Southern Electric Door Scam??? Perhaps?

djohn2002uk

Watchdog tonight reported that Scottish&Southern have got rid of the company (Universal) who were doing the sales calling for them.

Rex_Mundi

djohn2002uk wrote:

Watchdog tonight reported that Scottish&Southern have got rid of the company (Universal) who were doing the sales calling for them.

I saw that, and took quiet satisfaction that these guys wont be checking any more meters ( :rolleyes: ) for one company at least!!

mikesndbs

Hi

I am now quite worried.
We had just got back from the hospital when a personable South African man called Mike (sales director) wanted to check our gas meter.
He was from Southern Electric.

We get electric from them but gas from British Gas and phone from BT.
He told us that British Gas no longer owns the meters or gas system and that Southern Electric does now.
He told us that British Gas were charging us more just to send us a bill with their logo on when in fact it was all done by Southern Electric.

All his documents were in order etc.

He showed us a significant saving if we went with them for gas as well.
And another large saving if we had the phone via them.

I had my doubts but it all seemed in order and he phoned a 0800 0966192 where a Scottish lady went through the details then spoke to me to confirm everything.

Have we been conned?
Should we have switched?

The deal seems much better if its true?

Regards

Mike

Arundel West Sussex

KimYeovil

Mike, fortunately Southern Electric are almost sure to be cheaper than British Gas for gas. The salesman lied about who owns what and probably lied about the actual savings etcetera but they should be cheaper (unless you were on Click 6).

Check on a comparison site yourself to see what your best deal would be and switch again if sensible.

mikesndbs

Hi OK, I don't like being lied to, no real need for that if they are cheaper.
Morally what should I do now?

Charis

I've had regular nuisance callers from Scottish and Southern Electric. They won't go unless you physically shut the door in their faces. Two guys even expected me to let them in, after dark, in an area mainly populated by people over retirement age. They keep demanding that you show them your current bills. Mine are now all online bills and no way are those rogues getting over my threshold.:mad:

I heard from the Southern Electric rep who called the following week (properly kitted out with ID badge and coat with logo) that they had been passing themselves off as Southern Electric and poaching customers (just sign here for your new tariff...etc).

SwanJon

eh? Scottish and Southern posing as Southern Electric? They're the same company.

mikesndbs

Now here is an interesting thing! :eek:

I have just spoken at length to both Southern Electric and British Gas.
They both say what I was told yesterday 'is true' SE distributes the gas and owns the pipes and meters now for my area.

So now I feel a bit happier at not being duped but where is the confusion from?


Cheers

Mike

adprob

mikesndbs wrote: »

Now here is an interesting thing! :eek:

I have just spoken at length to both Southern Electric and British Gas.
They both say what I was told yesterday 'is true' SE distributes the gas and owns the pipes and meters now for my area.

So now I feel a bit happier at not being duped but where is the confusion from?


Cheers

Mike

SSE own a 50% stake in SGN who took over from Transco in Scotland and the south of england when National Grid sold off part of the network

SwanJon

adprob wrote: »

SSE own a 50% stake in SGN who took over from Transco in Scotland and the south of england when National Grid sold off part of the network

...but they cannot offer preferential prices to SSE as it would be against their conditions. As a local monopoloy they are under much closer supervision.
This goes the same for local electricity distributors and their sister companies too.