Door to door Utilities salesmen

Markyt

Taffyfella wrote: »

These people are only doing their jobs!!

From bitter experience, that seems to include lying and forging signatures.

I also don't like being called 'mate', asked if I'm watching the footy this afternoon, or patronised and told that the calculations 'are a bit complicated' when I ask them to prove they get me a cheaper rate.

artic_fox_2

i just say that i have run up a large bill(hundreds) with my currant suplier and im looking to change so i dont have to pay it the look on their face is brill and they quickly walk away

geordie_joe

Taffyfella wrote: »

Hook, line and sinker!

I was only joking Big Joe...You have alot of pent up agression which needed to be released on this forum! You even stated in the first post " Please don't anyone reply saying these people are only doing their jobs" I was only havin a scarf with ya, so lighten up.

Yes, but the mood I was in yesterday, the phrase " Please don't anyone reply saying these people are only doing their jobs" may have been a hook too, to get someone to replay, giving me another go at getting it of my chest.

Normally these people don't bother me, I can spot them in an instant and know all the questions to ask them.

Yesterday one of them fooled me, for a short while and I was bl**dy annoyed.

About a month ago I completed the switch to Southern Electric, via ebico.

Yesterday I was on my way out, I live in a 1st floor flat in a small block. I was just about at the main door when I hear my intercom buzz go off. Someone was ringing my door bell, so I contiued to the main door and opened it.

There stood a man in a southern electric jacket, who asked for by name and quoted my flat number. I said "that's me" and he said "I've come to read your electric meter"

I was expecting my meter to be read by southern electric at some point, so wasn't alarmed when some came, wearing a southern electric jacket saying they were here to read my meter. He also knew my name and flat number.

I asked if he knew where the meter was, it's in one of several cupboard just outside my front door. He said he didn't so I took him up to the next floor to show him which cupboard contained the electric meters, and which meter was mine.

On the way up the stairs I told him he was lucky, a few minutes later and he would have missed me and would not have got in to read the meter as I live alone. So if I am not at home he would not get past the front door.

We got to the 1st floor and I showed him which cupboard contained all the meters for the flats, and which meter was mine. He produced a torch from his pocket, shon it on the meter for a couple of seconds then turned to me and said.

"Oh dear Mr XXXX, you are paying far to much for your electricity!" He then produced a clipboard from under his jacket and said "I can get you discounts on your electricity and gas bills, discounts the government say single people like you are entitled to."

To say I was annoyed would be an understatement! I just can't work out which I was more annoyed about, the fact that he did fool me even if it was only for a short time, or that he conned his way into my home even though it was actually just a communal area, or the fact that he was from the company I actually get my fuel from!

As for tarring them all with the same brush, I have no doubt that most, if not all, start of as normal people. But then they are taken for a days training and told that al they need to do is tell people they will save money if they switch supplier, and the person will switch and they will earn £40.

Then they start knocking on doors and sooner or later they realise that people don't switch supplier at the door. This means they are not going to get paid, so they get more desperate to make a sale, and either try to con people in to switching, or trying the old "I'm not leaving until you sign" trick, or just plain get abusive.

Sometimes they decide that it is not worth the bother and this is the last day they will be knocking on doors. Then they realise that if they just forge the persons signature on the form, they will be paid the £40 and be long gone before the householder finds out thewy are being switched.

I don't really blame these people, I blame the fuel companies for they way they recruit and train them.

If I had my way this type of "selling" would be banned.

Woa, I got that of my chest, but don't feed me anymore bait, I've had too many relatives been conned by these people.

Taffyfella

I'm really sorry GeordieJoe, I was being childish....

I completely understand your anger and frustration as you and your family have experienced this first hand. I couldn't believe what happened with the alleged meter reader, that is just taking the p1$$.

Like you say, you had no reason to suspect anything ambiguous which had probably annoyed you ten fold when the penny dropped.

Fair point and fair play, god help the next person who try's to mislead you!!

