Martin Lewis reveals ‘naughty’ trick to get you and a pal FREE £100 – and says ‘energy companies will hate me’
MARTIN Lewis has revealed a “naughty” trick to get you and a pal £100 for free – while admitting “energy companies will hate me”.
The Money Saving Expert advisor explained the hack which could save you both a three-figure sum on energy bills.
He highlighted to viewers of ITV’s The Martin Lewis Money Show Live a “refer a friend” scheme run by Octopus Energy.
That rewards customers for suggesting the business to others when recommending a switch of suppliers
Existing consumers with Octopus can sign into their account and ask for a unique referral link to send on to a friend.
Once they do switch and their first monthly direct debit has been paid, you should each be eligible for £50 energy credits.
Martin described the advice as his “naughty little comment” as he suggested Shell customers could benefit as they are moved over to Octopus Energy.
Shell, providing domestic gas, power, and broadband services to about 2million customers, recently agreed a deal to sell to Octopus – meaning a transfer over of all customers.
Martin has now urged: “Before you’re automatically moved over, just go and get your friend to give you a reference and move you over a bit earlier – and then he gets £50 and she’ll get £50 as well.
And he joked: “Octopus is going to hate me for that – I didn’t say it, you didn’t hear it here.”
Happy viewers responded by thanking Martin for the tip, the Huddersfield Examiner reported.
One wrote: “Thank you Martin. I saw your recommendation re. the Shell Energy customers being switched to Octopus.
“My sister is affected so I referred her before the official switch date. Result!
“I received an email advising me that I would get £50 credit on my energy account when the switch is completed.”
Octopus Energy has stipulated that the £50 rewards are only provided if their website is used directly for the new sign-up, rather than via consumer switching websites.
There is no limit on how many friends you can recommend, with the company saying one customer made £1,000 credit by convincing 20 other people to shift their accounts.
Martin has also been talking about how you can be paid for turning off household appliances this winter.
Other advice has been targeted at people auto-renewing on their car insurance, including pinpointing a specific date to act instead.
Other recommendations cover how to pocket a free £205, avoid £1,000 fines and even nabbing free hot drinks.
Meanwhile, 1million people are about to begin receiving £300 cost of living payments from HMRC.
A full list has been revealed of energy firms which could pay you to use less this winter.
And there have been warnings about supposedly “cheap” appliances which actually guzzle through energy and add hundreds to bills.