Watch out for Eon reps when you're out shopping

poppellerant

Twice today, my path was obstructed by an Eon representative. The first time I had I time to burn, so decided to entertain them.

First I was asked how much I paid - £70 I told the rep. "Wow, do you live in a six bedroomed house?" she asked! "No, I live in a three bedroom house" I replied rather suspiciously, smelling BS rather distinctly.

I told her my supplier, and she clicked through her little handheld computer. I gave my postcode, but not my house number. She said a little sheepishly "well you are paying over the odds, according to these figures we could save you about £50/year.

Acting more interested, I asked her which tariff she compared it to, because I am tied into a contract until 2012. She then asked me which I was on, and updated her information. A little more sheepish than previously, she said "oh it looks like you're doing ok". At that time, I said my goodbyes.

First off, she was scaremongering myself, and quite likely many others, into thinking their bills are massive. But thanks to my frequent checks, I knew full when she told me I lived in a 6-bed house she was talking utter rubbish!

Secondly, she used the standard tariff - a bad assumption on her behalf it seemed, because I suspect Eon are more expensive than my current provider!

Really this is just a long winded post, reminding everybody to be vigilant and on their guard. They might not be allowed to come knocking any more - but at least they can entertain you, while you're waiting for people in the shops. :rotfl:

Capyboppy

Great post there:T Seems like you are a bit like me. I had a bit of fun with one of the doorstep men, think it was NPower if I recall. As usual after he gave the blurb of how much he could save me, I gave my usual blurb that I never sign up to anything at the doorstep, nor before reading their literature and comparing the expenditure based on kilowatt hours for the year. The best he could do is leave me the colourful leaflet and say he would come back the next day. After looking at all the small print with a magnifying glass I discovered it was a two tier tariff which he failed to mention. It took me about 2 hours to work out the complicated maths but I was determined to do it. I then wrote everything out neatly for his return the next day. He was scratching his head with puzzlement when I presented it to him with how my current tariff was so much cheaper, despite the cash back and so called other fancy incentives. I don't think he was prepared for that! The final icing on the cake was when I asked him why he didn't tell me that it was a two tier tariff as printed in the small print. He mumbled something I couldn't catch and went off literally with slouched shoulders, and should he have had a tail, it would have been definitely between his legs!
Utility and computer sales people don't like me. They see a middle aged female and think I am a pushover. They find out not only am I a techy geek, but I can also add up:rotfl:

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

poppellerant wrote: »

Twice today, my path was obstructed by an Eon representative. The first time I had I time to burn, so decided to entertain them.

First I was asked how much I paid - £70 I told the rep. "Wow, do you live in a six bedroomed house?" she asked! "No, I live in a three bedroom house" I replied rather suspiciously, smelling BS rather distinctly.

I told her my supplier, and she clicked through her little handheld computer. I gave my postcode, but not my house number. She said a little sheepishly "well you are paying over the odds, according to these figures we could save you about £50/year.

Acting more interested, I asked her which tariff she compared it to, because I am tied into a contract until 2012. She then asked me which I was on, and updated her information. A little more sheepish than previously, she said "oh it looks like you're doing ok". At that time, I said my goodbyes.

First off, she was scaremongering myself, and quite likely many others, into thinking their bills are massive. But thanks to my frequent checks, I knew full when she told me I lived in a 6-bed house she was talking utter rubbish!

Secondly, she used the standard tariff - a bad assumption on her behalf it seemed, because I suspect Eon are more expensive than my current provider!

Really this is just a long winded post, reminding everybody to be vigilant and on their guard. They might not be allowed to come knocking any more - but at least they can entertain you, while you're waiting for people in the shops. :rotfl:

Hi poppellerant

I'm sorry you feel our rep was misleading and scaremongering. We take these matters very seriously and have a set process to deal with this type of complaint.

Please contact us and ask for a Sales Compliance complaint to be raised. We'll be happy to investigate your concerns and talk to the rep concerned.

You can call us or drop an email through our website. Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my mailbox and I'll be happy to kick-start the process for you.

Malc

ColinFishwick

I saw two other day whilst shopping in a supermarket. I really detest supermarkets that allow this to happen. I go there to shop not be hounded by sky/rac/aa/energy companies

backfoot

Unfortunately if they are commission based, all that has happened is that they have moved from doorstep liars to supermarket based liars.

Not once,in my experience, has an energy salesperson been honest from whatever company. In all likelihood they would never sell energy if they were honest.

Ban it. Waste of time and money. Reduce bills instead.

Antispam

I would never buy from salesperson on street/door/supermarket I dont trust them either, they rarely ever give you the best deal and at most best deal for that company as they have a vested interest, even some comparison sites are at it, but not all are at it

backfoot

Antispam wrote: »

I would never buy from salesperson on street/door/supermarket I dont trust them either, they rarely ever give you the best deal and at most best deal for that company as they have a vested interest, even some comparison sites are at it, but not all are at it

I've asked Sales Reps and the Supplier Reps this question and they never offer even their own Company's best deal.

Eon (whom this thread is about) will no doubt be changing this with their 'Reset' initiative to treat customers properly.

dizziblonde

I had great fun with one who came door knocking in my old flat. Normally once you say you're on a prepayment meter (as I was there) they would run for the hills screaming in terror - this one decided to push his luck, started spinning all sorts of flannel to me assuming I was an idiotic woman who knew nothing about it all.

Kept him going for a good 15 minutes (I forget which company it was for) until he piped up with "oh so where do you work"... and got the reply "actually I work with prepayment electric accounts for X energy supplier." His face was a picture!

(Jacked the job in soon after because I hated it but that was another story)