Octopus Tracker

MultiFuelBurner

hubb said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

@hubb: I had similar reservations about smart meters before joining Tracker. I now adopt a belt + braces approach and submit manual readings also on the relevant date. I believe these take precedence over the smart meter's.
The choices are to "go flexible" and accept the fluctuations, or "go fixed" and lose out on the potential benefits.
I think you can join Tracker by making a simple phone call.

We have always submitted readings every month at the same date. We are very careful what we use (not much gas due to open fire and log burner) Even if we wanted a smart meter (and we don't, and have friends who regret having them) my area has no available spaces. 

Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

They used to but now they enforce smart meters for anything but their flexible and fixed tariffs.

Which I agree with personally and will add that I hope they bring in fines next year for people that refuse a smart meter.

ecraig

hubb said:

Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

They have offered you flexible or a fix. That’s a good offering. You could contact the alternative suppliers and see what rates they will offer you to determine if your offer from octopus is a decent deal.

hubb

masonic said:

hubb said:
Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

That would be a waste of time I'm afraid. My advice is stick with Flexible until such time as you are willing and able to meet the requirements of one of the cheaper smart tariffs.

masonic said:

hubb said:

It's the energy usage that prices are going up, not the standing charges. If we fixed we could find ourselves locked in when all energy prices may fall, or other companies are offering more competitive fixed deals.

It has been both the energy unit price and the standing charge that have been going up, and Ofgem intends to add even more on to the standing charge in future to cover the cost of pursuing customers who cannot or will not pay their bills. I would agree with you that fixing with exit fees is not likely to be the best option at the moment, but the Tracker tariff is fixed term, not fixed price (price updates every day according to the wholesale price), and has no exit fees, so there is no lock in.

hubb said:

If there were these other options you mention, why can't I see them on the website ? No way of talking to them today as they are not open to live chat Sat/Sun

If you've clicked the links provided to the Octopus website and still cannot see these options, then maybe get someone else to have a look for you as the information is right there available to see for those who are willing to see it.

Yes, I stand corrected. I will now have a look. 

hubb

MultiFuelBurner said:

hubb said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

@hubb: I had similar reservations about smart meters before joining Tracker. I now adopt a belt + braces approach and submit manual readings also on the relevant date. I believe these take precedence over the smart meter's.
The choices are to "go flexible" and accept the fluctuations, or "go fixed" and lose out on the potential benefits.
I think you can join Tracker by making a simple phone call.

We have always submitted readings every month at the same date. We are very careful what we use (not much gas due to open fire and log burner) Even if we wanted a smart meter (and we don't, and have friends who regret having them) my area has no available spaces. 

Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

They used to but now they enforce smart meters for anything but their flexible and fixed tariffs.

Which I agree with personally and will add that I hope they bring in fines next year for people that refuse a smart meter.

That sounds very dogmatic. I couldn't disagree more! 

ecraig

hubb said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

hubb said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

@hubb: I had similar reservations about smart meters before joining Tracker. I now adopt a belt + braces approach and submit manual readings also on the relevant date. I believe these take precedence over the smart meter's.
The choices are to "go flexible" and accept the fluctuations, or "go fixed" and lose out on the potential benefits.
I think you can join Tracker by making a simple phone call.

We have always submitted readings every month at the same date. We are very careful what we use (not much gas due to open fire and log burner) Even if we wanted a smart meter (and we don't, and have friends who regret having them) my area has no available spaces. 

Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

They used to but now they enforce smart meters for anything but their flexible and fixed tariffs.

Which I agree with personally and will add that I hope they bring in fines next year for people that refuse a smart meter.

That sounds very dogmatic. I couldn't disagree more! 

You are on a thread about a smart meter tariff, and people commenting on this thread are mostly customers of this tariff, with a working smart meter.
Most people commenting on this thread want to save money, and are advocates of smart meter technology.
Pardon my bluntness but you are hostile to a smart meter - you are essentially an outsider and your placement on this thread is questionable. 
Do expect others to express a similar sentiment to that of MFB. 

hubb

ecraig said:

hubb said:

MultiFuelBurner said:

hubb said:

Telegraph_Sam said:

@hubb: I had similar reservations about smart meters before joining Tracker. I now adopt a belt + braces approach and submit manual readings also on the relevant date. I believe these take precedence over the smart meter's.
The choices are to "go flexible" and accept the fluctuations, or "go fixed" and lose out on the potential benefits.
I think you can join Tracker by making a simple phone call.

We have always submitted readings every month at the same date. We are very careful what we use (not much gas due to open fire and log burner) Even if we wanted a smart meter (and we don't, and have friends who regret having them) my area has no available spaces. 

Perhaps if I message them on X they may offer us something without having a pseudo "smart" or "clever"  meter. 

They used to but now they enforce smart meters for anything but their flexible and fixed tariffs.

Which I agree with personally and will add that I hope they bring in fines next year for people that refuse a smart meter.

That sounds very dogmatic. I couldn't disagree more! 

You are on a thread about a smart meter tariff, and people commenting on this thread are mostly customers of this tariff, with a working smart meter.
Most people commenting on this thread want to save money, and are advocates of smart meter technology.
Pardon my bluntness but you are hostile to a smart meter - you are essentially an outsider and your placement on this thread is questionable. 
Do expect others to express a similar sentiment to that of MFB. 

With respect the thread is titled "Octopus Tracker" which has no reference to smart meters. I don't mind agreeing to differ on the issue but to make statements about being fined for refusing to be forced into something you don't necessarily agree with (ie smart meters, electric vehicles, heat pumps) is harsh.

Meanwhile, for us to fix it would mean paying the same rate per unit as we do presently for the next year. If we don't, it would work out about a tenner more per month, even less into Spring/Summer (and also factor in us reducing our usage as much as possible and ride it out) And then we are either free to switch to a more competitive company or stay put if and when prices may fall (which they are predicted to in April) without paying a £150 release fee. This fee I suspect is because they kind of know prices will fall and want to keep you in that tariff. 

Qyburn

hubb said:

With respect the thread is titled "Octopus Tracker"  . 

You jumped into this thread with a dogmatic statement that nothing could offer worthwhile savings over SVT. Did you do that without actually reading the thread? Because shortly after you posted this ..

hubb said:

Just stay on the Flexible Octopus. Not worth changing tariff as you don't gain anything.

It seemed like you didn't know anything about the tariff at all.

QrizB

I must admit I was also puzzled how a poster could claim that Flexible was better than Tracker without any knowledge of what Tracker is or how it works.

BellaBlondykeTheThird

@hubb With respect the thread is titled "Octopus Tracker" which has no reference to smart meters. I don't mind agreeing to differ on the issue but to make statements about being fined for refusing to be forced into something you don't necessarily agree with (ie smart meters, electric vehicles, heat pumps) is harsh.

Where did MFB mention they wanted fines to be introduced for refusing electric vehicle and heat pumps?

I do wonder if you read one word and add the rest yourself to create a broader issue. Perhaps that is why you quote friends regretting having got a smart meter rather than your issues you have with getting one.

For the record I also agree time has come to either enforce smart meters legally, fine those who refuse and also increase their energy costs as they are not going to be a part of balancing the grid as we all strive for greener energynso they should bear the cost of not being a part of this greener approach.

It does appear you have chosen this thread to stir the pot.

Qyburn

BellaBlondykeTheThird said:

For the record I also agree time has come to either enforce smart meters legally, fine those who refuse and also increase their energy costs as they are not going to be a part of balancing the grid as we all strive for greener energynso they should bear the cost of not being a part of this greener approach.

How about a higher standing charge for those who decline a smart meter?