Energy Prices (Strictly NO referrals!)

Since i switched to octopus, they put my monthly direct debit @ £113 per my usage figures, this might be on the low side by a bit.

Recently they auto recommended £134, so i logged in and put it to £120, which i think is fine.

My plan is to pay what i will 100% use, then in winter, i would do a one off payment so my account goes into positive by £1 or so, if the monthly bill exceeds the direct debit amount.

I read there is variable direct debit but there is no option to change to this, will it show up after my smart meter is installed next month or do i need to call/email them?

Basically i dont want to build up credit, i was paying quarterly bill amount until i've switched as EDF/British gas switched me to monthly, and octopus is much better website/interface etc, if im going to be paying monthly etc.
 
platinum87 said:
Since i switched to octopus, they put my monthly direct debit @ £113 per my usage figures, this might be on the low side by a bit.

Recently they auto recommended £134, so i logged in and put it to £120, which i think is fine.

My plan is to pay what i will 100% use, then in winter, i would do a one off payment so my account goes into positive by £1 or so, if the monthly bill exceeds the direct debit amount.

I read there is variable direct debit but there is no option to change to this, will it show up after my smart meter is installed next month or do i need to call/email them?

Basically i dont want to build up credit, i was paying quarterly bill amount until i've switched as EDF/British gas switched me to monthly, and octopus is much better website/interface etc, if im going to be paying monthly etc.
Click to expand...

I contacted them via Twitter and asked that my direct debit be set to £1 (you need a DD to participate in the Savings Sessions) and then I pay the balance every month via a debit card.

Since you don’t want to build up a credit balance, this is probably the best way to avoid doing so.
 
platinum87 said:
I read there is variable direct debit but there is no option to change to this, will it show up after my smart meter is installed next month or do i need to call/email them?
Click to expand...

You can get onto it but you need to contact them, I'm on a billing method where I pay a variable DD depending on what I use.

thewanted said:
I contacted them via Twitter and asked that my direct debit be set to £1 (you need a DD to participate in the Savings Sessions) and then I pay the balance every month via a debit card.

Since you don’t want to build up a credit balance, this is probably the best way to avoid doing so.
Click to expand...

If you do this, even better to get a cashback debit or credit card and earn some free cashback :)

You can also do a hybrid of the two, I am on variable DD but if I know I have a bill coming and roughly what it will be for, I can just add some cash and it will be a top-up of sorts, anything my balance doesn't cover goes into DD.
 
I'm currently on a flexible tariff (Octopus) but they have now suggested I up my payment from £100.70 per month to £180.16 to position the balance in a good place over the next 12 months. :/

To be fair, when I joined I estimated my use as low, hence starting off with only around £100 per month. Bit of a frightening jump to £180, though!

I dread to think what it costs people with a high-end computer or lots of electrical devices!
 
thewanted said:
I contacted them via Twitter and asked that my direct debit be set to £1 (you need a DD to participate in the Savings Sessions) and then I pay the balance every month via a debit card.

Since you don’t want to build up a credit balance, this is probably the best way to avoid doing so.
Click to expand...
you can also pay by Credit Card/Amex if you have any cards that give points/miles/vouchers. This is what I do now.

ETA: I do still have a DD setup for a minimal amount.
 
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I'm thinking of moving from EDF to Octopus as I hear good things all the time, the tracker does sound interesting. Does it work as good as it sounds in real life?
 
have people had success in them changing non working smart meters as well, my gas one got some sort of update a few years ago and has thrown in the towel.
 
Switched to tracker. I will see how it goes.

Also called them up about the estimated jump in price, but that's also been sorted. Feeling better now. :)
 
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