Octopus Energy 4+

Bulb was perfect. Octopus is not.

Not very happy with the change, I have been a Bulb customer for 3 years and have never had any problems. After switching to Octopus, just a couple of days before direct debit my payment was inexplicably increased by £67 (coincidentally the same as the energy scheme) because according to Octopus that was the amount I was paying before October (it was not!). Aside from the fact that I don't like the fact that the direct debit is increased a few days before the payment date, so I don't have time to change the amount, I would like to point out to Octopus that I have a credit of over £250 and that there was no need to increase the direct debit because part of the amount due could be deducted from that figure. I don't like these games on people's skin. I'm now trying to change the direct debit from the app, but I'm not sure if the change is effective and I have a feeling that the next payment will be more than due as well. I'm seriously considering looking for another provider.

Disappointing… Octopus please read!

I downloaded the app after realising my IHD had not updated to show my current tariff. After doing some reading online and discovering that (strangely!!) this was a difficult issue to fix, I discovered that this app was meant to be accurate and would be more useful to display my usage… hmm! I downloaded and expected this to solve my issue.

Ok, so the app does show my usage quite easily HOWEVER, it only shows my usage per m2/ KWH as opposed to displaying the £ of my usage. Surely I’m not the only person who would expect to be able to see this, especially given how expensive the energy prices are?!! I understand that it’s useful to see the usage in KWH/m2 however it’s VITAL that you can also see the usage in £ so that is consumers can see exactly how much our usage is costing us!!!

Octopus, please listen. Please give your customers the visibility they NEED. Please give us the option to see the £ of our usage so that we don’t have to get a calculator out. These “smart” functions are only smart if they’re of use to us (the consumer) and make our lives easier. The amount we’re all having to pay for our energy…. You have a responsibility to be more transparent.

Developer Response ,

Hi again, we’ve been hard at work and have released an update with cost of usage! 🥳 Now you’ll be able to switch between kWh and £££ to help you monitoring how much you’re using. Thank you so much for your feedback, we’re always on the lookout for comments like this to make the app even better 📱🐙

A different approach

Having experienced the joys of other utility companies and they’re awful approach to customer service, billing inquiries etc. Moving to Octopus was a very good decision, especially during this cost of living crisis. But this isnt a review of how good Octopus are (They’re very good btw), its a review of the app.
I find that I use the app every day to check usage, and until our smart meter was fitted, to submit daily meter readings. (Every reading put on a Numbers spreadsheet to keep an eye on developing usage patters, and as we live in an Eco home with Panels, ASHP, underfloor heating, it can be a bit of a moving target), but I find the app just simple enough that everyone can understand it, but not quite advanced enough for those who want to drill into their usage. The Octo-Aid app will be better if you want to do this, or try Hugo or loop.

Anyway, I can heartily recommend the app and the company. If you’re on the fence about moving to them, get off it now and come over to the Octopus side, its fun