cold calling

fernliebee

A bloke came to the door the other day to talk about electricity supplier. I don't want to change cos I can't be bothered with the hassle, however he said he was from 'the energy people' who 'oversee' energy suppliers and he had been told to call at my address as their system shows I am paying over the odds for my power. He knew how much I payed a week (lucky guess??) and said I would be better to change to scottish power as they were my 'local supplier' (i live in Milton keynes, scottish power, local???? ) He also said that his company had sent me a letter in January and had no response (i only moved to the property in march) however he said because I had been paying over the odds he could sign me up to the january 08 tarriff and I would receive cash back from them??

Anyway after a long 'sell' from this guy I agreed to sign the form as the prices did seem amazingly cheap, and my baby was poorly so I kinda wanted to get off the doorstep n he was very persuasive. This was over a week ago and I haven't heard anything from my old/ or new? supplier and I'm getting a bit worried.

Have I bagged a bargain, or as I have suspected since the guy left been conned into switching to another supplier, which is gonna end up being a hassle??

Sorry fro the essay but it seems such an elaborate ploy to get me to switch and surely would be an outright lie?? Has anyone had any experience of this??

Thanks for reading!:D

littletommytucker

Im guessing you need to contact scottish power and cancel within your cooling off period. Any company can make there prices sound cheaper. The best tactic is having a much lower pence per kwh at rate one and rate two, but charging twice as many kwh at the higher price. Or they may be just a flat rate.. but he forget to mension there standing charge that they have before you have even started using gas/electric.

Always use an independant price comparsion website when finding the best deal. Never listen to someone on your doorstep that isnt going to get paid unless you sign.

KimYeovil

He is a crook and a swindler and most door-steppers do tell outright lies.

All is not lost, however. Once the company contacts you note who they are and which tariff they are putting you on. Look up the prices on the web and compare them (ignore any suggested direct debits they put on the initial letter - they are just baits). You have seven days after you receive this letter to reject the switch if it is nonsense. Even if you miss this, you can switch back or elsewhere straight away - there will only be a one month contract.

Alternatively, contact your current supplier and tell them you do not want to switch and instruct them to put a block on any imminent transfers.

The half good news is even the companies with the scummiest sales people (eg Scottish and Southern) do actually have decent prices.

fernliebee

Thanks! Yeah you've backed up what I was thinking for sure! I'm normally pretty savvy on stuff like this I blame my cotton wool brain cos the baby was ill

Think I'll just cancel. It just seemed that he was outright lying saying he was from another company? Think I'll complain about that at the same time.

Cheers!

ricky9

most door-steppers do tell outright lies.

I will totaly disagree with this most door-steppers do tell the truth.
But i do agree that there is a bad apple in every company.

Most Scottish Power sales people are self employed and are on commision only.

littletommytucker

Unfortunatly you cannt just contact your energy supplier and tell them you dont want to switch... as much as they would want to keep you as a customer, it doesnt work like this. You would need to cancel your contract with the company that you have signed to. You will have 7 days cooling off period.

Plushchris

ricky9 wrote: »

most door-steppers do tell outright lies.

I will totaly disagree with this most door-steppers do tell the truth.
But i do agree that there is a bad apple in every company.

Most Scottish Power sales people are self employed and are on commision only.

I have to disagree, EVERY door-stepper that has darkened my door from an energy company has lied about one or more things or been delibrately deceptive (like comparing their best prices excluding VAT to competitors worst prices including VAT)

So "most" door-knockers I've had here have lied, and the worst thing is they continue to do so.

The list of lies I've heard include such Gems as..

"We are your regional supplier and by buying from us you are cutting out the middle man" (regardless of if they actually are the regional supplier)

"You are on our list as paying too much for your electricity, who is your supplier?"

"We are a British company, all the others including (*insert your supplier here*) are owned by foreign companies"

"Sign here and we will send you an information pack" (actually a welcome pack as you just signed the application)

"This tariff is only available if you sign up today" (Also the "show only offer" at the ideal home show)

"We are from the electricity board" (and being quite slippery when you ask what company)

"We guarantee to be cheaper than...."

"There is no cancelation fee on this tariff"


I could go on...:rolleyes:

ricky9

There is a bad apple in every company .
Most tell the truth.
You always hear about the bad ones but never about the good ones.

"We are a British company, all the others including (*insert your supplier here*) are owned by foreign companies
Only one company is not owned by foreign parent company.

Sign here and we will send you an information pack" (actually a welcome pack as you just signed the application)
You should always read anything before you sign anything and most have CONTRACT on it some companys now do a call validation at pos and this prevents this sort of thing.
This tariff is only available if you sign up today" (Also the "show only offer" at the ideal home show)
This could be true as we all seen with the speedy withdrawal of the fixed price tarrifs.
There is no cancelation fee on this tariff"
There might not be on that tarrif we should all should read the small print.
"We guarantee to be cheaper than...."
Most companys are cheaper but it depends on what we use.

Cardew

As night follows day, if you base income solely on commission then salesmen will exaggerate/cheat/lie.

There is little point in stating what customers should do - they don't. The fact is these people prey on the gullible!

HarryH_3

fernliebee wrote: »

A bloke came to the door the other day to talk about electricity supplier. I don't want to change cos I can't be bothered with the hassle, however he said he was from 'the energy people' who 'oversee' energy suppliers and he had been told to call at my address as their system shows I am paying over the odds for my power. He knew how much I payed a week (lucky guess??) and said I would be better to change to scottish power as they were my 'local supplier' (i live in Milton keynes, scottish power, local???? ) He also said that his company had sent me a letter in January and had no response (i only moved to the property in march) however he said because I had been paying over the odds he could sign me up to the january 08 tarriff and I would receive cash back from them??

Anyway after a long 'sell' from this guy I agreed to sign the form as the prices did seem amazingly cheap, and my baby was poorly so I kinda wanted to get off the doorstep n he was very persuasive. This was over a week ago and I haven't heard anything from my old/ or new? supplier and I'm getting a bit worried.

Have I bagged a bargain, or as I have suspected since the guy left been conned into switching to another supplier, which is gonna end up being a hassle??

Sorry fro the essay but it seems such an elaborate ploy to get me to switch and surely would be an outright lie?? Has anyone had any experience of this??

Thanks for reading!:D

I had the same bloke round my house. I had to correct him on the difference between kW and kWh. I took his leaflet but got rid of him because i was losing all the heat in my house standing there with the door open. I checked the tarriffs on offer against mine and they seemed worse. I only gave it a cursory look though.

Vestra

ricky9 wrote: »

Only one company is not owned by foreign parent company.

Is there not more than one?