E-On cold calling hassle

backfoot

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc wrote: »

I'm sorry the agent who called you was rude and didn't know you were already a customer. Totally unacceptable on both counts and I would follow Airmike's advice and raise a complaint about this. Details of our complaints procedure are on your bills.

With some of the comparison sites, there are tick boxes which need to be unticked to prevent any follow up. I agree with Mikeyorks, make sure you remove the relevant ticks.

Sorry again for the unacceptable attitude of our agent lucretia_ten.

Malc

What are the objectives of such an unsolicited call?

Tick or no tick in the box,what are Eon trying to acheive?

Are you only targetting Eon customers or anybody using a Comparison website?

How does this differ from the intrusion and misinformation peddled by doorstep sellers. How are the processes monitored? Presumably the agent involved can be traced?

backfoot

MillicentBystander wrote: »

A few months ago I got a call out of the blue from a very Indian sounding chap (although he said he was called Gary, lol) purporting to be from energyhelpline and trying to get me to switch suppliers! Apparently it really was energyhelpline IIRC and they employ an Indian call centre to cold call people. This sort of thing really has to stop.

There's a Energyhelpline Rep who could clarify if it was Gary. It could be a middle name of course. :rotfl:

I'm surprised that you fell for it.......you didn't resign to EDF as well did you?

You did !!

lucretia_ten

Thanks guys for all your responses. I have been considering the Co-op for my energy supply, but as they are quite an unknown entity at the moment and slightly more money per annum, so I will wait another month to see what happens with regards to the other suppliers.

I will complain officially via the E-On site, not because she didn't know I was already a customer but because of her attitude - I don't think she should be in a customer focused job - frightening off customers is not the objective me thinks, but that's certainly what she has done.

Regarding box ticking, I really did think I was quite vigilant - obviously not this time. I have a feeling it was when I used 'energylinx' - it was the first time using them, and as never in all the years of comparison has this happened to me before, seems a bit of a coincidence.

Many thanks, once again for every ones input

backfoot

Good to hear a response from Eon regarding their objectives in making these calls.

MillicentBystander

backfoot wrote: »

There's a Energyhelpline Rep who could clarify if it was Gary. It could be a middle name of course. :rotfl:

I'm surprised that you fell for it.......you didn't resign to EDF as well did you?

You did !!

HeHe! No, :eek: The call lasted for less than a minute, and 'Gary' got short shrift.

lucretia_ten

backfoot wrote: »

Good to hear a response from Eon regarding their objectives in making these calls.

My thoughts indeed Backfoot

backfoot

Eon seem reluctant to explain the purpose of these hassling tactics.

Could the Eon Rep please respond to the questions about who these unwanted calls are targetted at and what the objectives are?

As far as I can see it,they are just another cold call sales technique designed to confuse people from making best choice.

deshepherd

There was an article about this sort of thing in Money Guardian a few weeks back - though in the context of loans etc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/apr/02/asked-loan-lead

... basically if you go on many comparison websites etc and fail to tick the relevant boxes then they will then sell on your details to the highest bidder who will then target you as someone likely to "buy" through them so that they get the commission.

Energy companies will be keen to get new customers and since door step selling is becoming frowned upon then getting a list of names/phonenumbers/postcodes of people who are already indicating that they are interested in switching will be an obvious avenue to persue

backfoot

deshepherd wrote: »

... basically if you go on many comparison websites etc and fail to tick the relevant boxes then they will then sell on your details to the highest bidder who will then target you as someone likely to "buy" through them so that they get the commission.

Energy companies will be keen to get new customers and since door step selling is becoming frowned upon then getting a list of names/phonenumbers/postcodes of people who are already indicating that they are interested in switching will be an obvious avenue to persue

Yes, I get it.

I am trying to get Eon to come clean and explain what exactly they are doing? These are people who are using the correct tool to identify best price/s. Eon's details are fully included.Any further intervention seems totally unnecessary.

Until Eon explain themselves it is worth bringing this matter back to the top of the Forum as a warning to customers.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi guys

Sorry for the late reply; been on holiday but will do my best to catch up both on this thread and others.

As above, people not wishing to be contacted can opt out by unticking the necessary boxes on the various sites.

If anyone has an unpleasant experience, believes they've been given the wrong info or simply objects to receiving a call then please use our complaints process as lucretia_ten has done.

Individual agents will be identified and any necessary actions taken to improve the level of service/info given.

We use many different channels to communicate with both existing and potential customers but in all cases we must be compliant with set rules as laid down by Ofgem.

As I say, let us know if anyone feels we've not followed these rules. Our complaints procedure is there to deal with such matters.

Sorry again for the late reply.

Malc