Door knock : energy tariff advice giver turns into phone snatch and police called

satanloans

Something needs to be done. This is all shades of wrong but the police didn't do anything. 

These guys came today and claimed they were from interactivechallenge and told me I could save money. He seemed pleasant so I had a chat with him on the door step.

Before we knew it he asked my name, I only game him my first name. He asked my number so I provided. He then asked me to get my phone so I did. He wanted the reference number sent to my phone that came in a text with a number for scottish power. 

I showed him the number and he took my phone from my hand. I did nothing because he didnt move and could be just reading the number. He then pressed on a phone number in the text and proceeded to call the number from my phone. I was quite alarmed now. I didn't give him permission to do this. So I politely said I will want to research all that has been said (because talk is cheap) and then proceed. As I said this he stopped trying to make the call and talked to me but I didnt compute a word he said as he still holding my phone and I am quite stressed now. He pressed the number in the text and it started to dial. I reached out for my phone and he pulled away from me. 

Sorry but this crossed the line and I swore at him. What the bleep etc. He colleague turned up to knock my neighbours. She is in her 70s. When she opened the door I told her not to talk to them and go in as they are energy scammers. (I dont think they necessarily are. I will explain) She went in, trusting what I said. 

I took my phone back and demanded they leave the block, in not so polite words. They started the brovado thing like they are hardmen and I didnt back down, they eventually left the landing and I follwed them out which they didnt like. I asked for phone of their ID. They didn't provide. 

They went outside and I followed them to see what they would do. They proceeded to knock so I continued to be ignored asking for their ID. So I called the police. The poor lady on the phone didnt get much from me as the loud exchange was continuing. She told me police are on their way and ended the call. 

I persisted in following them and asking for ID. Repeatedly. We reached almost the end of my street. Lots of people watching. 

"OK HAVE MY ID" so I took a pic of it and him. He snatched my phone out of my hand. He then proceeded to come at me for a fight. I heard sirens. He still coming at me. He colleague trying to stop him. I told him "police behind you". He stopped. 

Police took them round the corner, and questioned them. Police claim they are from a real company and are legit. How the heck would they know in seconds ? 

A bystander reluctantly admitted the guy grabbed my phone to the police. My phone had been left on the bin. 

Police admitted touching my phone and dialling the scottish power number was cheeky. He denied pulling away from me with my phone. The other guy even though had grabbed my phone out of my hand, was free to go and no concern for the police. 

I was advised to complain to the company, by the police.

The company is a faceless website with an email address. No other way to contact them. 


1. Taking my phone and calling scottish power on it in an attempt to switch my electrical supplier without my consent, against my wishes is a violation.
2. Being told that and trying to do it again, is crossing the line and then some.
3. Backing away from me when i reach for my phone is beyond theft. We just met dood. My phone shouldn't be in your hand muchless it be your right to deny me retrieving my phone. 

The bad man attitude, the snatching of my phone and coming at me to fight is all arrestable offences. If I come at a police officer like that, I am being locked up. If I snatch a police officers phone I am being locked up. If I do all of this, I am being locked up.

I was trying to protect myself and did nothing illegal.  They violated more than once and it was ok to the police. 

What on earth ?

FYI - everything above is true and this post is a legal document if need be. 

TroubledTarts

No cold caller sign might be handy here.

Never engage with anyone selling you something at the door.

Politely "go away"

Qyburn

What company were they representing?

Gerry1

Never engage with a cold caller, either on the doorstep or on the phone.  You can get a sticker such as this to dissuade them from knocking, and you can register with the Telephone Preference Service to stop nuisance calls.

If anyone ignores these warnings then by definition you know they are dodgy at best, scammers at worst.

Gerry1

Qyburn said:

What company were they representing?

Almost certainly not an energy supplier.  Probably self employed or working for a dodgy door-to-door outfit, getting commission from introductions to legitimate suppliers.

QrizB

Qyburn said:

What company were they representing?

OP says:

satanloans said:

These guys came today and claimed they were from interactivechallenge

Which looks to be:
https://www.interactivechallenge.com/
"Take our Questionnaire to see if you can save money on your Household Bills"

Controlled by two limited companies:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC487971

and
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08743412

They have a complaints email address:
https://www.interactivechallenge.com/contact-us

FreeBear

TroubledTarts said: No cold caller sign might be handy here.

Politely "go away"

Signs don't work - Have had Anglian Windows knocking, and even after pointing to the sign, they continue.

A polite "go away" doesn't always work... Sometimes, a forcible "f... off" is warranted.

satanloans

When he took my phone out my hand as if to copy the text reference number was deemed acceptible by me and of course him, but then trying to make the call and hearing me say I am not ready and want to research for him to then dial it again and THEN back away from me when I reach for my phone shows the line was well and truly crossed into the land of pressure tactics. Had he said why he was calling them and given me the boss position of giving clearance to make the call, seeing as it was my phone then I wouldn't have had any argument with them because he would have taken no for an answer and relinquished my phone back into possession. 

But he didn't so what ensued from me was warranted. Utterly disgusting. 

I have a photo of his (the other colleague) iD. His face and then his hand as he snatched the phone.  It's 2am almost and I can't stop thinking about this. 

The police were terrible. But it was all his word against mine, because they didn't care to speak to anyone about what lots of people just watched happen. "You should form a complaint to the company".

Yes, that is their wesbite. It's on the ID. 

jackieblack

FreeBear said:

TroubledTarts said: No cold caller sign might be handy here.

Politely "go away"

Signs don't work - Have had Anglian Windows knocking, and even after pointing to the sign, they continue.

A polite "go away" doesn't always work... Sometimes, a forcible "f... off" is warranted.

Not opening the door in the first place always works 😉

HampshireH

satanloans said:

. "You should form a complaint to the company".

Yes, that is their wesbite. It's on the ID. 

So what did the company say when you logged your complaint?

p00hsticks

Gerry1 said:

Never engage with a cold caller, either on the doorstep or on the phone.  You can get a sticker such as this to dissuade them from knocking, and you can register with the Telephone Preference Service to stop nuisance calls.

If anyone ignores these warnings then by definition you know they are dodgy at best, scammers at worst.

Although be aware that some people say that these 'no cold caller' signs can have an adverse effect as they flag up to bypassers that the residents may be elderly / vulnerable / gullible.