Octopus flexible tariff no longer on offer

savers_united

Companies do not have to fear any claims as they are set up to move customers to the default cap protected SVR tariff at the end of any fix automatically. 
In the past this has been one of the most expensive tariffs, but now the advice is to accept this tariff and not switch/fix again. 

However they are no longer offering this tariff to new customers, hence why you will not see it advertised, it's only there for their existing customers. 

wittynamegoeshere

My point is that many are denying its existence to their existing customers - I've seen emails from suppliers that don't even mention it.

One had even invented a deliberately massively overpriced tariff to compare their fixed one against, obviously in an attempt to make it look like the best decision.  While not even mentioning that the much lower amount that would be paid on variable, or even acknowledging its existence.

They are definitely not playing fair with their customers, and I hope that some consequences for them arise from it all.

savers_united

But it's the default tariff, they can offer other tariffs they have based on your current tariff, I.e if your on a fix currently they tend to show what other fixes they have available. Do nothing and you drop onto the variable tariffs don't need to offer this, the other tariffs need you to take action, your supply is not going to get cut. 

wittynamegoeshere

Of course, but if the average old people get a letter saying here's choice A or choice B then they'll choose one.  They won't know that choice C even exists if they're not told about it.

Not everyone is an energy market nerd, most don't know anything about variable tariffs or caps.

QrizB

wittynamegoeshere said:

Of course, but if the average person gets a letter saying here's choice A or choice B then they'll choose one.

Fixed that for you.

Some older people are as sharp as a tack. And some younger people are planks.

Sea_Shell

wittynamegoeshere said:

Of course, but if the average old people get a letter saying here's choice A or choice B then they'll choose one.  They won't know that choice C even exists if they're not told about it.

Not everyone is an energy market nerd, most don't know anything about variable tariffs or caps.

Not just the old either.  Many younger people won't know "C" exists either!!

We're on a steep (and painful) learning curve at the moment, as a population.

savers_united

I would be very surprised if somewhere on the letter / email there was no mention of what happens if you do nothing.

It may be lower down and in smaller print but it will be there somewhere. 

Thing is in the past energy companies have been dragged over the coals for not promoting their tariffs and having people drop onto their standard variable tariff, now we seem to saying they should be promoting their standard variable. 

Pete99

Don't know if this helps but click on "Menu" (top left), click on "Our Tariffs", enter your postcode at the bottom and the current tariffs will appear.

GrumpyDil

Interestingly the Octopus home page when you try to get a quote now advises you to stay where you are as your existing supplier's default tariff is likely to be better for you. If you do go want to go ahead to get a quote you need to contact them directly. 

wild666

MoneySaverNeil said:

I finish my 12 month Fixed deal on 11th Oct.  Been paying £79 per month.  The new 12 month Fixed tariff on their website wants me to pay in excess of £200 per month !  And they've removed the 'Flexible Octopus' tariff from their list.  Fortunately, thanks to Martin Lewis, I know to 'Do Nothing', and just drop onto the much cheaper flexible plan they no longer show on their website.

But I'm disappointed that Octopus, who I've seen as much more reputable than the Big 6 (4), should behave in this way, removing the only sensible tariff and trying to tempt vulnerable and confused customers onto excessively priced tariffs that are blatantly not good for them !

A jump from £79 to £220 for exactly the same deal and power usage is shocking.  What if I'd just lost my extra £20 per week UC ?  It's time for reality to intrude, and the nonsense of Boris conference speech should be seen for the disgrace that it was. 

£220 would take most of the £3800 UC per year, it would leave £1160. I would move suppliers even if you have to do the search on each suppliers site and split the bill between two suppliers, gas & electric, that's what I intend to do after I get my Avro/Octopus move sorted.