I suppose if I was a victim of this, my opinion might well change..

Take it easy

Taff

Lusignan

tiamaria wrote: »

How do other MSE'rs handle them?

'I'm sorry but the voices won't let me speak to you today.'

Taffyfella

Markyt wrote: »

From bitter experience, that seems to include lying and forging signatures.

I also don't like being called 'mate', asked if I'm watching the footy this afternoon, or patronised and told that the calculations 'are a bit complicated' when I ask them to prove they get me a cheaper rate.

Thanks Marky,

Underestimating ones intelligence can be very patronising, to then add insult to injury he (assuming it's a male) disturbs you whilst the footies on.....

Like I say to GeordieJoe, I've not experienced any of this but can empathise as I picture someone trying to take me for a mug. I suppose in your circumstance it's Once bitten, twice as shy and all that jazz..

If ever I'm bitten I will post

Take it easy

Taff

Taffyfella

Lusignan wrote: »

'I'm sorry but the voices won't let me speak to you today.'

Seek help fast!!

Can you elaborate??

Taff

broxis11

geordie_joe wrote: »

I love these salesmen, to me they are fair game and very easy meat.

The thing to remember is they never know the prices, they are just trained to say thier company is 15% to 20% cheaper than the company you are current with.

At best they can get you to show them your bill, they then take at guess and tell you how much you could save if you switched to their company.

So, whether they are selling gas or electricity, or both, you insist they tell you how much it costs.

They can never do this and keep insisting you show them your bill and they will tell you how much you could save.

Stick to your guns, insist they tell you how much their gas/electricity costs. They eventually give up and admit they can do that. Some of the quicker thinking ones say they did have that information in leaflets, but so many people are signing up they have run out.

Next you ask how much gas/electricity they have got. This always stuns them, but they recover and tell you they have more than enough to supply you.

You then say "how do you know that? You don't know how much I use, so how can you say you have enough"

They then try to get you to say how much you use, but stick to your guns, get them to tell you how much gas/electricity their company has.

Of course they can't, and soon give up.

Next you say "Ok, your selling gas and or electricity, give me a look at it."

This also stuns them, it wasn't covered on the training day.

Usually they ask what you mean, and you say "i want to see a sample before I buy"

They then say "I can't just carry gas/electricity around with me!"

This is the best bit.

You then produce a battery and or a can of lighter gas. Tell them the salesman that called an hour ago left them as free samples, and they are really good quality and very cheap.

They have no answer to this, but it is fun watching them

Finally you deliver the killer blow. Look him straight in the eye, and with a straight face say

"Look mate, your selling gas/electricity, but you don't know how much is costs. You don't know how much you have and you haven't brought a sample so I can see the quality. Do you really think you are going to make a sale?"

I usually add a bit more to the end, but by this time the poor salesmen (I prefer to call them con men) are totally destroyed.

Please don't anyone reply saying these people are only doing their jobs. They are not, they are not paid to knock on any door and walk away without a sale. They are paid on a comission basis only. If they don't get you to switch supplier they don't get paid. It is because of this that they try every dirty trick in the book to get you to switch.

I belive that if someone is going to knock on my door and try every dirty trick in the book to get me to switch, I am entitled to pull a dirty trick to prevent this.

You really need to get out more, how long did it take you to think that lot up

:rolleyes:


I`m trying not to picture you eagerly clasping your battery and lighter waiting to pounce on the next `victim`

I highlighted the parts of your post which through my own experience I know to be incorrect..

Taffyfella

broxis11 wrote: »

You really need to get out more, how long did it take you to think that lot up

:rolleyes:


I highlighted the parts of your post which through my own experience I know to be incorrect..

Lol!!

Wait and see what you started broxis11?? :rotfl:

Taff

broxis11

Taffyfella wrote: »

Lol!!

Wait and see what you started broxis11?? :rotfl:

Taff

Sheesh, I know :rotfl:


I`ll need to let the guys in our office know about these new fangled objections, I can see sales taking a downward spiral :T