Southern Electric - conning swines

jane_adams_2

Got conned by a Southern Electric doorstep seller yesterday, really annoyed I got taken in by it.

First of all he didn't tell me he was Southern Electric, said he was from EnergySure, just showed me his EnergySure badge. Started off about the usual carp about de-regulation. Normally I'd just politely tell them I'm not interested thank you, and I'd certainly have done this had he told me he was from Southern Electric (or any other supplier for that matter, I hate doorstep sellers).

I even said I wasn't interested in changing supplier, but he said that's not what he was there for, he just needed to check my meters to see if we could take advantage of the deregulated rate (I feel so stupid just saying this, obviously now I know it was a load of rubbish).

Anyway, once he was in the door he showed that it was Southern Electric he was pushing, saying we still use their electric we just pay a bill provider (Eon) for the supply, so to go to them direct would be cheaper (according to his calculations, £11 a month cheaper).

Anyway, by this point I was a bit bamboozled (I had 2 year old and my mum, who is staying with us due to broken leg in the other room, and a cup of coffee going cold!) so I signed, knowing I could check it out and cancel in the 7 day cooling off period.

So today we've phoned Southern to cancel (husband phoned and he said they seemed to have heard it all before), and he's also phoned EnergySure to complain. They were very helpful and told him that the shouldn't just show the EnergySure badge, so it was mis-selling at the very least (husband, who is a police officer, says it was technically trespass as was in the house under false pretences). They are supposedly phoning the EnergySure compliance person at Southern who are *supposed* to be phoning us back although not heard anything so far.


So basically the upshot of all this waffle is watch out for people claiming to be from Energy Sure employees, they should tell you what company they actually work for as well. I dread to think how many elderly or less aware people get taken in by these people :mad:

paintbrush

My 73yr old mother who is happy with Southern Gas/Electric was today conned by someone cold calling from Scottish Power telling her that they had taken over Southern Elect/Gas and she would have to sign a new contract.
Once she told me earlier on I contacted Sottish Power and advised them that I intend making as much noise as I can about their lying rep and would also be talking to the Police about the man concerned (Fraud?)

Cardew

Many many threads along the same lines.

Give people the incentive of big cash bonuses and they become - er - bankers!

jane_adams_2

paintbrush wrote: »

My 73yr old mother who is happy with Southern Gas/Electric was today conned by someone cold calling from Scottish Power telling her that they had taken over Southern Elect/Gas and she would have to sign a new contract.
Once she told me earlier on I contacted Sottish Power and advised them that I intend making as much noise as I can about their lying rep and would also be talking to the Police about the man concerned (Fraud?)

I had the same thing from NPower a few years ago, telling me they'd taken over Powergen (as it was at the time) and I had to sign to transfer the direct debit.

How do these people sleep at night?

We've been with Powergen/Eon for many years now, and have never had a single problem with them. I have also NEVER seen a Powergen/Eon sales person at the door/supermarket/shopping centre trying to get people to change (maybe they do, but I've never seen them). I'm fully aware they might not be the cheapest but to me the lack of hassle we have with them is worth paying a bit more for. I know some people will have had problems, no company is perfect, but we've had a good experience (we're also with Tiscali for phone and broadband and have no complaints, unlike half the population!!).

(By the way, the compliance bloke from Southern didn't call back, quel surprise!)

woozywendy

Had a sales rep at the door a few months ago trying to get me to sign upto a different company. Got the usual we are cheaper, you will save money etc, i usually shut the door with a polite "NO THANKS". This time I just told him "Yes great, that will be brilliant, what happens about the £2000 I owe my present company? Can I still swap and they will let me pay the outstanding bill at a couple of pounds a week?" His face was a picture and he just said I will have to get back to you I will phone in a couple of days. Amazing really as he never had my phone number.

Ignite

It can take months for somebody to get in touch so don't worry if you don't hear for some time. When I complained to nPower about an attempt at mis-selling, the call from the complience bloke from nPower was at least 2 months down the line. In the end, they sent me £75 in way of compensation when I wasn't even looking for anything except to get the sales idiot dealt with for his lies.

jane_adams_2

The compliance bloke actually called back yesterday. Was surprised they called at all to be honest. He was very nice and concerned about what had happened, and totally understood where we were coming from. He must have a cr*ppy job trying to keep all these salesman toeing the line!

He had also listened to the call when hubby asked to cancel the contract. I didn't realise that when he explained that we wanted to cancel the guy had said "I'm sure we'll survive"!!! Anyway, to cut a long story short, both the doorstep sales man and the person who took the call are going to get a telling off (supposedly).