Someone opened an electric account at my address

kizkiz

david39 wrote: »

This is a scam.

An unscrupulous salesman has used your address to open a "new" account and gain commission.

You may have had a visit from someone who purported to be from a utilities supplier, saying they are calling on behalf of the electricity generating company in your region and they need to have the serial number of your meter. He may well have asked to see your last bill or asked who supplies at the moment..

From this information, he has sufficient data to open a new account with another company and grab his commission before they have time to find that the switch is bogus.

This happens regularly with utilities and telephone/broadband suppliers. The bogus salesmen usually have authorised documentation from Scottish Power or TalkTalk but, neither of these companies is involved in this and the papers and ID tags are false.

If the generating company needed to know your meter number (and why should they??) then they would just ask your account supplier, not send someone round street-by-street to collect it.

Funnily enough, i had a salesman claiming to be from scottish electric at the door yesterday. He wanted to see the bill and was trying to get me to change supplier. Obviosuly i told him where to go. :rotfl:

sharloid

david39 wrote: »

This is a scam.

An unscrupulous salesman has used your address to open a "new" account and gain commission.

You may have had a visit from someone who purported to be from a utilities supplier, saying they are calling on behalf of the electricity generating company in your region and they need to have the serial number of your meter. He may well have asked to see your last bill or asked who supplies at the moment..

From this information, he has sufficient data to open a new account with another company and grab his commission before they have time to find that the switch is bogus.

This happens regularly with utilities and telephone/broadband suppliers. The bogus salesmen usually have authorised documentation from Scottish Power or TalkTalk but, neither of these companies is involved in this and the papers and ID tags are false.

If the generating company needed to know your meter number (and why should they??) then they would just ask your account supplier, not send someone round street-by-street to collect it.

That's a little far fetched! There's no evidence that it's a scam. It is an erroneous transfer. It could have been done by the person who was keying in a sale (door to door, call centre etc) simply put the wrong address/post code in. You need to contact your previous supplier and arrange for them to take the supply back.

QueenJo

mattcanary, yes I think that's what has happened

there are new tenants moving in and out all the time,

I don't have a bill to check serial numbers as it is from a debt collecting agency... and we don't have access to our meters they are not in our flats there in a cupboard in the hallway.

Will speak to Landlady about it,

Thanks for your reply... Q

QueenJo

birkee I agree with what you say thank you for your reply

Glad you got it sorted I never spoke to anyone at all either. Q

QueenJo

david39, I have not spoke to any salesman about the electric, I never open my door my children have a key to let themselves in.

Thank you for your reply though, I know these things happen. Q

QueenJo

Good for you kizkiz, Q

brewerdave

QueenJo wrote: »

mattcanary, yes I think that's what has happened

there are new tenants moving in and out all the time,

I don't have a bill to check serial numbers as it is from a debt collecting agency... and we don't have access to our meters they are not in our flats there in a cupboard in the hallway.

Will speak to Landlady about it,

Thanks for your reply... Q

You really need to be able to access your meter - your landlady should supply you with a key for the cupboard. It is important that you check that your bills are based on the correct meter for your flat (serial number) and that the actual meter readings are used(not estimates)

QueenJo

brewerdave, Thank you for your reply, it is very helpful,
I will definatly check them from now on and speak to the Landlady as soon as I can...