It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Nonnadiluca

Another satisfied customer of Octopus, really good customer service.

CCW007

Only complaints I've seen about Octopus tend to relate to installation of smart meters during Covid.

Toonie

euronorris said:

My sister has no end of trouble with Eon Next. Especially relating to using estimates, despite having the smart meter installed for over a year. They were estimating the best part of £1k pm at one point! She managed to get it sorted, but it took a while, and apparently the 'smart' meter wasn't being very smart and communicating with them when it was first installed.

ETA: Sorry, I confused EDF with Eon! Doh!

Blimey, I've had the opposite with Eon Next, they've been really helpful and when we had some problems on the street they popped by to chat to me as I'm on the priority services register and they wanted to check if I had any medical equipment that needed power and if I needed a portable heater and power generator whilst they did their work.

CKhalvashi

Toonie said:

euronorris said:

My sister has no end of trouble with Eon Next. Especially relating to using estimates, despite having the smart meter installed for over a year. They were estimating the best part of £1k pm at one point! She managed to get it sorted, but it took a while, and apparently the 'smart' meter wasn't being very smart and communicating with them when it was first installed.

ETA: Sorry, I confused EDF with Eon! Doh!

Blimey, I've had the opposite with Eon Next, they've been really helpful and when we had some problems on the street they popped by to chat to me as I'm on the priority services register and they wanted to check if I had any medical equipment that needed power and if I needed a portable heater and power generator whilst they did their work.

I tend to find it depends often on who you speak to.

Not gas/electricity, but OH had to contact a company a few weeks ago regarding a website error on something she'd bought online. The first person she spoke to (via Telegram) lied to her, the second attempted to cover it up, the third tried to undo the mess that had been caused but by this time there was nothing they could do as the system wouldn't let them correct the error.

Unfortunately this cost the company more (via Chargeback) than if they'd let the third correct it. I wasn't overly enthusiastic about Karening that night however the e-mail before the payment was definitely different to the one after. I'm betting that the company has attempted to merge 2 services together in the hope that nobody will complain however that doesn't wash with us, even if it may with most, just due to the nature of the service. We've booked it again through a different supplier (technically a different service) at a slightly higher price (about £5, so no too big deal) out of principle instead of using that company.

Indout96

We were moved to Octopus when our supplier went under and have been very happy with them, we finally relented and had a smart meter installed to take advantage of the saving hours and whilst we did not get a lot back every little helps.
The smart meter worked fine from day one on electric but although the gas shows on the in house meter it refused to send the gas reading for 4 months then did once then missed again the next one and has sent it the last two so hopefully OK now.
They do tend to overestimate your monthly DD but not as much as most and you can easily reduce it again via the website or app.

euronorris

Well, Broadband was latest in my sights for costs. Our contract ends this month. What do they want to charge us starting from next month? £69pm!!! I called and asked if they would reduce it. Would only go as low as £43pm!! 

So, switch made to TalkTalk for very similar speeds, same price as we have been paying and a £125 voucher for switching!

Trying to get us with price increases from every angle!!

YorksLass

I've sent in this month's meter readings and am now waiting for the bill.  I know we're not getting the £60-odd EBSS any more but, as far as I can make out, our DD is staying the same as it's been over the last 6 months.  We do have a healthy credit balance though so I imagine that will be whittled down a bit.  We'll see.

It was a very trying day yesterday with my grocery delivery.  One item I didn't get (out of stock but not a disaster) and one not very good substitute (returned).  I'd ordered four items that were supposed to be on the lower Nectar price offer and this was the price stated on my order confirmation.  However, the price on the e-receipt was the full price.  I'd tried to phone customer services three times to query this and each time was disconnected part-way through the press this/enter that message, so gave up and returned the items.  I did get a refund applied to the payment card - but at the lower Nectar price!  Cue another attempt to call customer services (successful this time), explained, got the remainder of the refund but not to the debit card as requested - it was a voucher to use on next online shop.  Aargh!!!

The door security entry system to our block seems to have gone on the blink and the poor delivery driver couldn't get in but thank goodness he had the sense to call my mobile number so I could let him in.  I've reported the door problem to the council (again, it happens often) but have no idea when it will be fixed.

Two carrier bags of unwanted clothing have gone to the SA clothing bank and a book has been returned to the Little Free Library.

I've also done a sort out of my food stores and have found quite a few items that have either gone past or are approaching their BB dates.  No matter, I'm not fussed about BB dates so they will get used.  We had the last scrapings of a jar of Marmite on crumpets yesterday lunchtime and half a small bottle of white wine vinegar has been relegated to the cleaning cupboard to use as kettle descaler.  Next on the hit list are a part packet of cocoa powder (chocolate brownies), malt extract (two malt loaves) and a packet of lemon meringue pie mix so that's this weekend's baking sorted out.  

CKhalvashi

Hello everyone, I'll just pop in too, the last 24 hours have been quite interesting in general.

House sale of grandparents completed yesterday. The insurance broker mom used tried to scam her out of £120-ish, she asked for a breakdown in the numbers and they have now decided they owe her £5.04. It should, however, mean we have some money back soon. There is no electricity bill to pay thanks to EBSS and the final gas bill is smaller than we thought it'd be.

Currently waiting for Companies House to incorporate 2 companies. It's never taken more than a few hours online before, we submitted it at about 22:00 last night (only time yesterday both myself and the partner were available, 1 is hers only, other is joint). Hopefully it'll update tonight or at worst case on Monday. We're biting the bullet and (subject to something not falling through in the middle) going for a June 10 start, but need about 6 weeks to prep.

I like whoever did the discounts in the Coop I popped into on the way home. Lunch tomorrow (pasta salad and sandwich) is 73p.

Katiehound

YorksLass said:

 

I've also done a sort out of my food stores and have found quite a few items that have either gone past or are approaching their BB dates.  No matter, I'm not fussed about BB dates so they will get used.  We had the last scrapings of a jar of Marmite on crumpets yesterday lunchtime and half a small bottle of white wine vinegar has been relegated to the cleaning cupboard to use as kettle descaler.  Next on the hit list are a part packet of cocoa powder (chocolate brownies), malt extract (two malt loaves) and a packet of lemon meringue pie mix so that's this weekend's baking sorted out.  

This would be fine to use ... for ever.
Did vinegar have BB dates aeons ago??

I imagine the cocoa powder & malt extract will also be fine too! (I mean in the future!!)

GaleSF63

Katiehound said:

YorksLass said:

 

I've also done a sort out of my food stores and have found quite a few items that have either gone past or are approaching their BB dates.  No matter, I'm not fussed about BB dates so they will get used.  We had the last scrapings of a jar of Marmite on crumpets yesterday lunchtime and half a small bottle of white wine vinegar has been relegated to the cleaning cupboard to use as kettle descaler.  Next on the hit list are a part packet of cocoa powder (chocolate brownies), malt extract (two malt loaves) and a packet of lemon meringue pie mix so that's this weekend's baking sorted out.  

This would be fine to use ... for ever.
Did vinegar have BB dates aeons ago??

I imagine the cocoa powder & malt extract will also be fine too! (I mean in the future!!)

I'm sure they will be as good as ever!
I was surprised recently to find a plastic carton of pineapple - Dole - with a BBE date of 12/22 had gone an unpleasant brown colour. There was no leak. Perhaps just an unfortunate one-off.
On the other hand, last week I enjoyed a tin of Heinz Macaroni Cheese which was BBE 2018. Completely fine.