Octopus surprise home visit

TheElectricCow

While I think it is lovely that Octopus may have such an initiative in place I absolutely cannot possibly condone a company turning up and requesting entry to someone’s home without prior agreement or at the very least notification of the visit in advance.

The simple fact is you never know who’s on the other side of the door - and that goes both ways for the person at home and the caller. 

There are many people who would be quite distressed by an unexpected visit as you’ve described whether the representative was a genuine employee of Octopus or not. Excluding a genuine emergency there are few reasons any stranger should need to come inside your home on an unarranged visit.

 I recently had a visit from a group of men who I haven’t been able to identify for definite but have since learned they were likely electrical contractors sent by the company managing my apartment building. I own the apartment and had made no arrangements for any work to be done so had no reason to allow them entry, but a few weeks later after being in contact with the building manager they informed me that they had asked a 3rd party contractor to replace a certain set of switches in all the flats (with no notification to the residents) of an adjacent block, and that these man could have been those contractors. In any case I stand by my decision on principle alone, as this is not something I wish to be normalised.

wild666

I have done all I can to lower my heating bills and electric usage. I use a hot water bottle most day and fingerless gloves plus I wrap up well. T-shirt, thermal long sleeve vest and a dressing down on top and thermal long johns and fleece jogging pant down below. 
My hot water through the radiators is set at 39 degrees and the thermostat is set at 16 degrees. When the heating is on it's constant but I only use around 30 kWh for 8 hours usage. I have smart plugs on ever appliance except the washing machine and fridge and shower. 

supergran40

I recently returned from a short break to find a 'sorry we missed you' card from Octopus. Wondered what on earth this was about.

I have received neither text nor email regarding a visit and I certainly do not want anyone calling in this way. I would find it quite difficult to deal politely with someone calling on spec hoping to enter my home so I hope they don't try again.

They have been flooding us with energy saving tips for 12 months and I've spent my life economising so thanks but no thanks.

fatbelly

I will only be accepting an octopus home visit if they have eight legs

SAC2334

tlcgrantham said:

Just this morning I received a text message telling me “Octopus Energy Helpers” would be calling with energy saving help. They asked me to text if I didn’t want them to call. I’m 73 and wary of scams but it seems like it’s genuine . Thanks for the comments above

I got a card through the door as well last year about energy saving tips from " Andy " from Octopus which really surprised me wanting to help me save money with energy saving help .

If he cares to call back I LL be giving him energy saving tips which he s never heard of  eg in  extreme cold last December I was in my down filled very warm sleeping bag with just a 400 watt Halogen heater heating the person not the house and keeping the central heating off saving the very expensive 60/70 gas kwhs a day and using electric heating  at a third of that .plenty of other extreme money saving tips too such as the 40 second shower switch on/switchoff ,which I am still using today . 
His best advice by far would have been..."get switched to Tracker NOW ! "  which I did in early January .
I did nt see any prior email/text  .could ve gone into spam .
Andy would have soon got fed up of me relating my anecdotes of 20 years cold calling the public meter reading for all the other suppliers, he would have been making excuses to leave . 
Judging by some of the posters date of births on this topic ,Octopus are picking on those with life experience, O.A P s ,which is a bit on the "ageist " side if thats what their agenda is  .They should be focusing on the high using thicko s under 30 s who don t know what a KWh is either and  are not exactly used to doing without and economising .

cymruchris

fatbelly said:

I will only be accepting an octopus home visit if they have eight legs

So you want four reps turning up at the same time

cymruchris

supergran40 said:

I would find it quite difficult to deal politely with someone calling on spec hoping to enter my home

The one that called on me just had a brief chat on the doorstep - he didn't ask to step inside, and made no indication that he wanted to do so. It was just a chat and a leaflet. If ever one called, you wouldn't need to invite them in.

cymruchris

TheElectricCow said:

 I absolutely cannot possibly condone a company turning up and requesting entry to someone’s home without prior agreement or at the very least notification of the visit in advance.

As above - the one that visited me just had a brief chat on the doorstep - he didn't try and invite himself in. There seems to be quite a few posters who seem to think that they are wanting to be sitting in your front room sharing your afternoon biscuits and tea while watching the Eastenders omnibus.

They knock on the door, have a chat, hand over a leaflet and leave.

imeach

TheElectricCow said:

 I absolutely cannot possibly condone a company turning up and requesting entry to someone’s home without prior agreement or at the very least notification of the visit in advance.

Meter readers try to do it all day every day.
Most people are good as gold and have no issues.

SAC2334

imeach said:

TheElectricCow said:

 I absolutely cannot possibly condone a company turning up and requesting entry to someone’s home without prior agreement or at the very least notification of the visit in advance.

Meter readers try to do it all day every day.
Most people are good as gold and have no issues.

It's in everyone's T and C s of supply that occupiers allow access to our meters at reasonable hours between 8 am to 8 pm.