Octopus Energy takes on Avro customers

youravinalarrrf

From memory at the next stage of transfer process the direct debit details will automatically change to the same amount and date each month that you were paying Avro.

Once that happens you will need to calculate and change the direct debit amount on your account to reflect the increased Octopus prices and if necessary make a one off payment to clear any debit balance if there is one.

You don't need to waste time phoning anybody as this can all be done from within your Octopus account.

oliverbrown

youravinalarrrf said:

From memory at the next stage of transfer process the direct debit details will automatically change to the same amount and date each month that you were paying Avro.

That's the thing, since my transfer to Avro completed after they ceased trading, the direct debit amount was never properly set with them, so there is no figure for Octopus to pick up.

youravinalarrrf

From what you're saying you've not paid Avro or Octopus a penny since your transfer to Avro completed?

If that's definitely the case at the first opportunity setup a direct debit from within your Octopus account to reflect the increased Octopus prices. Before you do that make sure you've got no live direct debits lurking in your bank account.

By the sound of it there will also be a sizeable one-off payment required to clear the debit balance you've built up since your transfer date.

oliverbrown

That's the odd thing, I did pay two amounts to Avro before I cancelled the direct debit with them and set a new one up with Octopus. So why Octopus did not pick up the amount I was paying Avro when I set up the Octopus direct debit remains a mystery.

It must be to do with the fact that I was in mid-transfer, since people who had completed a transfer to Avro before they ceased trading seem to have all had their direct debits amounts transferred.

And yes, a sizable debt has been accruing since I cancelled the Avro direct debit and nothing has been taken from the Octopus direct debit. I have set aside this money.

youravinalarrrf

If you've already setup a direct debit with Octopus it may well fall into place at the next stage of the transfer process. Is it still live and showing in your bank account even though they've not collected it?

oliverbrown

Yes, the direct debit has been showing as live on my account for a months, with nothing collected from it.

youravinalarrrf

Hopefully within a couple of days things should fall into place for you and you will be able to make the one-off payment to clear the debit balance.

Unfortunately you will then have to recalculate and increase your direct debit to reflect the 2nd April price rise.

oliverbrown

A couple of days is optimistic! my gas meter is still in the process of transferring.

After that completes, I expect the next step will be to determine my opening readings which they have been unable to get from Avro, since I was never officially with them. I might be asked for a bill from my previous supplier for that.

youravinalarrrf

Assuming Avro's administrators are no longer involved and if you have already been in contact with Octopus there would be no harm in pre-empting the situation to speed things up by letting Octopus have a copy of your final bill from your supplier prior to Avro.

MikeBzz

youravinalarrrf said:

By the sound of it there will also be a sizeable one-off payment required to clear the debit balance you've built up since your transfer date.

When Octopus eventually billed me after I sent them the final readings from my previous supplier (previous to Avro, Avro failed before I owed them anything) I owed them for 5 months worth of gas/elec - they offered a payment plan for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months for the debt.  I'd been putting the money aside so i paid it all off in one go.