Octopus energy bill dispute

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034351#Comment_82034351

Looks like Octopus where already the supplier at that address when they moved in:

Octopus was the supplier when I moved in. I changed to EDF on 10 May.

Dodge1664

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034345#Comment_82034345

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034345#Comment_82034345

My night reading was 12955 on 22 March 2025 when I moved in and has remained on that number ever since.

I reported this number to EDF, however they have agreed the slightly higher figure of 12965 to use in the handover. I will probably dispute this.

I will check to see how much the day reading changes overnight. I expect I've been paying day rates for night electricity, and have been over paying rather than under paying.

I have tried on numerous occasions over the last 9 months to get a new smart meter installed. I have contacted the energy supplier, the network provider, the landlord and the freeholder to try and get a smart meter installed, but so far without success. This is because the chipboard that the meter is mounted on also needs replacing and no-one is prepared to actually do it. I think its legally the responsibility of the freeholder, but I have no leverage to force the freeholder to act.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034405#Comment_82034405

Just to save you some time, you can't dispute a difference that small on a reading, but you would expect both suppliers to use the same 'wrong' reading.

Dodge1664

The electricity supplier before I moved in was Ovo energy. My landlord's final bill for the period up to 21 March shows a final reading of 70775, 12955. Those were the numbers I gave in my initial customer reading for Octopus and match my photo from 22 March.

QrizB

Did you receive any bills from Octopus during the year you were with them?

Dodge1664

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034428#Comment_82034428

yes and the meter readings bore no relation to the readings submitted or to the handover readings from the previous supplier. I did not dispute the bills at the time.

What I have to decide now is whether to pay the disputed final bill while the dispute is ongoing. The money will be taken on the 24 June yet the dispute seems likely to drag on for a couple of months.

QrizB

I did not dispute the bills at the time.

That's a shame; you might've been able to fix this problem a year ago. Never mind, we are where we are.

What I have to decide now is whether to pay the disputed final bill while the dispute is ongoing.

If you have raised a formal complaint with Octopus, you can ask them not to take payment until the complaint has been resolved.

Dodge1664

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035314#Comment_82035314

what constitutes a "formal complaint". I have emailed them back starting with

"I want to dispute the final bill you sent me". Will that do?

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035302#Comment_82035302

yes and the meter readings bore no relation to the readings submitted or to the handover readings from the previous supplier.

It feels like something went wrong from the start, did you bring Octopus with you from a previous address?

The process should have been to open an account with Ovo in your name, then switch to Octopus, but it doesn't sound like that is what you did?

Getting that bit wrong could explain the different opening reading if that is what was provided by the Octopus Data Collector…

Dodge1664

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82035349#Comment_82035349

I was with Octopus at a previous address and there was a week overlap when I was paying for 2 addresses. I have ever had an Ovo electricity account.

The meter readings at my old address were completely different so I don't think its a simple case of them copying across the wrong numbers.