First House - Energy Supply & Billing Question

holyfire82

Hi

Ive just moved into my first place (actually rental) - the place is currently set with octopus energy.  Today I receievd the bill for 28 feb - 28 march (£30 ) and then a new letter with a web link for me to set up my account.

When I did this it only brought up one tarrif - and said itd be a direct debit monthly payment of £234!
How is this possible?

Im living alone - barely have 2 electrical applicances on ever and dont use much heating at all - im out 9/10 hours of the day at work as well.

Any offer any info (im unable to ring them until tomorrow)

thanks

MikeJXE

When I moved Octopus was supplying my one bed flat, you need to email them

I explained my energy use over the last 2 years, they accepted my reasons and allowed me to set my own DD, they proposed a DD lower than I wanted  so  I set it at £100 2 months ago and I still use less than that.

They will listen but sometimes it takes them awhile to get back to you 

holyfire82

Thanks - Ive emailed and will ring tomorrow as well - I mean if the bill is comig in the post could I not just leave it as it is and pay the bill when it arrives?

MikeJXE

You can pay the bill as long as you are 100% sure it's for the meters supplying your flat,, if you use less then you will be in credit 

Check the meter numbers on the bill correspond with the meters supplying your flat, I'm telling you this because the flat before I moved into this one I had been given the wrong meters by the EA

holyfire82

I dont mind paying each month like that (recieving the letter and paying via my bank the next day etc.) - especially as I'd like to see how much im using for the next few months to see if there is anything better out there.

Its just when I used the link octopus sent me I signed up and it only brought up one tariff - and then under the payment section said it was £234 per month! why would it be like that - if it was a flexible tariff as it said I dont understand it

MikeJXE

Paying on receipt of bill will be 7-10% more expensive than direct debit.

I trust you have read the meters and are keeping a record, read them at least every month including photo. holyfire82 said:

I dont mind paying each month like that (recieving the letter and paying via my bank the next day etc.) - especially as I'd like to see how much im using for the next few months to see if there is anything better out there.

Its just when I used the link octopus sent me I signed up and it only brought up one tariff - and then under the payment section said it was £234 per month! why would it be like that - if it was a flexible tariff as it said I dont understand it

Yes when I moved in thats what I got but I didn't sign up because I knew it wasn't correct so I emailed them.

I keep a record of my usage in a spreadsheet, read the meters weekly so I know how much my bill will be before Octopus do. 

Scot_39

Sadly Octopus doesn't know if you are or are not a low user.

It only has limitted information to go - and that is probably it's guess at a typical user - or perhaps as it says on their site - even the past resident(s) of your property.

But £234 is a bit steep - £2800 pa cf current EPG - and that is meant for a 2-3 person - 2-3 bed.  But even 1 person 2 bed flats have seen £270-300 over winter months.

 

Some firms wont budge too far from their initial guesstimates for monthly averaged direct debits.  But certainly worth a call.

I am not with Octopus - and don't know how many payment terms they offer.

But remember - you do have to sign up with them first anyway - to take over the supply anyway - even if only for a month - before moving to say get better if need payment terms.

If they don't other firms might offer you either

- monthly variable DD - you pay as you go but at DD rates -

- even more may offer standard credit (pay on bill - but more effort - and upto extra 10% in cost though - some monthly , some quarterly etc).

Which could be useful to build up a low usage pattern history - over spring / summer / autumn - but too late for winter - so not sure what it would mean for going DD later.

PS If you've just moved in - why do you have a bill for £30 - isn't that just the landlords SC's whilst vacant etc - or have you held the tenancy since end of Feb ?

holyfire82

yeah I will do that - I mean I only actually moved in on saturday so I will check each week - I have an in home display meter in the kitchen as well which - if correct means i should only be paying £60-70 for the electricity

holyfire82

Scot_39 said:

Sadly Octopus doesn't know if you are or are not a low user.

It only has limitted information to go - and that is probably it's guess at a typical user - or perhaps as it says on their site - even the past resident(s) of your property.

But £234 is a bit steep - £2800 pa cf current EPG - and that is meant for a 2-3 person - 2-3 bed.  But even 1 person 2 bed flats have seen £270-300 over winter months.

 

Some firms wont budge too far from their initial guesstimates for monthly averaged direct debits.  But certainly worth a call.

I am not with Octopus - and don't know how many payment terms they offer.

But remember - you do have to sign up with them first anyway - to take over the supply anyway - even if only for a month - before moving to say get better if need payment terms.

If they don't other firms might offer you either

- monthly variable DD - you pay as you go but at DD rates -

- even more may offer standard credit (pay on bill - but more effort - and upto extra 10% in cost though - some monthly , some quarterly etc).

Which could be useful to build up a low usage pattern history - over spring / summer / autumn - but too late for winter - so not sure what it would mean for going DD later.

PS If you've just moved in - why do you have a bill for £30 - isn't that just the landlords SC's whilst vacant etc - or have you held the tenancy since end of Feb ?

I signed the contract on 17 March so the bill covers a week of my legally renting the place - I was in an out of the house for an hour a night moving stuff etc.

Technically the landlord should pay that bill I guess, or at least 3 week's worth of it.

I signed into their 'move in' online section - I just havent signed the deal as I don't like the idea (plus I dont think i could afford having £234 DD taken out each month when I know I wont be using anywhere near that!!)

MikeJXE

Scot_39 said:

Sadly Octopus doesn't know if you are or are not a low user.

It only has limitted information to go - and that is probably it's guess at a typical user - or perhaps as it says on their site - even the past resident(s) of your property.

But £234 is a bit steep - £2800 pa cf current EPG - and that is meant for a 2-3 person - 2-3 bed.  But even 1 person 2 bed flats have seen £270-300 over winter months.

 

Some firms wont budge too far from their initial guesstimates for monthly averaged direct debits.  But certainly worth a call.

I am not with Octopus - and don't know how many payment terms they offer.

But remember - you do have to sign up with them first anyway - to take over the supply anyway - even if only for a month - before moving to say get better if need payment terms.

If they don't other firms might offer you either

- monthly variable DD - you pay as you go but at DD rates -

- even more may offer standard credit (pay on bill - but more effort - and upto extra 10% in cost though - some monthly , some quarterly etc).

Which could be useful to build up a low usage pattern history - over spring / summer / autumn - but too late for winter - so not sure what it would mean for going DD later.

PS If you've just moved in - why do you have a bill for £30 - isn't that just the landlords SC's whilst vacant etc - or have you held the tenancy since end of Feb ?

The bill may be marked the occupier like my first one, 

The OP will have an account number and that bill may have a different account number. 

The first bill I had marked occupier was actually a credit. I passed it on to my LL and it wasn't hers, I then passed it on to the previous tenant who rang Octopus who at first said it wasn't his, everyone can make mistakes 

Spoonie_Turtle

holyfire82 said:

yeah I will do that - I mean I only actually moved in on saturday so I will check each week - I have an in home display meter in the kitchen as well which - if correct means i should only be paying £60-70 for the electricity

No, don't be relying on that!  The rates could well be completely out of date.

Set it to usage in kWh then you can work out the cost using your tariff rates, then plus SC.

Octupus do offer variable Direct Debit where you pay only for what you use each month based on meter readings.  You could sign up on that basis is you phone them.

With Octopus you can also force a bill every time you give meter readings, but don't do that if you do set up variable DD as it'll mess the system up.

Edit: also try to find a referral code, which may give you and the referrer £50 credit each.  I say 'may' as it works for switches but I'm not certain about when it's someone moving in with Octopus as the current supplier.  Worth a try though!