Has anyone been scammed by meter reading engineers? I think I have.

JamesJUK

Hi all,

I'm trying to search for cases of people who have been scammed by "meter reading engineers". Hear me out, because I think something strange is going on.

In November Utilita (my current provider) sent me a letter telling me they were sorry I'm leaving. I was confused, I didn't sign no contract or agree to a switch. The supplier that had taken my energy was Economy Energy. I put a post up about this before.

Anyway, the switch happened. I filed it as erroneous with both companies. I was told I wouldn't be switching, but the switch still happened. I'm now stuck waiting for Economy Energy to send it back to Utilita. The switch will happen officially on the 2nd of Feb (even though we were told 18th of January).

I've been on the phone all day because they left me without gas and wanted me to top up my account using Economy Energy. NO CHANCE! I didn't want the switch and as far as I'm concerned they stole my energy and now want me to enter into a payment contract for something I didn't agree to?! Nope. I will not be doing that.

Long story short I now get free energy until the switch back to my old supplier happens because it was an illegal transfer. The name on their system isn't the name of any person living at this address. We didn't agree to it. And someone has forged the signature and/or agreement. Many thanks to CAB ... when they called them Economy Energy soon changed their tune and decided to help me.

Now a week before this fiasco started I had a gas engineer come to my door. We have these every year so I thought nothing of it. He read the meter and left. He looked the part, and wore an ID badge - except I didn't inspect the ID, I just glanced.

I mentioned this to both Utilita and Economy Energy. Utilita didn't send anybody out, they confirmed that. And EE are not going to send someone out randomly when I'm not even using them for my supply. They confirmed this on the phone too.

So that engineer was a fraud. That's the only possible explanation.

And then something clicked. The Utilita agent told me that when they get a transfer request all they get is a meter number and an address. No names. They told me this because I asked why Utilita didn't check the account names on the system before agreeing to the transfer.

Also, the name on Econemy Energy's system is not the name of anyone living here. Someone forged a contract.

I can only assume that the meter reading guy got the meter number, completed a form in a random name with my address, and signed off on that. Why? Because he will earn commission. The commission will be a decent amount. At a guess lets say £10 per subscription. Do that to 100 people and you've got £1000 ... at least. You could do that in a day because many people, like me, just let the gas engineers in and out if they look the part. A percentage of the population will have the meters outside the house, so it's just a case of him asking to read your meter using his magic key.

Anyone dealt with anything like this before? I'm waiting for Economy Energy's complaints team to call me back because I've requested a copy of the contract so I can go to the police and file this as a fraud case.

Cardew

A few years back when 'doorstop knocking' salesmen were allowed it was a fairly common occurrence for salesmen to read meters and forge forms. They also don't need to go inside many properties as the meters are on an outside wall.

However now doorstop knocking sales are not allowed, it is difficult to see how your scenario of fraud will work. What is the mechanism by which Economy Energy would pay the fraudster.

Be interesting to see how your case goes, but my money would be on a c0ck-up rather than conspiracy!

JamesJUK

Well, I called the CAB and they put me through to their Citizens Advice consumer helpline. I explained my issue to the guy on the phone and he mentioned that "This is quite a common case believe it or not", and upon research I've found numerous cases of where it's happened.

Scams happen on numerous levels, some of them pretty wild and then they end up on crime watch or watchdog once they're caught out. I wouldn't just assume that things like this don't/can't happen.

I also do not believe this has anything to do with Economy Energy. The pretend meter reading engineer is. They are the one's getting paid the commission for each meter number they get (or the company they work for). It's not unreasonable. I work in affiliate marketing myself and wouldn't put that past them.

uSwitch have an affiliate program. They pay £21 per lead. Here it is: https://www.uswitch.com/landing-pages/partners/

For the "scammers" it's easy work. Knock a door, quickly read the meter, there's £21. Who wouldn't love £84 an hour (assuming at least 4 meters read an hour). I've seen criminals do worse for much less.

Also remember Utilita and Economy Energy both said they didn't send anyone out to read my meter. Why would a randomer knock my door to read my meter?

I will be contacting the police because if this is something that's happening on a regular basis, the police can look into it. If it's nothing, then so be it, but if it's an issue many people are facing due to erroneous transfers, or it looks shady, they'll hopefully spot it.

I feel something isn't correct here and I'll keep digging to find out if this stuff actually happens.

JamesJUK

cardew wrote:

A few years back when 'doorstop knocking' salesmen were allowed it was a fairly common occurrence for salesmen to read meters and forge forms. They also don't need to go inside many properties as the meters are on an outside wall.

However now doorstop knocking sales are not allowed, it is difficult to see how your scenario of fraud will work. What is the mechanism by which Economy Energy would pay the fraudster.

Be interesting to see how your case goes, but my money would be on a c0ck-up rather than conspiracy!

I just found this further proof: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/investigation-economy-energys-compliance-under-gas-and-electricity-supply-licences-standard-licence-condition-25

An investigation has been started into Economy Energy: "Breach Areas:Marketing and telesales activities Vulnerable customers".

Not just a conspiracy now. They're a shady company.