Octopus energy company. Anyone use 'em?

[Zoon]

snuffy said:

When you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

You don't, but then your petrol usage doesn't increase 300% over winter either.

[Silverage]

snuffy said:

I never knew you could have a variable DD based on what you use. I've had a look on my account, but I can't find that as an option howver.

I suppose all this started maybe around 15 years ago ? You used to just get a bill every 3 months following having your meters read, or estimated if you were not in. Then all the suppliers introduced monthly fixed DDs in return for a lower tariff. And people loved that idea.

When you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Never pay the blue bill, always wait for the red one! Remember those little cards you could leave in your window with your own reading on after you missed the meter reader's visit?

[snuffy]

Zoon said:

snuffy said:

When you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

You don't, but then your petrol usage doesn't increase 300% over winter either.

True, but that is how people used to pay for their gas and electric; you got a bill every 3 months, and then you paid it.

[snuffy]

Silverage said:

Never pay the blue bill, always wait for the red one! Remember those little cards you could leave in your window with your own reading on after you missed the meter reader's visit?

I worked for a small company years ago, that was the MD's thinking. Until one time he had the blue phone bill, which he ignored, then the red one, still ignored, then then final demand, ignored again. Then one morning the phones went dead as BT has cut us off !

[PF62]

snuffy said:

IWhen you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

[540TORQUES]

PF62 said:

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

I've not seen any petrol station that charges you just for the right to fill up, even if you use nothing.

[snuffy]

PF62 said:

snuffy said:

IWhen you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

But your energy supplier knows who you are and where you live; the petrol station doesn't.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

540TORQUES said:

PF62 said:

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

I've not seen any petrol station that charges you just for the right to fill up, even if you use nothing.

The energy company doesn't either technically they collect the money for ofgem

[zarjaz1991]

My standing charge is to rise from about 48p to about 53p.

It’s a rip-off but I still consider Octopus to be the best of the retail energy companies. Especially while price is all much of a muchness between them. But they’re the only ones that haven’t made massive cockups with my bills.

[PF62]

snuffy said:

PF62 said:

snuffy said:

IWhen you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

But your energy supplier knows who you are and where you live; the petrol station doesn't.

If that is the criteria, do you really think if you gave the petrol station your name and address they would let you fill up for three months before billing you!

[Trustmeimadoctor]

I'm really getting sick of all these it's a ripoff, it's a conspiracy they are out to get me posts

[zarjaz1991]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

I'm really getting sick of all these it's a ripoff, it's a conspiracy they are out to get me posts

It *is* a ripoff though. Not Octopus specifically, but energy costs in general.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

But why is it?

[Flumpo]

PF62 said:

snuffy said:

IWhen you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

They use to, when I was a kid in the 90s my dad use to settle his account with the local esso every 3 months. It was quite exciting as I went with him and always got whatever 3 months worth of esso coupons (white with a tiger on) had built up. You were then allowed to decide if you would save them for something really special from the esso catalogue or spunk them on smaller items.

I’m guessing that’s all been superseded by fuel cards for businesses and credit cards for personal use.

[pingu393]

Flumpo said:

PF62 said:

snuffy said:

IWhen you think about it, it's an odd way to pay; you dont pay monthly for your petrol, do you ?

Not seen many petrol stations that let you pull in, fill up, and then drive off, with just a promise to pay them in three month's time.

They use to, when I was a kid in the 90s my dad use to settle his account with the local esso every 3 months. It was quite exciting as I went with him and always got whatever 3 months worth of esso coupons (white with a tiger on) had built up. You were then allowed to decide if you would save them for something really special from the esso catalogue or spunk them on smaller items.

I’m guessing that’s all been superseded by fuel cards for businesses and credit cards for personal use.

My dad once asked the local garage if he could buy in advance. They just laughed.

[riskyj]

Hondashark said:

You don't need a smart meter, I used to be on it when sending my own readings in.
If you forgot you just got an estimated bill and they took that amount.
I much preferred it TBH.

Currently have £900 in my octopus account as they haven't charged me for electric since September. I dont want to ask for it back though as they will then send me a bill and I'm hoping to make it passed the 12 month point.

Is it only 12 months? I haven’t paid electricity since April (I hadn’t even noticed as I pay on a fixed quarterly DD). This only came to light because they made an utter of replacing my first gen electric smart meter (and installing one for gas) in December.

Customer service have been as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike and I’m very close to going to OFGEM over the whole thing, but if I can get out of paying a year’s electricity even better.

[Philvrs]

riskyj said:

Is it only 12 months? I haven’t paid electricity since April (I hadn’t even noticed as I pay on a fixed quarterly DD). This only came to light because they made an utter of replacing my first gen electric smart meter (and installing one for gas) in December.

Customer service have been as much use as an ash tray on a motorbike and I’m very close to going to OFGEM over the whole thing, but if I can get out of paying a year’s electricity even better.

Its a 12 month rolling period, eg. If you finally get a bill after 14 months, the first 2 months get wiped and you get billed for the remaining 12 months.

[mikey_b]

snuffy said:

Silverage said:

Never pay the blue bill, always wait for the red one! Remember those little cards you could leave in your window with your own reading on after you missed the meter reader's visit?

I worked for a small company years ago, that was the MD's thinking. Until one time he had the blue phone bill, which he ignored, then the red one, still ignored, then then final demand, ignored again. Then one morning the phones went dead as BT has cut us off !

There is no logic to it anyway. You still end up sending them money every three months, whatever the colour of the last bit of paper they sent you.

[540TORQUES]

mikey_b said:

There is no logic to it anyway. You still end up sending them money every three months, whatever the colour of the last bit of paper they sent you.

Great way to trash your credit score though.

[The Gauge]

Beers are on me!!