Power Saver Device - are they a scam?

oliveoil54

80 year old neighbour was cold called from ITC Development Corp, 81 Oxford St, London Tel: 02084329528. Found USA firm but no mention of UK division. They sold her a £99 Power Saver (paid for by debit card) which they claim that by just plugging the machine into a free electric socket would they claim save 40% on electric bills. They asked no info on her current electric consumption, which is very low - she has economy 7 and storage radiators uses very liitle extra electricity as she is very economical.

As I understand it these units for the home user are little more than surge supressors and would be of very little use to my elderley neighbour.

Does anyone else know anything about them? I would be grateful for a quick reply as I would like to advise my neighbour to try & cancel her order, they haven't as yet taken the money from her Bank Account.

espresso

Yes please persuade her to cancel the order ASAP - snake oil, not possible to save any money with theses devices. see here

grahamc2003

Of course it's a scam. Ring the bank and cancel the direct debit, and probably the police/trading standards.

Cardew

Cancel it if you can.

There have been loads of threads on these and similar. Without getting technical, they claim to correct what is known as the 'Power Factor'.

Even if they did correct the power factor it would not make the slightest difference to the household electrical bill.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

This link is from other people reporting scam calls from that number:

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/02084329528

ashleypride

Most of these devices have literally nothing in them. Even if they do - it won't save money.
http://www.nist.gov/pml/quantum/power_121509.cfm

oliveoil54

Wow many thanks.
Weve called the bank and she is going into cancel her account tommorrow, as she gave all her account details! She will have to open a new one.

Reading the bumf on whocallsme these con merchants have obviously been very busy, its def worth warning elderley friends and relatives!
Thanks again!

Biggles

oliveoil54 wrote: »

Weve called the bank and she is going into cancel her account tommorrow, as she gave all her account details! She will have to open a new one.

There shouldn't be any need to go to that trouble as long as the bank have agreed to reject the debit card charge. There's no suggestion these people are actually thieves but, even if they were, there's other way they can get cash from her account.

oliveoil54

It was the bank advisers suggestion that she change accounts. She had actually paid by quoting her account details not debit card, which the bank said was the equivalent to giving them Direct debit access. it was their recommendation to close the account, especially to put her mind at ease - as she was very upset!

Whether they are thieves or not, they are def con merchants, & should be notified to the police!