Common Mistakes People Make When Signing Up to Octopus Energy (And How to Avoid Them)

Signing up to a new energy supplier should be simple – especially when there’s a referral bonus on the table.

But in reality, people do trip up. They lose their referral credit, pick the wrong tariff, or get confused about what happens with their old supplier. None of these are “disasters”, but they can make the switch feel stressful when it really doesn’t need to be.

This article is here to save you hassle, especially if you’ve landed on octopus50.co.uk and are thinking about using this referral link:

👉 Sign up to Octopus Energy with the melon-crane-917 referral link

We’ll go through the most common mistakes people make when joining Octopus Energy – and how you can easily avoid them.

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Why This Article Belongs on a Octopus50.co.uk

Most referral pages just say:

“Use this link and get £££ off your bills!”

That’s nice, but if someone doesn’t really understand what they’re doing, you get:

• People worried they’ll lose power during the switch
• People who miss their referral credit because they clicked around too much
• People disappointed because they expected instant cash, not account credit

This guide is here to:

• Explain what can go wrong in plain English
• Help you sign up smoothly and keep your referral bonus safe
• Build trust so you feel confident using the melon-crane-917 referral link

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Mistake #1 – Not Locking In the Referral Properly

The problem:
Someone clicks a friend’s Octopus referral link, has a look around, then:

• Closes the page and comes back later via Google or a comparison site, or
• Switches device (e.g. from phone to laptop) and goes directly to the main site

At that point, the referral tracking can be lost – which may mean no referral credit for you or your friend.

How to avoid it:

• When you’re ready to sign up, start your switch directly from the referral link:
  👉 https://share.octopus.energy/melon-crane-917
• Complete the quote and sign-up in one journey if you can (it’s usually only a few minutes).
• If you need to come back later, save the referral link itself, not just the generic Octopus homepage.

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Mistake #2 – Confusing Usage, Costs and Tariffs During the Quote

The problem:
On the quote page, Octopus asks about your usage. People often:

• Type in their current monthly Direct Debit amount instead of kWh
• Totally underestimate or overestimate what they use
• Guess wildly without even glancing at a recent bill

Result? The initial monthly estimate can be way off – and later, they’re surprised when the Direct Debit is adjusted.

How to avoid it:

• Grab your latest energy bill from your current supplier.
• Look for your annual or monthly kWh for gas and electricity.
• Enter usage based on those numbers, not what you’re paying per month right now.

You don’t need to be perfect, but real numbers beat guesses every time and lead to a smoother first few months.

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Mistake #3 – Thinking the Referral Bonus Is Instant Cash

The problem:
Some people expect:

• Money to hit their bank account straight away, or
• The credit to appear in their Octopus account immediately after filling in the form

In reality, referral bonuses usually come as account credit, and only after:

1. You complete your switch, and
2. Your first payment to Octopus has gone through

This takes a bit of time.

How to avoid it:

• Think of the referral as a chunk off your future bills, not a cash payout.
• Don’t panic if it doesn’t appear the same day you sign up – nothing’s gone wrong.
• Once you’ve switched and paid your first bill, then keep an eye out for the credit line in your account.

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Mistake #4 – Cancelling the Old Direct Debit Too Early

The problem:
People get excited about switching and immediately cancel their old supplier’s Direct Debit as soon as they sign up with Octopus.

That can cause:

• Problems paying the final bill from your old supplier
• Delays or messy admin if a refund is due
• Extra hassle where you have to call them to sort it all out

How to avoid it:

• Let the switch happen naturally.
• Wait until your old supplier has sent your final bill and it’s been paid/refunded.
• In many cases, the old supplier will cancel the Direct Debit themselves once everything is settled.

In short: don’t rush to cancel anything. Let the process finish cleanly.

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Mistake #5 – Ignoring Meter Readings

The problem:
Around the switch date, Octopus (and your old supplier) will want opening/closing meter readings. Common issues:

• People ignore the email/text asking for readings
• They don’t know where the meters are
• Readings are sent very late, or not at all

This can lead to estimated readings being used, which might not reflect your real usage.

How to avoid it:

• As you’re signing up, make a note that you’ll need readings around the switch date.
• Work out in advance where your electricity and gas meters are.
• When Octopus asks, send fresh, clear readings as soon as you can.

