With Octopus? Here's how to get a decent fix for elec and gas (it's no longer Octopus SPOILER!!)

pochase

Alnat1 said:

Once you're "in" you can switch anyway.

I know that. My question was more are there tariffs that will get you a better chance to get in. Some people claim there is no chance to get in even after several calls, others still seem to find it easy.

Would be nice to learn what would be a good approach and what a bad one to join.

Alnat1

My way in April was to first get them for basic SEG, which they accepted but not supply, one more call still failed to get supply switched. Once SEG was up and running, further call got my gas/electric supply switched on Flexible.

During the 14 day cool off I emailed and asked if SEG could go to Agile Outgoing on date of switch which was agreed. 

Northern_Wanderer

Thanks for the info. I have requested to go on the tracker V3 today via email as it did not work in my online account, and their phone line cut out twice. I know it's a gamble but as my gas usage is low for the next three months, even paying the max capped rate it might cost me £25 more than SVT in total based on previous years usage for the next three months. So I feel it might be a good thing for me as I'm obviously getting a bit nervous about the Oct price cap rises, so if I can get the capped tracker that might be like a fix for me with maybe a win here and there but hopefully not worse than the OCT SVT.....

Fingers crossed I am not too late!

Northern_Wanderer

pochase said:

Alnat1 said:

Once you're "in" you can switch anyway.

I know that. My question was more are there tariffs that will get you a better chance to get in. Some people claim there is no chance to get in even after several calls, others still seem to find it easy.

Would be nice to learn what would be a good approach and what a bad one to join.

I called the switching phone number and got in, and I took the Flexible October Variable.... 0808 169 3274

Mr_Benn

Im currently with Octopus on their variable rate.   Before I start looking at some of their Fixed offers , we dont currently have a smart meter. I know there was a lot of bad publicity about them at the start,  but have those issues now been resolved ?  Thanks

Alnat1

What issues?

Mr_Benn

Mainly to do with people getting false readings, especially when changing suppliers.   Ive just been reading up on it, and it seems the 2nd Gen smart meters have supposedly fixed all these issues. 

Alnat1

I've heard of energy companies sometimes not being able to pick up the readings after a switch and the customer has to go back to manual readings but never heard of "false readings".

Mr_Benn

Just done their estimate , and based on a 50% rise in October , and then no changes for the remaining 9 months, it would actually cost me more to switch, so it seems I should hold fire, if Martin is still predicting no rises next year ?  Thanks for the help. 

barker77

QrizB said:

The question is:

Are Octopus the only energy company left with a decent fix?

Here's a left-field one for you. I've just got a quote from Green Energy UK (one of the uncapped "deep green" suppliers" and their open-market "Sparkling Tariff" is a 15-month fix (to September 2023) at about £2800/yr for Ofgem's typical customer. With no exit fees.

In my region - Southern - I'm offered:

• Gas - 11.75p/kWh, 31.31ppd SC
• Electricity - 38.96p/kWh, 43.39ppd SC

This is a similar price to the £2800/yr EDF and E.On Next loyalty tariffs currently showing on the MSE article, and a bit cheaper than the supposed "cheapest open-market deal".

(I can get as far as the GEUK sign-up page but don't want to go any further so can't give a 100% asurance that it's available.)

@q@QrizB seems a good rate , do you know if company is well backed or if had potential to go under?  Can I ask did you go for it?!