Query on using uSwitch to go from Octopus to Fuse

BensonBooga

So my elderly mother uses Octopus and wants cheaper electricity (and gas). I did a uSwitch for her and cheapest seems to be "Fuse fixed 13 months", providing you don't want to exit. Octopus doesn't have an exit fee, so I want to move her across, here are my questions (I realise you may not be able to help with all)..........

1. She doesn't want a smart meter, Fuse don't force smart meters, but any idea how to move across without being automatically given one ? As the uSwitch thing seems all online. 

2. She has £600 in balance with Octopus, will she need to contact Octopus or is this automatically sent back to her when switched?

3. I see lots of referral codes around, will she get something from putting someone else's code in, or just the person who has the code ? 

4. Does anyone here use Fuse who used to use Octopus, what are your views and do Octopus price match Fuse if phoned before switching? 

5. Can viewing bills, etc, with Fuse be done via the website rather than just an app ? My mum still isn't used to smart phones.

Thanks all.

QrizB

BensonBooga said:

1. She doesn't want a smart meter, Fuse don't force smart meters, but any idea how to move across without being automatically given one ? As the uSwitch thing seems all online. 

Everyone's getting smart meters.

Switching supplier won't mean she's automatically given one.

BensonBooga said:

2. She has £600 in balance with Octopus, will she need to contact Octopus or is this automatically sent back to her when switched?

Octopus will refund it once the switch is complete.

BensonBooga said:

3. I see lots of referral codes around, will she get something from putting someone else's code in, or just the person who has the code ? 

Usually, both people benefit but I don't know the details of Fuse's scheme.

BensonBooga said:

4. Does anyone here use Fuse who used to use Octopus, what are your views and do Octopus price match Fuse if phoned before switching? 

There's a Fuse (and OFTM) thread here where you'll find folk who have joined them. Octopus don't price match (no domestic energy supplier does this, as far as I know).

BensonBooga said:

5. Can viewing bills, etc, with Fuse be done via the website rather than just an app ? My mum still isn't used to smart phones.

Reports like this state that Fuse is app-only.

sallysaver

Any credit is only returned (less the final reading bill) by emailing them.  For some reason, it cannot be done online.  Make sure you have photographic evidence of the Meter readings you give to Fuse.  I'm currently in dispute with Octopus because they have the wrong gas meter reading  on the final account  blaming Fuse for giving them the incorrect reading.  Strange that, as Fuse have got it correct on my Bill from them.

tlcgrantham

If you go through Uswitch you won’t be able to use a referral code. you would need to go direct and can add a code and spin the turbine to try and win up to £150. The scheme ends in a few days so be quick.

Octopus have promised by refund of credit after the 10th of September I.e. not that quickly.
 It is app only so you may need to manage it for your mother.

bagand96

BensonBooga said:

3. I see lots of referral codes around, will she get something from putting someone else's code in, or just the person who has the code ? 

The current referral scheme gives both the referer and the new customer a "Spin" of the wind turbine (similar to Octopus Wheel) to win between £25 and £150 bill credit.

BensonBooga said:

5. Can viewing bills, etc, with Fuse be done via the website rather than just an app ? My mum still isn't used to smart phones.

Thanks all.

You can log in to your account on their website. 

BensonBooga

Any idea how Fuse are told the meter readings ? At the moment my mum types them in on Octopus' website. 

tlcgrantham

BensonBooga said:

Any idea how Fuse are told the meter readings ? At the moment my mum types them in on Octopus' website. 

They like photos of the meters on their app if they’re not smart o the 1st of the month. 

tlcgrantham

@BensonBooga Don’t forget as Qrizb says they are app only. I.e you can only contact them by app based chat. It is 24/7 365 though and maned by humans.            So it may not be suitable for your mum without help.

bagand96

tlcgrantham said:

@BensonBooga Don’t forget as Qrizb says they are app only. I.e you can only contact them by app based chat. It is 24/7 365 though and maned by humans.            So it may not be suitable for your mum without help.

They are not app only. You can log into your account on the Fuse website and it offers all the same features as their app.

It's true though that customer support is online chat based and not telephone. 

tlcgrantham

bagand96 said:

tlcgrantham said:

@BensonBooga Don’t forget as Qrizb says they are app only. I.e you can only contact them by app based chat. It is 24/7 365 though and maned by humans.            So it may not be suitable for your mum without help.

They are not app only. You can log into your account on the Fuse website and it offers all the same features as their app.

It's true though that customer support is online chat based and not telephone. 

Many thanks for that glad to be corrected

Foxy16

Benson Booga, I have recently joined Fuse from Octopus, I was a bit concerned about app only, as I am working my way around using my smartphone, prefer the pc and have done most of my dealings with Fuse through the pc, they e'mail you all correspondence, so that can been seen on a pc. If you have a smartphone, you could take a photo of the meter readings and e'mail them to her, she can then send them to Fuse. I have also used Fuse online chat from a PC. I contacted them for a copy of the bill by e'mail, which they sent, they are very good with correspondence. But I have now found a way to download the bill to my smartphone and e'mail to myself, so have a copy on a pc, if you could do that for her.
As this is all new to me and I have found work arounds, please feel free to contact me for any help.