Originally posted by smittims
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Except it would, as they'd have to employ and train(properly) sufficient staff to cope with the demand, whether that's by telephone or online, and that affects returns to shareholders and CEOs. Now there are so few companies in the business the chances of one stepping out of line to that extent have been reduced to a level of "ain't going to happen". The customers are sitting ducks(or golden geese perhaps), and cosy cartels don't like someone showing that there is a better(for the customer) way to do things in such circumstances. I was an Equipower customer years ago and they were in effect shut down by the big boys for their approach to standing charges.
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Ah yes, thanks. I had not seen it that way. Its' what Kingsley Amis called EFTA ('easier for them association'). Goodness knows what he'd say if he could see how it's proiferated since his day.Comment
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Which is why there is a certain attraction about companies that are either non-profit or not beholden to 'commercial' shareholders - that is, those who invest purely for the financial return. These will be smaller organisations who may well be vulnerable (particularly if most people tend voluntarily to choose the big organisations).Originally posted by oddoneout View Post
Isn't its successor company still in business as Ebico Living, partnered by Octopus as the licensed supplier?Originally posted by oddoneout View Post
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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I've just had a skim through its website and I'm not convinced that successor company is the best description. Equipower's aims were to tackle the pre-payment inequality and remove standing charges, through a different approach to the tariff; as far as I'm aware no company, since they were forced to shut down, has addressed either of those 2 issues. It was only in July this year that legislation finally abolished the pre-payment premium.Originally posted by french frank View Post
This, from the government site puzzled me somewhatHow many customers still have coin-boxes that need to be emptied? The vouchers argument is just plain unfair since it was(and still is I imagine) government incompetence that led to problems with vouchers and yet the end-user, already struggling in too many cases, is supposed to pay for the privilege of being caught up in it.Currently, households on the pay-as-you-go meters pay more on average than direct debit customers, as it costs suppliers more to service their homes – such as collecting payments or giving out vouchers – with the charges passed onto consumers.Comment
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Having read all the many posts - and the occasional tales of woe - about the subject of meters etc, I was so annoyed several months ago with Ovo (having been very happy for many years with the Hydro) that I signed up with Octopus, partly on what they said about smart meters and EV charging. As there seemed zilch prospect of a smart meter here in the sticks, I shamelessly played the, "I'm on the shielding list", card to Octopus in early June and was given an appointment for two days ago.
The engineer duly arrived in his "Siemens" branded van exactly to the minute - and installed the smart meter. And it all works. The tariff is very electric car charging friendly as electricity overnight is charged at just over 7p per KwH, so that will heat the water in the two tanks and can power the underfloor heating, as well as charge the motor. Impressed with the tablet-like object which tells me how much electricity is costing at that moment during the day. It was up to 40p then went back to 7p. I'm very impressed with Octopus - excellent customer service, very clear on sources of their electricity etc. So a good news story - well, so far.Comment
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My eldest grand-daughter's first 'proper' job after Uni was with Octopus energy. It was at a time when Octopus was taking over several failing energy suppliers. She found the company very ethical and, following the example of its CEO, caring about its staff and its public.
Rather sadly she was 'head-hunted' by another company, but that's another story. We are with Octopus and are very satisfied with them.
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We are also with the 8 tentacled outfit. One comment though - smart meters don't always let you really know what's going on. It depends what kind of configuration you have. If PV panels and/or batteries are installed then not all meters actually give a correct reading - of the current drawn directly from the grid, plus also a new [but possibly - in some situations welcome] feature that energy stored locally in a battery can be sent to the grid to satisfy peak demands. Some providers work with both import and export meters, and are able to work out accurate usage and charges, but others only give approximate values based on simple and crude estimates. Even 8opus doesn't always get the charges right on the simple meters - as some of them don't check the tarrifs actually being used, though I believe the bills are pretty accurate.Comment
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We have changed tariff with 8opus - so now the rates are variable. Looks like at least tomorrow the cost per kWh is going to be about 14p. Maybe the rates are often lower at weekends.Comment
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I keep an eye on the energy accounts of two of Lady Gould’s friends - both with EON or whatever it calls itself now. Both have recently had proposed sizeable increases in their monthly DD payments.
The first seemed about correct but I couldn’t get close to the calculated amount and even after referral to the Energy Ombudsman EON are unable to provide the detail of the calculation.
Lady 2 got her proposed increase yesterday and it seemed to me wrong - in asking for details we received this, to me, amazing response …..
“Unfortunately, this calculation looks at usage only against your current direct debit payment alongside a credit cushion for the winter.
Your credit balance is not considered during this, however due to the credit balance we are able to lower your monthly payments from the suggestion at your request.”
Jean has a credit on her latest bill of over £300 - which EON seem happy to ignore …..
As I have said before in this arena - you just couldn’t make it up ……
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(Sorry to delete your amazing formattingOriginally posted by antongould View Post
) That seems similar to the approach of my otherwise irreproachable Good Energy. However, since I queried it on the basis of having amassed a hefty balance I have paid nothing at all since last July and I calculate that my next (variable) DD will be in February. They do say you judge a company by how satisfactorily it deals with complaints. I could have had a full refund but chose a 'holiday' instead.
It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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And...
...you get a holiday where you don't even have to pack a rucksack and get a train!
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Bus and train, as it happens. Or in the latest case, only bus.Originally posted by Old Grumpy View PostAnd...
...you get a holiday where you don't even have to pack a rucksack and get a train!It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.Comment
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Think they could do with spending a bit more on their AI package...“Unfortunately, this calculation looks at usage only against your current direct debit payment alongside a credit cushion for the winter.
Your credit balance is not considered during this, however due to the credit balance we are able to lower your monthly payments from the suggestion at your request.”Comment
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but they don't need packages, because everybody has got cushions....and I guess the comfort blankets are sent when it gets a little nippy....Originally posted by oddoneout View Postbong chingComment
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