Scammers claiming to be from Swalec?

Lum

Can anyone tell me if this is real or not?

Backstory. I moved house in July last year. When I moved I gave my final readings to Swalec, was told that my account was in credit (by about £30 if I remember correctly), and that my new address was also supplied by Swalec so they'd just transfer the account over to the new address. I then carried on paying electricity bills by direct debit.

A few months later I switched to Scottish Power, where I've remained ever since. Again the final bill was paid off in full and that was the end of my dealings with Swalec.

I've just had a call from an autodialler that addressed me by name (surname only) and then connected me to a bloke with a Scottish accent who claimed that I owed money on my old address, however when challenged he was unable to provide my new address or offer any proof that he was from Swalec other than telling me to look up the number he was calling from. I'm not falling for that one as I know from personal experience how easy it is to configure a PABX to present any old number (Many years back I've done it myself to wind up a co worker)

I was immediately suspicious because a sudden call out of the blue over a year after I left that address, from a company that has my new address, and no prior contact from them even though I still have a post office redirect set up from that address.

Anyone know if if this is how Swalec handle things, i.e. incompetently, or should I just file this call with all my Prince of Nigeria emails?

Lum

Called them, got to the bottom of this.

It turns out that although I moved out in mid-July, the letting agent told them I'd moved out on the 20th August and so they were chasing for the 10kWh of electricity that had been used while the house was standing empty.

From memory (I'm still local) 20th August is about the time the next tenant moved in, so basically they were trying to con both me and Swalec and get me to pay for the part of the bill they're responsible for.

Fortunately I have datestamped photos of both meters from move out day and my new account was with Swalec so they could confirm when I moved. Top marks to Swalec for sorting this out efficiently.

Conclusion: Letting agents are scum, but that's hardly news.

McKneff

Thanks for the update, glad you got it sorted.

brewerdave

Well done for keeping a record of move out readings:money: -far too many of the posts on here are due to tenants leaving a property without taking care of housekeeping issues like meter reads!!:)