Octopus Energy

We switched to Octopus quite a while ago and have been really pleased with them.

Much cheaper than our last provider and easy to deal with

I've been try to compare prices on energy providers, but all the sites I try just give me a sort of overall comparison, even the Green Energy switch offer on Ikea!

I feel I need to know the unit price and daily standing charge in order to compare.

Why can't they just state this?

Why not go on the MSE site Phoenix?

I am in the process of changing providers, and when I went in there, it gave me I think the best 10 choices, and each gave standing charges, unit price and so on, and the different features of each provider.

Any deal the caller offered you will almost certainly be available either online or direct from them.

You were very sensible not to sign up to anything instantly via a cold call. Who's even to say that it wasn't a scam call, trying to get your bank details.

If you are genuinely thinking of changing supplier, start by finding out, if you don't already know, how much energy you have used over the last year (your statements or online account will probably show this info if you have been with the supplier long enough).
Use that info as the basis of any quote you get, and if you feel able, do your own calculations too based on unit price plus standing charge to see how much the proposed tariff would actually cost you over the next year - though I have found the compare sites very accurate if you can input this usage figure.

We switched to Octopus and have been very happy with them and have certainly saved. At first we were worried because you have to give a monthly meter reading. However, they send you an email reminder. It means there are no estimated bills and it is easy to keep a check.

I'd never heard of Octopus until they started advertising on TV. Where did they come from?

I changed to Octopus a few months ago and have mine fixed for 2 years. The tariff you choose is what dictates the unit price etc. I'm more than happy to tell you my unit rate and daily standing charge. Obviously I have no idea if the same tariff is still available. If you get a current Octopus customer to refer you, you get £100 and the person referring you gets £50.
Also I got £25 cash back paid into my bank recently because they were offering £25cash back when I signed up.

There are about 60 “suppliers” of power in the U.K. To discover which is best for you find out your annual usage and go onto Money Saving Expert (free) and they will work out the best options for you.
It is always worth shopping around and changing suppliers is simple.

Octopus Agile will save you a lot if you avoid using power at peak time - 4pm to 7pm. You need a smart meter and they bill you for every half hour, it means don’t use cooker, washing machine, etc, during those times.
I’ve been using them 3 months now, no hitches at all, quite a change from previous suppliers

I changed to Octopus about 18 months ago from Npower. Not only was Octopus cheaper and remained so they are really good at refunding if your balance goes up a lot. The customer service is also excellent. I have never waited more than a few minutes to get to speak to an advisor. Octopus win all of the Which awards for power providers every year. My only issue is that they ask for a monthly meter reading if you don’t have a smart meter. Otherwise top marks.

Thanks Calendargirl, last time I looked on there it didn't seem to give me that breakdown, i.e unit charge and daily rate, will have another try!

I have no complaints regarding Octopus. Very happy with their service.

All the sites I looked at did give the unit rate etc, somewhere there will be a “more details” button, 2 or 3 pages later you get to the rate

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply. I'm probably going to switch over to them. I'm glad I didn't sign up with them today though. I really don't like being pestered and had to be really firm with the woman who phoned.

I’ve been with Octopus for a couple of years, but done through Marks &Spencer. No complaints at all, they seem to be cheaper than most energy suppliers, and as MissChateline said, they come out tops in Which reports. I’m happy to give my readings every month online, and you get an email stating exactly how much credit or debit you have.

Oh for the days when there was just BT, British gas and electric board, and you could walk into the car insurance office to sort out problems and make payments. You did have to worry about checking if you were getting the best deal for everything all the time or keep getting calls and not being sure if they were a scam or not!!!

I thought energy companies had agreed to stop cold calling - I haven’t had a sales pitch like this for years. I’d never even consider agreeing to anything offered this way, particularly when they were putting pressure on you, as this caller certainly was.

We check with comparison sites whenever our deals come to an end. That way you can easily see how all the standing charges and unit rates compare and make the best decision for you at your own pace, rather than being pushed into something you might later regret.

travelsafar

Oh for the days when there was just BT, British gas and electric board, and you could walk into the car insurance office to sort out problems and make payments. You did have to worry about checking if you were getting the best deal for everything all the time or keep getting calls and not being sure if they were a scam or not!!!

I know what you mean, it was simpler certainly, but we paid over the odds as all these companies had the monopoly and we had no other choice but to keep paying.

Octopus have a special perk. If an existing Octopus customer sends you a link to sign you up, each of you will receive £50 credit. My son has been with them for quite a while and highly recommends them.

It's actually £100 for the new customer and £50 for the existing as I said further up the thread.

Do you remember the days of no choice, just the gas and electricity board and the GPO, life was so simple then, offices you would call in to to sort things out and buy appliances.

Ooh thanks, Flexiblefriend. I must have misheard my son. That’s even better! I’m a bit deaf!

Sparkling

Do you remember the days of no choice, just the gas and electricity board and the GPO, life was so simple then, offices you would call in to to sort things out and buy appliances.

Maybe we are getting a better deal I have no idea, but I still get the feeling we are being ripped off and most companies have poor service records. All this admin of constantly having to renew and changing companies probably offsets any gains in any case.

I’ve been with Octopus for over 2 years and I think they are great. An example: I misread my meter and it was spotted ( probably by an algorithm). I received an email suggesting if I took photos of my meter readings they would put it right. Within a day my meter reading was changed.

They are very easy to contact. I wanted to dispute their increase in monthly payments so gave them a call. It was resolved very quickly and my payments reduced to a lower level.

If you are paying over the odds you can request a refund online and it just happens. I’ve also had £150 credited to my account for referrals.

They even have a wheel of fortune where you can win up to £500 every time you enter a meter reading. I’ve won £1.00.

Additional bonus is that they try to make their energy as green as possible.

The only downside is they are slightly more expensive than other cheapest providers according to switching sites but they are worth every penny, IMO.

Ask one of the Gransnetters to send you a link via PM and you can get your first bonus of £50. (The £100 for switching ended yesterday according to the email I received)

I would only change suppliers if their prices went up compared to other cheapest providers. Service is everything to me.