If you have found a referral code and are wondering where to put it, start here. The referral link is usually the safest option because it sends you to Octopus with the code already attached. If you still want to compare tariffs first, do that before using the link.

Click the referral link (recommended)

This is the simplest route if you have already decided to switch. Click the referral link below and it takes you to the Octopus Energy signup page with the referral code attached. You do not need to find a separate promo-code box or type anything in.

Start your switch with the referral link →

The link takes you to octopus.energy with the referral code solemn-boat-668 already included. Once you are there, follow the normal signup process: enter your postcode, choose a tariff and fill in your details.

The key thing is to use the referral link for the signup you actually complete. If you leave the form and come back later through the normal Octopus homepage, the referral may not be attached. If that happens, contact Octopus quickly rather than assuming the credit will track.

Quote the code by phone

If you would rather sign up over the phone, you can call Octopus on 0808 164 1088. When the advisor is setting up your account, say you have a referral code and read it out clearly.

Tap to copy the code:

The advisor can add it while setting up your account. You should get the same £50 account credit as someone who used the online referral link, as long as the switch meets Octopus's referral rules.

One tip: copy the code before you call so it is ready. It is solemn-boat-668, spelled out as "solemn" (as in solemn occasion), "boat", then the numbers 668.

Add it after you've already signed up

Already signed up without a referral code? It is still worth asking Octopus quickly, especially if the switch has not completed yet. It is not something to rely on as a right.

Contact Octopus customer support through the app, online chat or email. Explain that you recently signed up and forgot to use a referral code. Give them the code solemn-boat-668 and ask if they can attach it to the signup.

This is more likely to be possible if you signed up directly with Octopus and act before the account is settled. If you joined through a comparison site, another affiliate link or months ago, assume Octopus may not be able to add it.

Worth noting: the safest approach is still to use the referral link at the time of signup. Retrospective help depends on Octopus support and the account circumstances.

Common mistakes that cost you the £50

The same errors tend to cause problems. Here is what to avoid.

Signing up through a comparison site

If you go to a comparison site and sign up to Octopus through its journey, the referral code usually will not apply. Comparison sites and cashback offers have their own tracking. If the referral credit matters to you, compare first, then come back and use the referral link directly.

Starting the signup but finishing it later without the link

If you click the referral link, get halfway through the signup form, close the page and then return through the normal Octopus homepage, the referral may not be tracked. The safest approach is to use the referral link for the session you finish.

Being an existing Octopus customer

The referral programme is for new customers switching to Octopus from a different supplier. If you're already with Octopus and want to change tariffs, that's great, but it won't trigger a referral credit. You can, however, share your own referral link with friends and family to earn credit that way.

What happens after you sign up

Once you've completed the signup (by any of the three methods above), here's what to expect:

Confirmation email. Octopus should confirm your signup and account details. Keep the email so you can check the tariff, Direct Debit and supply dates.
The switch period. Octopus contacts your current supplier and arranges the transfer. Citizens Advice says an as-soon-as-possible switch should happen within five working days, while you can also choose to wait until after the 14-day cooling-off period. Your energy supply continues during the switch.
Opening readings and final bill. Give opening meter readings when asked, especially if your smart meter has not started sending data yet. Your old supplier should use the closing reading to produce the final bill or refund any credit.
First Direct Debit. Your first monthly payment goes out. The amount is based on estimated usage and can be reviewed later if your account balance looks wrong.
Referral credit appears. Octopus says referral credit is added after the switch is complete and your first month's Direct Debit has been successfully taken. It usually appears automatically within a few weeks and comes off future bills.

A quick note on where to enter the code

One of the most common questions I get is "where do I enter the referral code on the Octopus website?" The honest answer is that you don't need to. If you click the referral link, the code is embedded in the URL and applied automatically. There's no separate field during signup where you type in a code.

This confuses people because many other companies have a promo-code box during checkout. Octopus does not usually work that way for online referrals. The link carries the code, which is why method 1 is the simplest and most reliable approach.

The only time you'd actually read the code out loud is if you're signing up by phone (method 2), where the advisor enters it on their end.

Which tariff should you choose?

This is a separate question from the referral code, but it is worth checking before you sign up. The referral credit is useful only if the tariff and Direct Debit still suit your household.

You may be able to start on a simple tariff and move later, but smart tariffs such as Agile, Go, Intelligent Go, Tracker, Cosy or export products each have eligibility, meter and pricing caveats. Do not pick a tariff just because a referral link is available. The tariff quiz can help if you are not sure where to start, or browse the tariff guides for detailed breakdowns of each option.

The referral credit is not tied to a specific tariff. It is separate from the decision about whether Octopus is the right supplier for you.

Step-by-step guide

Using an Octopus referral code without losing the credit

Where do you enter the code?

What if you compare first?

When does the credit appear?