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Scottish Power 'illegal' home calling

edwal13
edwal13 Posts: 45 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
Scottish Power have written to me telling me their advisors will call to discuss amongst other things 'their products'. Since cold calling is outlawed this is their way of getting round things, and not actually calling on you cold but by default you are agreeing to their visit by omitting to get back to them ....as they invite you to do by texting...they will then have your mobile number......visiting their online sight......or sending back a letter in a 2nd class stamped envelope they provide with a form they also provide for the purpose.....so they have your confirmed name and address on file in future.

I can't believe they have the brass neck to do this putting the onus on people who have to stop them coming otherwise they will turn up.

Suddenly they have you on hop when you never asked for it.

Anyone got an email/tel. no./other contact to actually inform Martin Lewis that this thing is happening.
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Comments

  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    edwal13 wrote: »
    Scottish Power have written to me telling me their advisors will call to discuss amongst other things 'their products'. Since cold calling is outlawed this is their way of getting round things, and not actually calling on you cold but by default you are agreeing to their visit by omitting to get back to them ....as they invite you to do by texting...they will then have your mobile number......visiting their online sight......or sending back a letter in a 2nd class stamped envelope they provide with a form they also provide for the purpose.....so they have your confirmed name and address on file in future.

    I can't believe they have the brass neck to do this putting the onus on people who have to stop them coming otherwise they will turn up.

    Suddenly they have you on hop when you never asked for it.

    Anyone got an email/tel. no./other contact to actually inform Martin Lewis that this thing is happening.


    Got the letter from them today. See my initial thoughts on it here:


    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71705844#Comment_71705844


    This is despite me sending their caller away with a flea in his ear a couple of years ago, and also requiring them to remove my address from their database when they sent a similar letter to my wife last year. The ICO is my next port of call.
  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    In the last couple of weeks i've had a letter telling me they're in my area fitting new smart meters, and if i want mine at a particular time to get in touch. But not to worry 'cos their engineer will call at my home.
    Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
    What it may grow to in time, I know not what.

    Daniel Defoe: 1725.
  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    SailorSam wrote: »
    In the last couple of weeks i've had a letter telling me they're in my area fitting new smart meters, and if i want mine at a particular time to get in touch. But not to worry 'cos their engineer will call at my home.

    Don't let them fit it. You're not obliged to have one.
  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    GingerBob wrote: »
    Don't let them fit it. You're not obliged to have one.

    When they become law, i'll have one. Or if they'd like to move my meter to a box outside, i'll have that now. They did want to charge hundreds when we asked years ago.
    Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
    What it may grow to in time, I know not what.

    Daniel Defoe: 1725.
  • edwal13
    edwal13 Posts: 45 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for these replies and so prompt too.

    Yes the 'we are in your area' thing cropped-up in the summer with a house renovator who was offering a cut price deal as long as we closed that deal before the workmen left the area. IE an incentive to get on with it pdq. We chased them away 6 months back but they continue to phone and pester us every week.

    Its cold comfort I know but hearing someone else has had a problem concerning these Scottish Power letters makes me feel better...sorry Ginger Bob....

    I mean surely following on from Martin Lewis's programme on ITV, especially this week, his lot need to be addressing this on behalf of people who thought this 'cold calling ' thing with energy suppliers had stopped.
  • st999
    st999 Posts: 1,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Don't let them fit it.

    Why? I'm getting them on 23 Dec.
  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    st999 wrote: »
    Why? I'm getting them on 23 Dec.


    Many reasons, most of which have been debated at length here. For me it's the privacy issue, but for a lot of people on here it's the fact that they aren't interoperable between suppliers. So you swap supplier and you no longer have a smart meter, unless they fit their own version.
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 12,858 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    For me -its a Yes to Smart even this version.

    It saves me asking my MIL to crawl under the stairs at the age of 95 to read the meters.

    PS Additional benefit - I don't have to go there to do it myself either.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • Robisere
    Robisere Posts: 3,237 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Robin9 wrote: »
    For me -its a Yes to Smart even this version.

    It saves me asking my MIL to crawl under the stairs at the age of 95 to read the meters.

    PS Additional benefit - I don't have to go there to do it myself either.

    You are talking about your MIL's house having a meter fitted, not yours. Does your house have one?
    I think this job really needs
    a much bigger hammer.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,365 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Sailor sam , no one will move your meter for free unless the pipes to the meter need to be changed. Then National Grid will install meters previously inside to an outside box. Its not a cheap job if you really need them outside.Over 1k at least for both meters.
    Wait for the SMETS 2 versions of the smart meters to come in before you have them fitted.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
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