities costing me £100 per month on payg. I want to swap to Octopus, maybe, but cannot reach Utilita in order to change over for direct debit payments, as needed to switch. If I switch, how do I ensure no sudden big bills, if Octopus underestimate my usage. Utilita have failed to provide a paper bill in 2 years and locked out of online account-doesn’t recognise Smart account cards! 

MWT

Firstly, if you plan to switch to Octopus do drop in to the referral forum on here and grab a link then use that to start the switch, that will get you a £50 bill credit to help cushion any surprises.

Once you are with Octopus just submit meter readings as often as you like, but at least once a month and you'll get your bills regularly, even multiple times a month if you submit frequent readings.  Easy to spot problems early and easy to manage your DD amount on line as well.

If you are paying too much and building up a large credit Octopus even nudge you to reclaim the excess instead of leaving it with them.

Have you checked to see if your smart meter will work with Octopus ?

Biscuit_Tin

Dogmum7 said:

Currently with Utilita, with a Smart meter (not Smart or cheaper) already installed. 2 bed flat; I’m at work long hours, but utilities costing me £100 per month on payg. I want to swap to Octopus, maybe, but cannot reach Utilita in order to change over for direct debit payments, as needed to switch. If I switch, how do I ensure no sudden big bills, if Octopus underestimate my usage. Utilita have failed to provide a paper bill in 2 years and locked out of online account-doesn’t recognise Smart account cards! 

You don't need to contact Utilita.

Utilita will put your PPM into credit mode when they cease to supply you. This is because of the unique way Utilita PPMs operate that mean they cannot be used by any other supplier as a PPM.

Contact the supplier of your choice and they will manage the switch for you. One thing you may wish to check with them in advance is that they will extend credit to you.

If you are granted supply on a credit meter, the way to avoid a large credit or debit build up is to supply regular meter reads, and check your statements carefully when they arrive, and asking for a payment revision if you see a credit/debit building up.

bristolleedsfan

Biscuit_Tin said:

Dogmum7 said:

Currently with Utilita, with a Smart meter (not Smart or cheaper) already installed. 2 bed flat; I’m at work long hours, but utilities costing me £100 per month on payg. I want to swap to Octopus, maybe, but cannot reach Utilita in order to change over for direct debit payments, as needed to switch. If I switch, how do I ensure no sudden big bills, if Octopus underestimate my usage. Utilita have failed to provide a paper bill in 2 years and locked out of online account-doesn’t recognise Smart account cards! 

You don't need to contact Utilita.

Utilita will put your PPM into credit mode when they cease to supply you. This is because of the unique way Utilita PPMs operate that mean they cannot be used by any other supplier as a PPM.

.

Octopus advise people to ask existing supplier to ensure Smart PPM is put into credit mode before switch takes place, some people have said on Octopus Facebook threads that existing supplier has said they will not do that.and therefore stuck, very high risk initiating such a switch without contacting existing supplier to put PPM will be put into credit mode, this is a random Google result just to show cannot assume Utiilita will automatically put Smart pre-paid meter into credit mode without contacting them.

https://community.purepla.net/threads/5154-Swap-over-from-utilita-pre-paid-HELP?p=26657

BTW, Octopus do not currently support any Smart PPM, is not unique to Utilita ....