Phone call from "the electricity board"

xiox

I've just had a phone call from (it sounded like) India with a guy saying he was phoning on behalf of "the electricity board". He had my full name. I kept asking him which electricity board, but he kept repeating "the electricity board". I put the phone down.

I wonder what scam was going on here? Perhaps I should have gone on a little to find out!

spiro

The elec board went the same way as the gas board, they no longer exist. The two main types of organisation are Suppliers (who you pay) and Distributors (who maintain the cables to your house). If they phone again ask for the name of the company he is employed by.

saveways

I've just had a similar call from a lady with an indian accent - from the "elec board" (who??), wanting to send me a saver device - could save up to £40 a year. I went along for a bit, as this is a new one on me (I've done switching suppliers zzzzzzzzzzzzz) and she told me we were good payers by direct debit so we qualified for this thing. I told her we had elec savers but she said "no, that's a meter" - Doh!!
Anyway, it ended up with her asking for my debit card number! I asked what she wanted it for - "to confirm your ID" (right!). I said how much would it cost then - "oh no charge". So why do you want my card number - "ID. We NEED it!"
Er, NO!! I don't give the number to anyone I don't know and you certainly don't need it cos you've already told me I pay by DD.
She really started arguing so I told her to take my details off her list and never call again as I was not interested. And if I get switched there will be hell to pay. Other people have posted to suggest registering with Telephone Preference, but it's only UK based - which is why all these call are from abroad.
Don't give anyone your card details - please don't let these companies take your money!!

hippey

spiro wrote: »

The elec board went the same way as the gas board, they no longer exist. The two main types of organisation are Suppliers (who you pay) and Distributors (who maintain the cables to your house). If they phone again ask for the name of the company he is employed by.

The electric board do still exist, along with the gas & water board, the corperation & Radio Rentals..... It's just that all people who work for them now are trying to extort money out of unsuspecting people!

Joelulu

I get this call regularly, usually I don't answer because it shows up on the caller display as 'international.'

If I'm in the mood for a little entertainment as I was when the call came yesterday I answer and respond to everything they say with a question of my own.

'Is that joelulu?'

'What do you want?'

'Can you confirm your energy supplier is X, Y, or Z'

'Why do you want to know?'

and so on...

They tend to hang up on me after a couple of minutes.

robw09

I just had one of these today.

I used to just hang up within a few seconds, but now I tend to play them out a bit now.

I asked who they represented.

"all electric companies" and that we were "good payers"

They then wanted to know whether I was a pensioner. I said no to which they then need my date of birth to confirm I was not. I said "why would you need that? I have just told you I am not. Is the 'device' age specific? I could say any date it doesn't 'confirm' one way or the other does it?"

I obviously deviated from script at which point she hung up.

I hate these people with a passion. I could see my mom & dad giving over some details to people like these, but I would suspect they would not give over their CC details. However, some people would

kismetkaz

I just had this phone call with the exact words of previous posters, ie, Im calling from the Electricity Board etc. I asked for a name and phone number that I could call to confirm it was genuine and he did give this to me, surprise surprise the number doesnt exist.

He wanted my date of birth, full name and address (although he already had it) and then asked for my debit card details which I refused to give. He said it was for ID purposes and that no money would be taken. Yeah right, do I look like I fell out the nearest tree??!!

He had an Indian accent and was calling from a call centre on an International number. I told him that I was not interested and to not call me again!

pothole50

I had a cold call but he did not have an indian accent but had said he had been contacted by the utility companies and wanted to give me a plug that would switch off via remote, and a water saving device to fit in the shower. Thinking as you do whats the catch so declined, he kept repeating are you sure you dont want it, I said no, he said it was free no obligation, not one to miss out on a freebie I then said yes and received both in the post. Then had an email saying the plug had proved to be unsafe and could catch fire, and then sent me another one.

As for phone calls like this I just say hang on a minute, I just need to turn the cooker down or what ever excuse you need to give, then just leave them hanging on the phone, they wont bother you again.

SYNERGY

saveways wrote: »

I've just had a similar call from a lady with an indian accent - from the "elec board" (who??), wanting to send me a saver device - could save up to £40 a year. I went along for a bit, as this is a new one on me (I've done switching suppliers zzzzzzzzzzzzz) and she told me we were good payers by direct debit so we qualified for this thing. I told her we had elec savers but she said "no, that's a meter" - Doh!!
Anyway, it ended up with her asking for my debit card number! I asked what she wanted it for - "to confirm your ID" (right!). I said how much would it cost then - "oh no charge". So why do you want my card number - "ID. We NEED it!"
Er, NO!! I don't give the number to anyone I don't know and you certainly don't need it cos you've already told me I pay by DD.
She really started arguing so I told her to take my details off her list and never call again as I was not interested. And if I get switched there will be hell to pay. Other people have posted to suggest registering with Telephone Preference, but it's only UK based - which is why all these call are from abroad.
Don't give anyone your card details - please don't let these companies take your money!!

If you do give them your card details it will cost you approx. £90.00 in the first instance.

Then seeing as how they now have all your details, card no. name , address, date of birth etc they can easily hammer your account for more money. :eek:

See here http://www.ukpower.co.uk/gas_electri...aving-box-scam

When I get these calls I either ignore or have a bit of fun with them.

Pretend to be hard of hearing, act thick, keep repeating their questions, speak Swedish, the best ones are say I'm the doctor and Mr. X has just died :rotfl:or I'm the fire brigade and the house has just burnt down :rotfl:.

I have been amazed at the responses to the last two, deathly silence, a quite apology than they hang up, or the cheeky b*****s still try to sell something to a dead man. :laugh:

I have occasionally, after the third call of the day, told them to go away in good old Anglo Saxon :shocked: it may not be their native tongue but appears to universally understood. :dance:

bloss0m

I posted about the scam a few days ago but it appears it was largely ignored

Energy saving box scam

and

Energy saving box scam

Awesome_Andy

Had a call exactly like this today