Octopus energy

Thank you for all the information on this thread. I have been in my new flat for a year and, having given myself that time to sort myself out, I needed to look at the energy costs. I have changed to Octopus after reading this. According to what they suggest it will cost - working on my actual usage last year - it will be £30 less than British Gas are suggesting and £14 less than I was paying in my last home. Some of this is my fault as I was not keeping up with tariffs as I should but even so ...

It is extremely easy to use and working on line I don't have to ask people speak slowly and nor did I panic - I just read through it all; their communication is really very good. So thank you again - and wish me luck with the change over

I changed to Octopus a few months ago, was with Ovo who were very good but the prices went up too much. Our 1st generation smart meter we had fitted with Ovo works fine with Octopus. Certain types/makes will work with Octopus so it might be worth checking if you have a 1st generation one. All good so far. Re Hetty 58 saying why do you need good customer service, she obviously has never had any problems such as my son who was getting charged for his next door neighbour’s power as well as his own! It took many months and the ombudsman to sort it all out. Getting through to customer services with First Utility was a nightmare.

I was with British Gas for over 30 years with the price just rising constantly, but I was working, busy, couldn't be bothered changing supplier. Then I retired and money was tighter and I changed energy suppliers and insurance companies each year, and saved quite a lot.

I would like the energy companies and insurance providers to offer the same rates to everyone, new contracts come with enhancements and the more you are loyal to a company, the more you have to pay imo.

It might be pointless changing but I believe British Gas have lost a huge amount of customers because of their greed.

Were currently with Bulb, and very happy, but the new tariff is quite a bit higher, so considering Octopus.

Ease of customer service does matter to me, as does being able to easily adjust monthly payments, but unit price and daily standing charge are important too.

Does anyone know how they compare?

TIA.

i never change, have the ones who took over the nationalised utilities.
your last para neves is the kind of thing that flummoxes me.
i don't see the point of changing as the rates can change too. i don't really understand it.
but i want to go on getting paper bills and paying them by ringing automated system and using debit card. that's what i can understand. and i don't want a smart meter. have been wondering about octopus though. like its pink legs waving on the tv.

I'm with Octopus, was with OVO previously and they were really good too. But at the end of the year contract the costs were going up so I changed to Octopus. I am actually paying more at the moment than I was with OVO, so at the end of the term I will look to renew with the cheapest provider.

Oh, I should say, I can read my 1st generation smart meter to give a monthly reading to Octopus. No problem.

I've been with Octopus for the past year and fully intend to remain with them. They're the best provider I've experienced so far. Good value, easy to communicate with (online service) and all round good eggs, as far as I can see.

You cannot switch smart meters if they are first generation but I believe 2nd generation meters, like mine, are interchangeable.

Octopus suggested I wait 6 months before I had a smart meter installed as they were changing all of theirs to the second generation. I could not read the meters outside because of my eyesight problems so I needed help!

I am trying to switch to a octopus but they say there is a problem finding me on the National database. Probably the fault of E.on which I am trying to leave.

I switched to Octopus 3 or 4 years ago when it was a special group deal (though Money Saving Expert?). I've stuck with them because (a) they're lovely (b) they're green - electricity all green and you can pay be bit more to get your gas carbon offset (c) they were the first company to pay you for electricity exported from solar panels when the goverment axed the feed-in tariff. We finally got our solar panels installed last year and it's all going fine.

I have been with Coop Energy for approximately 10 years. They passed on their company to Octopus a couple of years ago. Although I still receive the Coop membership discount.
I have no problems with Octopus but switched to a smart meter last year because it was too difficult to read the outside gas meter.
What I do have issues with is that because I moved house 2 years ago, I was treated as a new customer. My direct debit went up to £80 per month which I knew was way too much.
It was reduced to £60 at my request after the first year. I now have a credit balance of over £500. I will leave it for for now but intend to sort it out as soon as Spring comes.

i like to pay bills by ringing the automated payment system and using debit card.
can you do that with octopus, does anyone know.

Thanks everyone. Octopus sounds excellent. You have given me the confidence to switch. I'm very grateful

Another vote her for Octopus, they're great! They are a Which recommended provider, see here:
Which review

Why the need for customer service? Just read the meter, work out what you owe, then pay monthly - easy peasy.

I always take a picture on my mobile, to save getting into the under stairs cupboard!

I'm another one who switched to octopus a few years ago. I receive a monthly email from them requesting a meter reading and the bill is produced the same day or next day. My monthly payments have been adjusted a couple of times by octopus to ensure I wasn't under paying. In my experience their customer service is excellent.

We had a really bad experience with Scottish Power. Changed to Octopus and had no problems at all. They do notify you if you're not paying enough. Also should you need to ring them they answer the phone within a reasonable amount of time. I used to have to set aside 30 minutes just to get through to Scottish Power.

I’m happy with Octopus. Had one strange bill, it appeared as the total since we had been in the house! Customer services sorted it immediately when I phoned about it.
There’s always a human at the end of the phone even during lockdown. I don’t want a smart meter, though they offer it from time to time. I’m happy to read the meter and readings myself though the meter reader comes now and again. If I want the heating on I have it on. I don’t want a device reminding me how much it is costing?

I'm in a rented cottage and delighted with Octopus. I read the meter wrong once, and now just have to send them a photo each month, they take the reading for me.

But they're not the cheapest!

We have been with Octopus Energy for just over 12 months and have had no problems at all. Their Customer Service is excellent, they are quick to respond to emails. Definitely would recommend them.

We recently left Eon who’s customer service was horrendously inaccurate, painfully slow to respond to enquires, and overcharged us by misreading our meter, then charged us £100 for a meter check before we threatened them with the ombudsman and finally got a refund of the overpayments.
Octopus have been fantastic so far, easy to set up, accurate Billing, and clear monthly statements via email.
They are also recommended by ‘Which’ for the last three years running.

Don't most people choose by price per KWh and standing charge - rather than supplier? If not, why choose to be ripped off?

Smart meters aren't necessarily accurate either!

We switched to Octopus about 2 years ago and have been really pleased with them. They notify us if we are paying too much and reduce our bills accordingly.

Haven't had to use Customer Service (yet!)