Southern Electric Door Scam??? Perhaps?

rosscobley

Rex_Mundi wrote:

I had exactly the same happen yesterday (the OP was like deja vu). South african bloke, come to check our tariff because our postcode had a lot of complaints about overpricing.

The man didn't like me by the end of the conversation. I wasn't falling for any of it. It told him that he had no right to see my bills (which is true). I also told him that I'd seen complaints on the internet about Southern Electric sales techniques, and he had used all of them. The man was very arrogant and very rude.

As he turned around to storm off, I stopped him and grabbed hold of his ID to take a good look at his name (yes Peter Lloyd-Lister I did report you). I reported the incident to Energywatch. I advise everyone else to as well. If they receive enough complaints, maybe these tactics will be stopped.

I'm in Berkshire.

i will make his manager aware of all the unhappy people on this web site so that some sort of action can be taken

pricefighter

rosscobley wrote:

i will make his manager aware of all the unhappy people on this web site so that some sort of action can be taken

Better still give Energy Watch or Ofgem the link for them to read

alf

I had exactly the same sales pitch from Sothern Electric salesman, the guy took my Npower bill and began writing a lower per/Kw price. I asked him to show me an official doc. with SE prices. I invited him in to check on the SE webpage for their prices/KW to which he declined before I closed the door i his face.

Dave1216

We had a South African Southern Electric telling us he wanted to reduce our bill in Southampton. I sent him on his way - but then he asked for a glass of water, stalling tactic i'm sure!

pricefighter

Dave1216 wrote:

We had a South African Southern Electric telling us he wanted to reduce our bill in Southampton. I sent him on his way - but then he asked for a glass of water, stalling tactic i'm sure!

This sounds like the same guy who called on me.Tried out lots of stalling tactics.They are based in Chandlers Ford,and work for a company called Universal Energy who Southern Electric sub contract their work to.

Rex_Mundi

After my brush with one of these salesmen. I filled in a complaint with Energywatch. I received a letter from them saying that they had passed the complaint over to Southern Electric, and they would contact me.

A few days ago, I got a call from Southern. The lady on the phone explained how their sales methods were different to what is obviously being used. I pointed out to her that this thread was running, and asked her to get the managers to come and see for themselves that this problem isn't isolated. I also told her that they could contact the team for permission to post a reply to all of us.

I definately recommend that everyone sends in a complaint to Energywatch over these tactics. They took my complaint seriously, and I figure that the more complaints they receive, the more chance of something being done to stop these type of sales techniques/doorstep harassment.

You can put your complaint in online HERE

Troubleatmill_2

Once a quarter some muppet from SE comes round ( I'm in Berkshire ) -
and here we go ad verbatim....
"I see you are with.... another supplier... you see they bill you and we bill them. So what we would like to do is change the way we handle the billing process - and it will save you money".

"Oh no- you still get billed with (insert existing supplier here )... this is to do with how we bill them."

I have had 4 different people come round (each quarter) - and they won't take No for an answer. I swear one day I will deck one of them.

Even if Southern Electric came out cheapest - I refuse to use them.

This is not just one individual working a ruse - someone in the company is priming these guys. (Every instance - same script ).

The neighbourhood we live in is predominantly retirement area with a lot of elderly ( and of course financially easy targets ).

Any responsible company would quite simply not employ door-to-door bothering, and comission based salesman.
( Commission based = inscrupulous tactics may be considered by rep )

I could continue to vent anger - But now there is a link to complain to the regulator - the digital camera/ recorder is ready to record the rep & script next time round.

I guess I better go hug a bunny now.

Cheers
Troubleatmill

Mizz_Pink

I live in Nuneaton, Warks and a few weeks ago a guy knocked on the door saying the same thing as you are all saying. He basically was very friendly and asked to see my Gas and leccy bill. He wrote down some numbers off the bills/statements and then showed me on a pad the numbers that should be on my bill. He said he will ammend them which should reduce my bills slightly. The next statement I had showed £7 deducted off the bill.

Was I scammed too ? or this a diff issue

Woby_Tide

did the next statement come from the same supplier?

Mizz_Pink

yeah, the paperwork hasnt changed. It all from the same supplier