Door to door energy sales

katfish · 6 December 2016 at 12:40PM

My in laws were approached last week on the doorstep by someone claiming to be selling cheaper energy through Scottish Electric. They've been through stuff with them and decided that it is a better deal than their current one with British Gas. They reckon that they're taking steps to ensure that it's not a scam by having a few days to think about it and calling the number they were given (yes, I know the issue with that, but they can be awkward and are not believing me currently that you can't ring the number that you're given by the person on the doorstep).
Currently we're concerned about them signing up to something that could be a scam. I was not sure that any of the energy firms even do door to door selling any more.
Has anyone come across this? How can we really check that it's not a scam?
We have the issue that both of them are ill and vulnerable, but both of them are inclined to being proud of their independence. Questioning anything with them tends to get their backs up. So I really need something concrete to show them to say either it's a scam or it's ok.
Thanks.

GingerBob_3 · 6 December 2016 at 1:55PM

If it was Scottish Power, rather than SSE, they may have fallen victim to this tactic:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5567000

If you're unhappy about this, it may be worth reporting them to the ICO.

csgohan4 · 6 December 2016 at 2:04PM

anything sold on doorstep, apart from your milk, Foxtrot oscar

katfish · 6 December 2016 at 2:05PM

Thanks, but that thread doesnt cover the same issue. There is a ref on it to cold calling being illegal. I wasnt aware it was illegal. Rather just no longer as acceptable.
Can anyone point me to the legality of coldcalling please?

katfish · 6 December 2016 at 2:08PM

csgohan4 wrote: »

anything sold on doorstep, apart from your milk, Foxtrot oscar

This is part of the issue. One says that. The other wants to go ahead and is seeing any outside suggestion as interference.

csgohan4 · 6 December 2016 at 2:12PM

sign post them to the MSE energy Club

katfish · 6 December 2016 at 2:21PM

Thanks. The suggestions are logical and are what I want to do anyway. However, my issue is that the person who wishes to go ahead does not want to listen to any other suggestion. They are taking it personally.
So the only way I may be able to get anywhere is to come up with a strong reason why they can't go ahead with the doorstep suggestion. All of the usual suggestions have fallen on deaf ears as they are taking it all as a personal sleight on their abilities.
I thought if anyone had come across this particular instance and had problems I could show them it in black and white. Then we can get to the options of looking at comparison websites and the energy club. Unfortunately, we have to get to that point first!!

GingerBob_3 · 6 December 2016 at 2:21PM

katfish wrote: »

Thanks, but that thread doesnt cover the same issue. There is a ref on it to cold calling being illegal. I wasnt aware it was illegal. Rather just no longer as acceptable.
Can anyone point me to the legality of coldcalling please?

It could be the same issue. If you receive one of these 'invitations' in the post from SP and don't respond, sooner or later they'll turn up on your doorstep.

Not sure about the legality of cold calling, but I thought OFGEM had banned it.

katfish · 6 December 2016 at 4:00PM

Further digging suggests that they may or may not have received a letter first. We'll never know unfortunately.
I've looked on the OFGEM website and there is guidance on there about what to do if you get someone coming to the door. There is nothing in the guidance to suggest that you say 'OFGEM don't allow this so go away'. That would suggest that OFGEM have lifted the ban to me.
My in laws are currently saying they've done everything. Although the number they rang to check was provided to them by the salesperson. So I'd say they haven't taken proper precautions yet.

I think from looking on the web further and the answers so far indicate that this is not necessarily a scam, though at best is questionable sales tactics. I think we'll have to revisit the phone call to the energy company by getting the info off their website and checking that they have a record of this visit. I'm sure this will not go down well, but will at least answer whether it's a scam before any bank details change hands.