Octopus Energy takes on Avro customers

Consumerist

oliverbrown said:

Yesterday's Octopus update was a little too critical for someone's taste.

Good to know that the point was made, however.

wakeupalarm

Everyone should cancel their Avro Energy direct debits now and setup a new one with Octopus Energy.

Consumerist

The administrators probably want to collect as many DDs as possible to make sure they get their fee.

Qew

wakeupalarm said:

Everyone should cancel their Avro Energy direct debits now and setup a new one with Octopus Energy.

I did that a few days ago. I probably should have done so on 26th Sept. Yeah, the credit I have is safe, but if it's going to take months to get it back, I'd rather not add to it.

youravinalarrrf

Found this posted on another thread

mikejtforum said:

I had a response today from Octopus to my enquiries, their advice in respect of DD…

 “ …In the meantime, we would advise setting up a new direct debit instruction with Octopus and cancelling your instruction with Avro to ensure that this does not continue as we have found that there is going to be quite a delay with receiving payments from Avro.”

If Octopus advisors are now giving this advice I think it's time this was reflected this in their updates and defined what their understanding of "quite a delay with receiving payments from Avro" really means with a timescale.

victor2

youravinalarrrf said:

Found this posted on another thread

mikejtforum said:

I had a response today from Octopus to my enquiries, their advice in respect of DD…

 “ …In the meantime, we would advise setting up a new direct debit instruction with Octopus and cancelling your instruction with Avro to ensure that this does not continue as we have found that there is going to be quite a delay with receiving payments from Avro.”

If Octopus advisors are now giving this advice I think it's time this was reflected this in their updates and defined what their understanding of "quite a delay with receiving payments from Avro" really means with a timescale.

Of course, in the update to their "Official Avro Octopus information page" on Wednesday they said:

...And please again, be reassured, that any credit you had with Avro is safe - and any Direct Debit payments taken are going to the right place and will be transferred to your online account with us.

Whilst they are doubtless frustrated with the slow progress, I can't see them demanding payment from people for utilities already used and paid for, albeit to Avro. But it does seem to make sense for them to change the advice going forward.

janbeno

I sent my energy readings as requested by Octopus on 7th November. I just checked the account and no sign of bill. I presumed they would bill me for the energy supplied from 26thSept? to 7th Nov and send the Avro bill when it emerges.

I cancelled my dd with Avro as the payment was due to come out at the end of Sept. When the new account with Octopus was enabled I made the payment I should have paid to Avro plus another bigger 1 so as to have a 'cushion'when the bills arrived. I also set up the Octopus dd. 

My worry is this little snippet under my balance:

You are paying a variable amount depending on your usage

This is a little worrying as I won't know what is going to be debited. Checked my dd and it's set up but nothing has been taken yet. I presume I have read this right that varying dd's will be taken?

Within minutes of re logging into my Octopus account for the second time this happened:

All done! 🎉

We're officially your energy supplier from Friday 12th November.

You'll get a final bill from your previous supplier in the coming weeks.

However, since your old supplier is responsible for releasing your final bill, we can't say for certain when you'll get it, but from our experience it usually happens in four to six weeks.

[Deleted User]

My Direct Debit is set up and I expected it on the same date as Avro. But I have not paid a bill for a few months as I cancelled Avro day 1 but that is going to be an expected top up.

However I am putting my meter readings a bit more often at the moment and expect it to vary, was only ever going to be this way and even on a fixed I would try with Avro not to run up huge credits.

Once I have a bead on the level required I hope to vary it less, at least with Octopus I can set the level. At the moment I have set it at £126 as the £78 they used from Avro figures will be too low. May top off to accommodate the usage to get on an even keel from the third expected bill.

I say third cos Avro did the 16th. I want the 2nd. Dec 2 will be the first bill I set but too soon after the 1st meaning at the 3rd I should be set up and want that to be the norm.

I think.



Any Avro credit I get back, I am not expecting it soon.

youravinalarrrf

Octopus can't send you a statement because they haven't been provided with the Avro closing meter readings from Avro's administrators yet. Octopus have no opening meter readings to work from to be able to prepare a statement.

Ignore the "You are paying a variable amount depending on your usage" on your Dashboard as it will change.

Your new Octopus direct debit takes 10 working days before the collection date you specified becomes active and the collections begin. This may mean a payment may not be collected if the direct debit collection date you specified falls within the 10 working day window. If that's the case a one-off payment to cover the missed collection can be made via your Octopus Dashboard. The new direct debit payment amount will be whatever you specified when you set it up.

Vegastare

Well mine bill show nothing....I cancelled the Avro DD anyway.....set Octopus for 12 Nov and guess what nothing showing - so zero credit as of now....if nothing showing by Monday will check with bank if drawn.
It says when log into to submit reading but only on account.
It clearly send in long email stating we were with them that they email each month to ask for reading like Avro did......anyone actually had email asking for reading(other than the one sent in late Sept)

So think will put reading in today....and see if they start next month with the email