Octopus Energy Completely Misleading Email

fonesaver

I have initiated a switch to British Gas Collective deal (Essex County Council). Octopus energy sent me a switching email quoting my annual estimated cost to compare with my new deal. Octopus have quoted on my current fixed tariff for 12 months but my fix ends next week and then Octopus increase the price!!

Now I'm glad I leaving stuff the free chocolate bar

la531983

You did all your due diligence first about British Gas being generally useless with billing, right?

fonesaver

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82087577#Comment_82087577

Not my previous experience or my friend who is with BG.

tfhnota

BG were spot on with billing and start/final readings, but always wanted to increase the DD and did not offer variable DD, and had poor customer service but you could eventually achieve what you needed if you had a spare hour or so. Lots of hassle when they switched customers on to their new account system but as a new customer I was already on it. Some tales of back-billing hassle. They do offer some good deals to get new customers and originally fitted Smart meters to my property with no hassle. I like variable direct debit and therefore lack of constant threat of increasing DD's when not needed, so would not return.

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82087997#Comment_82087997

BG did offer MVDD on their old system, but you had to call them, it wasn't an option on their website. Don't know whether they offer it on the new system.

tfhnota

That was really confusing at the time because I knew people were on variable but could not get the agent to switch me, until they reluctantly revealed that it was no longer an option on the new system, at least for new customers. They may have allowed it when they switched you from the old system to the new if you were already on it. That was a few years ago, Most likely to do with keeping Ofgem happy with their (BG's) cashflow situation as they can pile up all the loot sitting there to make their balance sheet look good (and they had a go at Octopus for not having much "capital" reserves a little while back.)