Octopus (bait and) switch?

ChippyAft

I’ve decided to switch from EOn Next to Octopus Flexible today. Based on the quote I received, the prices are very slightly lower than I pay today and (despite the best efforts of their team) EOn really struggle with clear tariff info. I hoped Octopus would be better at this.

This morning, I ran the quote on the Octopus site (based on my actual usage and postcode) and received the following rate information:

These rates were confirmed in my welcome pack email when I signed up…

All looked good. But when I downloaded the Octopus app and checked my rates, they are higher. This is significant, as it would make Octopus more expensive than EOn.

Aside from the fact that Octopus seem to have the same communication issues as EOn in the first 30 minutes of signing up, clearly I don’t wish to be missold. I’d be interested in the thoughts of the community: is this a genuine mistake or an increase in the tariff that I was quoted?

razord

Flexible Octopus changed this morning, like all default/flexible energy tariffs, to the new cap which started today.

E.On's tariffs would have changed too.

If E.On's new tariffs are less than Octopus's (which is unlikely) then you can cancel the switch if you like. It's unfortunate they didn't update their systems at midnight, but you are on a flexible tariff which will change with the price cap every 3 months.

ChippyAft

Thanks for the reply. I thought it might be something like that, but I’ve just requested another quote from the Octopus site and the rates provided are the same as shown at the top of my original post.

(And although I understand that the standing charges are rising, I thought that the unit rates are capped for a further 3 months? So presumably they shouldn’t change today in any case?)

razord

ChippyAft said:

Thanks for the reply. I thought it might be something like that, but I’ve just requested another quote from the Octopus site and the rates provided are still as shown at the top of my earlier post.

(And although I understand that the standing charges are rising, I thought that the unit rates capped for a further 3 months? So they shouldn’t change today in any case?)

You can definitely contact them to ask what's going on with it still not matching the quote... there will be a slight change in the unit rates today for most people but it should only equate for a couple of quid a month difference.

What does it say at https://octopus.energy/tariffs/ ?

ChippyAft

Thanks - I’ve pinged them an email. Hopefully it’s just a bug in their app.

The link you shared provides the same info again:

(I don’t have Economy 7)

molerat

I would say those are pay on receipt of bill rates.  Gas SC should be 29.11p for DD at cap and 34.53p for POROB although I believe Octopus are slightly lower than the cap.  That table clearly shows Nov rates which had a gas SC cap of 28.48p so Octopus coming in at 1p less

[Deleted User]

ChippyAft said:

Thanks - I’ve pinged them an email. Hopefully it’s just a bug in their app.

The link you shared provides the same info again:

(I don’t have Economy 7)

I would call them as hello@octopus.energy is pretty slow at the moment.

0808 164 1088

Scot_39

Octopus at one stage were slightly discounting standing charges - c4% I read here a couple of times - but not sure for all methods still ?

Under epg gas unit and electric units should be the same - or at least capped at govt levels (*) - for the same region and the same payment method.

(*) Although Octopus  in Jan iirc didn't pass on some rises and others like EOn have said same for April - just prepay gas iirc in their case.  So some small I guess differences can exist.

ChippyAft

Happily, it looks like this has resolved itself: the app is showing the correct rates today 😀

I guess it was just an initial setup or app issue. Pleased that this corrected itself quickly - my issues with EOn would typically take months. Bodes well…

molerat

Just done a quote and they are showing me gas SC at 27.47p, 1.64p less than the cap price, and 10.27p / kWh which is the correct April rate.  Electric showing 57.33p SC, 1.65p less than cap, and 32.56p / kWh which again is April rate.

SouthernBlue

I think I have fallen for the same bait and switch by Octopus.  

My Flexible Octopus account for Gas and Electricity was opened on 31 March but the monies they are collecting bear no resemblance to either quote provided (£282.96 per month) or to the new pricing info they supplied me on 24 March (£3749.49 per annum) to start 1 April.

Without explanation other than stating they are doing it, I was told also on 24 March my first payment would be £476.28 on 31 March and the same monthly thereafter. By my calculation £3749.49 per annum should be £312.46 per month.

There is nothing transparent about this despite their "personal" email from Greg Jackson, their CEO.  

Frankly I changed from British Gas because £282 was lower than what I was paying there and they had awful customer service.

Given the complete lack of response on the their email accounts, I begin to doubt Octopus too.

I am in the new contract cooling off period but if I do not have adequate explanation and resolution shortly I will activate the clause and revert the account to another supplier.

Luring people to switch with low numbers and then charging dramatically more is a dubious business practice and I would expect better from them.