Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

Play them at their own game. I read my meters every month after my direct debit has been collected and credited to my account. When that month's statement is issued, I then adjust the next month's direct debit to pay what I estimate to be my next bill. It's a bit like a delayed Pay As You Go, rather than a Leave a Big Credit in your Account (so that we can have the benefit of the interest you would have earned elsewhere). Not a large amount admittedly, but I'd rather have it than let them have it .

 

I do the same with Octopus I change my amount every month

 

I knew someone who received one of those "toy" tool sets when they were little, back in the late 50's when those tools were metal and had teeth. You can imagine the surprise his parents got when they came down Christmas morning to find that he had already opened that gift and proceeded to cut off the legs of their coffee table!

 

The girl in Boots Opticians asked me very sheepishly if I was over 60. Lovely girl.

 

It was probably too high anyway.

 

Idiots out in force on the roads this morning. I was approaching a zebra crossing, an approaching car slowed only to be overtaken by a motorbike rider who did a reasonable impression of Evel Kneivel when he hit the ramp at the crossing. Approaching the same crossing a few minutes later, I'd been to the Post Office, an ambulance was approaching with blues and two's going. Traffic pulled in to let it cross with the exception of one woman who thought that was a good time to pull across the road into a car park! The same woman thought is was then a good idea to reverse into a parking space despite there being a Royal Mail van between her and the parking space.
Final moron was the driver of a flatbed lorry who decided it would be a good idea to park his lorry in such a position that it was impossible to get out of the car parking spaces. Like I said, out in force!!

 

From past attempts in my experience they won't let you reduce it by more than a small amount - they ask you to contact them. I have done small amounts in the past ok. Of course I can put it back to where it was OK. I think Octopus are spending our money overseas and we are their bank.

 

I think they may be a bit more flexible now @cactus_girl. I requested and was given a refund of credit earlier in the year and a couple of months ago I reduced my direct debit to £0.00 for one month, then raised it accordingly. The staff in the call centre seem friendly and helpful. They are also one of the few suppliers that don’t charge exit fees for fixed rate tariffs, which I like.

 

There was an Octopus person standing outside The Range this morning trying to drum up new custom. I managed to swerve the patter!

 

I like the fact that the CEO has voiced concerns about the reliability of smart meters. Plus, they don’t insist that you have one for a fixed rate tariff, at the moment .

 

Had another leaflet put through my door a couple of days ago from the energy regulator this time saying they need to replace my meter before the signal gets cut off.

I dont have a meter that relies on the signal, mine is older and as far as I can work out clockwork and totally out of step with real time, has been for years, but they were never interested when I tried to tell them.