Something not right with OCTOPUS Energy bill?

[lawrenceofarabia]

So I am currently trying to work out why my monthly bill with OCTOPUS Energy is so high. Bearing in mind we have not used the heating at all for at least the last 2 months. I have tried to cost each and every appliance:
Fridge freezer, washing machine (don't use tumble drier) shower, kettle, tv on standby, hair dryer, hair straightener, lamp and lightbulbs, air fryer, gas ring, security camera, Alexa.
I have worked out roughly how long each appliance is used per day and the daily cost. I have been generous in some instances in my workings and I still only get to HALF the cost of the bill. This includes adding on Octopus standing charge.
I have sent meter readings and I just don't understand how the meter readings are so much more than my daily/monthly use?
For context I live in a small 2 bed terraced house with my lodger (who goes to bed early each night and is very economical with w machine and d washer etc - we share usage and only use 2-3 times per week between us) I have a gas boiler which has recently been serviced.
Anyone else struggling to work out what is going on with their energy bills/usage?
Are the meter readings giving a false reading!

That's fine if you can afford to operate that way but a lot of people would see lower bills in summer/autumn as extra money to spend at Christmas and then would get in a mess in January/February because they have to pay all their winter heating costs within a small time window and have no spare money to cope.

I agree. Paying for use each month based on what is used is not wise for many people as you get huge bills in winter (and tiny ones in summer). It does work for me, however,e xcept my provider merged IT systems in the summer, gave everyone a new account number, didn't invoice at all for August so September was double and this month seems to have moved the date by 2 weeks to end of month which is making comparisons with previous periods harder and they just stopped all paper bills so a lot of changes forced on customers. I think from next month all those changes will have bedded down and it wil be okay (I am with EDF).

has your lodger got a fan heater?

Paying for use each month based on what is used is not wise for many people as you get huge bills in winter (and tiny ones in summer).

Its ok if you put the money away each month in a separate account, that pays interest. I have a chase account and put away £200 into the account, then take the money from that to pay the bill each month - that way what is left is incurring interest at 4.1% and come the winter months I have more money in the account to cover the higher bills.

Every March when the heating is turned off I can access the money in the account and withdraw some if I want and start again

I complained to Octopus energy over 3 years ago they had billed me for a meter I don’t have. They did nothing. I complained to the energy ombudsman, octopus response, an additional bill for ten thousand pounds! Ombudsman ruled Octopus need to credit my account and refund the overcharges. Still waiting for a satisfactory outcome. In the meantime they communicate their outstanding customer service and sign off with love and power! Avoid this awful company.

We've had a similar experience since being changed to Octopus Energy following the demise of Bulb. My husband, who's a mathematician thank goodness, has phoned them several times because their sums just don't add up. Basically, they DO want your money in their bank account when you don't owe it, so we've cancelled our direct debit & returned to paying only for what we've used. We'll have to keep on top of meter readings, but we'd rather have monthly bills.

I think they're pretty dreadful too especially in relation to Bulb customers who of course had no choice but to be taken over by them.

@HiltonScot every energy company would prefer customers to pay a fixed direct debit amount, rather than pay per bill. It's not only Octopus who do this. As you have done, you can swap to paying per bill, if that's your choice. They don't prevent you from doing that.

Yes i had that issue with octopus intelligent when they installed my Zappi charger.
Zappi charger app gives exactly and separate energy consumption of the house hold appliances and the car charging consumption so you can see exactly what you consumed daily. Now regardless of the charger type, the smart meter readings are taken every 30 min. So if you use 2 kwhr in the first 30 min but nothing in the next 30 min the total will be accumulation of both. So 2 + 2 is 4 but you used only 2 within the first 30 min. So it is doubling the consumption. I told octopus and they recredit the money but the issue was not solved, now iam calling them again fir this month bill.
The best way to be sure is to record the smart meter reading every month and compare it to your bill, the consumption on the bill should not be more the the difference in the monthly meter readings.

Go to octopus app and change the payment but make sure to pay at least your bill otherwise you will end up in negative figures. Yes you can change the monthly direct debit amount from their app online

Hooray… Thankyou… my Octopus usage, I e electric and standing charges come to £800 p a. And Octopus want my Direct debit set at 130 per month. That is £1560 per year.
I ask and ask but nothing.
Any help will be most grateful.
Geoff.

I don't trust octopus

Why?? Change supplier then if you're not happy.

Just tell them you want to pay the bill monthly and give them a reading monthly

then put £100 a month in as an high interest easy access account as you can find ( chase bank have a boost account at 4.5%)

then pay each month from that account, over the summer the money will build up for the higher bills next winter

you get a few £ interest and don’t hand over your money as a free loan to a giant corporation

Thanks.

I've always submitted monthly readings to our energy supplier. Over the years, I've got to know roughly how much would be used every month in winter and summer. I'm currently with Octopus at the moment and they send a gentle reminder - if I don't get around to it, I get an estimated bill (billed monthly) which I normally have a quick look at to make sure it's roughly in range of what I'd expect at that time of the year, if not, I can pick up any potential problems as a reasonably early stage.