If you already have a smart meter that’s fully working with Octopus, they might get readings automatically – but it’s still worth keeping an eye on any requests.

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Mistake #6 – Picking a Tariff That Doesn’t Match Your Lifestyle

Octopus has a range of tariffs – including smart tariffs like Agile, Go and Tracker. One common mistake is:

• Jumping straight into a clever-sounding smart tariff without really understanding it
• Choosing Go without owning an EV, or Agile without being able to shift usage
• Locking into something that doesn’t fit how you actually live

How to avoid it:

• If you want it simple, start on a standard variable or straightforward tariff when you join.
• Only move to Agile, Go, or Tracker once you’ve read up on them and they clearly suit your situation.
• Think about your lifestyle honestly:
  • EV owners who can charge overnight? Go / Intelligent Go often makes sense.
  • People with batteries/solar and flexibility? Agile can be powerful.
  • People who like transparency? Tracker might appeal.

You can always switch tariffs later from inside your Octopus account – the important thing is that your referral link got you through the door.

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Mistake #7 – Expecting Your Monthly Direct Debit Never to Change

The problem:
Some people think: “If I sign up for £X a month, that’s my payment forever.”

In reality, Direct Debits are usually set to:

• Cover your estimated yearly usage, divided into 12
• Keep your account reasonably balanced over time

If you use more or less than expected, Octopus may suggest adjusting your Direct Debit up or down.

How to avoid it:

• See the first few months as a bedding-in period.
• Don’t be alarmed if Octopus proposes an adjustment based on your actual usage.
• Check your statements and usage graphs in the app – they show what’s going on.

The goal is not to catch you out; it’s to avoid huge spikes in winter by smoothing costs across the year.

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Mistake #8 – Not Checking Emails or the Online Account

The problem:
People sign up, then never:

• Open the confirmation emails
• Log in to the online account or app
• Read messages about the cooling-off period, meter readings, or tariff changes

That’s when misunderstandings creep in.

How to avoid it:

• After signing up through melon-crane-917, keep an eye on the inbox for:
  • Confirmation of your switch and tariff
  • Requests for meter readings
  • Notifications about Direct Debit dates
• Log in to your Octopus online account or app at least a couple of times in the first month.

A quick 5–10 minute check-in can prevent weeks of confusion.

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Mistake #9 – Worrying You’ll Lose Power During the Switch

The problem:
A lot of people quietly worry that switching supplier means the lights might literally go off.

That anxiety can make them:

• Delay switching
• Back out during the cooling-off period
• Put up with a worse deal out of fear

How to avoid it:

• Remember that your physical supply (pipes, wires, meters) stays exactly the same.
• The switch is an administrative change: it’s about who bills you and supports you, not about rewiring your home.
• There is no engineer visit required just to change supplier (unless you’re also getting a smart meter installed).

Knowing this upfront can make the whole process feel far less stressful.

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Quick Checklist: How to Sign Up Without Any Drama

Here’s a simple checklist to keep your switch smooth and protect your referral credit:

1. Start from the referral link
   👉 https://share.octopus.energy/melon-crane-917
2. Have a recent bill handy so you can enter realistic usage.
3. Double-check your address and contact details before submitting.
4. Don’t cancel your old Direct Debit until your final bill is sorted.
5. Watch out for emails asking for meter readings around the switch date.
6. Start on a simple tariff if you’re unsure; explore smart tariffs later.
7. Expect a review of your Direct Debit after the first few weeks or months.
8. Log in to your online account/app and get familiar with how everything looks.

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Ready to Join Without the Usual Mistakes?

Switching to Octopus Energy doesn’t have to be confusing, and you don’t need to be an energy expert. Most problems come from small misunderstandings – like not using the referral link correctly, ignoring emails, or guessing usage.

If you:

• Use the referral link properly
• Take a few minutes to enter accurate information
• Keep an eye on your account in the first month

…you’ll avoid the common pitfalls and get the best out of your new supplier.

If you’re ready, here’s the link again:

👉 Sign up to Octopus Energy using the melon-crane-917 referral link

Use it once you’re prepared, follow the steps we’ve covered, and you’ll give yourself a smooth switch and a nice bit of credit towards your future bills.