Southern Electric con man

Bossyboots

My mum got caught in the double whammy of signing "to prove I had called" by the salesman and not getting any paperwork until the "Sorry you are leaving letter arrived". That was when I found out about it!! The company in question was, hmm, let me think, Southen Electric. One very firm telephone call to SE and the matter was sorted but I was so angry. She now has strict instructions not to sign anything on the doorstep, even if she is offered the moon.

A while later they tried again, but this time she told the rep that she was not allowed to sign anything on the doorstep but if he could come back later I would be there and he could discuss it with me. He left his card and a mobile number but he didn't come back. I rang SE and complained then as well, pointing out the content of our earlier conversation which should have left them in no doubt that they were not welcome at my mum's house and that she wouldn't be switching to them. (They were not quite the phrases I used mind).

whatsername

I've had this too, also Southern Electric. And the same spiel as in the first post about me being a preferred customer and on an old tariff. I had a terrible job trying to get rid of him (and now I come to think of it he was South African sounding...). He tried to invite himself in "it will only take a few minutes" and when I refused he said "Well we'll just have to do it on the doorstep then..." And then wanted me to go and fetch copies of my latest bills. Finally said I was going out and was late for an appointment (which was true actually) and he still wouldn't go until I told him when I would be back.

It was only after the conversation that I realised I'm not even a customer of Southern Electric.

Ignite

I have had this happen to me before. British Gas turned up on the doorstep telling me that I had a faulty gas meter and that I was being over charged. I don't have gas! He then started on the same speil for the electricity.

When I had kicked him off the doorstep, I contacted my electricity company (then Scottish Power) and told them what had happened and that I had not signed up to change provider.

Lo and behold, a few weeks later, I had a letter from British Gas telling me that my current provider had blocked the transfer!

The moral of this is to contact your provider if you are in any doubt about the doorstep sales people you have had bothering you.

Andy

tru

A woman from SE came to my house today, told me I was due a discount and why hadn't I applied for it? Me - because you don't supply me. Her - but you can still have the discount. Me - I'm working, go away. Her - I can come back at 6pm. Me - no thanks. Her - but I'll be..... Me - NO :mad:

I ran out the back door, jumped over the fence and knocked on my neighbour's door (she's 83 so I was worried). She said "can I talk to you a bit later, I'm chatting to the electric woman". The woman was in her house, I have no idea how she got in there so fast. I told my neighbour to be very careful and not to sign anything, she's gone out and I have no idea if she signed anything I'll have to check later.

Bennifred

I had the doorknock earlier this evening: a young bloke with the SE uniform etc, very concerned that I am paying over the odds, what with recent price increases and so on. I am not with SE, says I. Well you may have a different bill sender, but SE are the providers, says he (!!!!!). My prices have not increased I say. Oh yes they have or you wouldn't be on my list, says he. I am on a fixed rate until 2007, I say. Your list must be wrong, please go away. I close the door. He calls though the door : Are you with NPower?. I ignore and he moves on. Actually I am with Scottish Power - anyone think I need to contact them about this incident? Or should I just forget it?

tru

My neighbour's just come home. I asked her if she signed anything - "No I bloody did not, the cheeky cow" :rotfl:

She told her she couldn't possibly speak now, "I'm having my cup of tea". She said "that's OK, I'll just come in and have one with you." "No you won't. You may stand outside my front door and talk to yourself if it's that important. I won't be listening" :rotfl:

Ignite

Bennifred wrote:

Actually I am with Scottish Power - anyone think I need to contact them about this incident? Or should I just forget it?

Personally, I would give Scottish Power a call just to say that if there is any change of supplier notification, it is not something you have signed and that you do not wish to move from SP. Ask them to block any move attempt from SE. It worked for me with British Gas.

Andy

Luckyscot

I had this same problem with an electricity company and i contacted the company and was told these people dont actually work for the company but are a seperate group and they gave me a number to complain.

jools61

I've also had a problem recently with a persistent door to door salesman. This one claimed to be from British Gas and was actually wearing a British Gas shirt with badge. He asked who my electricity supplier was, to which I replied that I was with SWEB and didn't want to change.

He replied "Do you know you're being overcharged by over £60 a year by them?" He claimed there was a hidden charge for having a meter, which SWEB don't tell their customers about. Obviously I didn't believe this. I told him that I wasn't interested in signing up to British Gas anyway, because I had been a customer of theirs in the past and wasn't happy with the service they provided.

Despite saying I wasn't interested, he carried on standing on the doorstep and made no attempt to leave. His manner became quite argumentative as he persisted in trying to get me to sign up for British Gas. He even said that only an "idiot" would want to stay with a company that charged you just for having a meter! I was quite insulted at being called an idiot, so I told him that I didn't like his attitude and would he please leave. Then closed the door on him. He finally left.

Thirty minutes later, there was another knock on the door. Yes, it was him again! But my daughter had spotted him through the window, so we didn't open the door and he left.

Since this unnerving experience, I've obtained a door window sticker from BT which asks Door to Door Salespeople not to ring. All I can say is that it seems to be working so far, because we havn't had anyone bother us since.

Melissa22_Mum

My boyfriend worked for them a while ago, then hastily left.....better not say more!

I did door to door charity work a few years back, please dont hate me, and if someone said NO i'd take it as gospel despite being trained to pursuade, pursuade, pursuade!

You could say you've worked for them and you know it all already.
The number one that I would use is to say you have a pre-pay meter for gas and electric (quantum meters) therefore its impossible for you to change.