Southern Electric Door Scam??? Perhaps?

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SwanJon wrote: »

...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.

Apologies. I didnt mean to insinuate that they would, i was only clarifying that they own 50% of SGN. It's the same for any companies that generate electric and also have domestic customers. The supply side of their business (customers) have to purchase the elec on the market even tho they make it as well.

tori276

I too have just had a visit from Southern electric. It was the second time they called and I ignored them the first time.

I told the guy I had flu, and he told me that he would only be a couple of minutes and that he just wanted to pass on some recent price cuts that had been made to my gas and electricity.

He told me that they supplied all the meters in this area. I told him I was with eon and he said that I must be mistaken and what was I on? A pre-payment meter? I told him I was quarterly and very happy with Eon and if they did supply my electricity he should have known what type of meter I was on.

I'm choked up and can hardly speak with flu and I said, "I'm very happy with my current supplier and I'm ill", he then still proceeded to try to talk more at me. In the end I told him to "go away, because I'm ill and I don't need this" and he rolled his eyes still protesting.

Disgraceful. Imagine if an elderly person had opened the door instead?

SkintButHappy

Regarding the post above some companies dont sign up 65+ on the door as yes they are seen as a vunerable group. I just wish they all did

Vestra

SkintButHappy wrote: »

Regarding the post above some companies dont sign up 65+ on the door as yes they are seen as a vunerable group. I just wish they all did

I think what southern electric do is that over 65 sales have to be verified by a call centre where the advisor is not commission based and makes sure the customer is fully aware. However I think all companies should do this for all sales.

Muchkin4114

I’ve had a guy from SE call round today - quite a beefy guy who was larger in every way to me. He started saying that even though my energy isn’t with them I still owed them money as my power is supplied by them. I was taken aback and told him that I have not signed anything with SE and that I was already paying npower - and it seemed he was having none of it! I told him to come back in one hour as I had to get the documention for proof of who I was paying. I contacted npower to confirm that they did the transfer of the power, and also SE to confirm if they sent out an agent to collect any monies - the SE call centre was fantastic - but didn’t seem too shocked at what the rep had said - he confirmed the account was not valid, we didn’t owe them anything, and that if the guy returned back- to call 0800 0155 170 with the name on the ID - he even described what the ID badge looked like! He said that if the guy did turn back up on my doorstep then to report him stating that using underlying and misleading tactics - as if this is the norm! Well, he did come back and I said I confirmed with his centre we didn’t owe them anything - to which you could see his face drop that I had the nerve to follow up his existance - and then he swiftly moved along and he said we had a de-regulatory circuit and that they would be able to reduce the costs…blah, blah, blah! So initally TELLING me I owed them money to the sales pitch - I was a bit angry. What gets me is if this guy baffled me (and I’m only 29 with a bit of savvy) then what about the elderly who generally wouldn’t question someone who was quite aggressive up front? I geniunely felt scared that this big guy was demanding payment from me - I can’t imagine what they would do to some frail, old lady..
Big thumbs up for the call centre, massive thumbs down for the sales bod.
If you need to contact the call centre it’s: 0845 7444 555

Ellie2758

They're still at it. Had one come to the door last week. Son answered it but guy insisted he had to talk to me. I had just got out of the shower and when told this by son assumed it was something I needed to sign for. When I saw it was a saleman straightaway I said that I didnt want to talk to him. Completely ignoring me he launched into his spiel about how Southern ELectric have taken over the pipeline from Transco and if I have an emergency with the gas I am still to call the usual number. Clever eh? See how he lures people in by talking about something that sounds a) official b) important c) nothing to do with switching your energy supplier. So I start to move closer to the door (all logical thoughts such as "why wouldnt they just send a letter?" going right out of my head). Of course he then starts on his spiel about how I will be paying 3 times as much for my energy regardless of WHICH company I am with,and hands me a sheet with a list of suppliers on, asking which one I am with. I feign confusion and say that I cant remember.

But, as has been said before, he ALMOST had me there. An old or confused person would be most likely to be taken in with all that talk of emergency contact numbers at the start.

jinger_2

I have a story that may make you all smile.... :rotfl:

Several years ago, I was duped into moving my electric to British Gas by a doorstep seller. I wasn't aware of this at the time until I received a letter stating "Welcome to British Gas..." I hadn't signed anything and if anything, I'd sent the chap off with a flea in his ear.

I rang British Gas and complained. Luckily I had a Business Card with the chap's name on. I also rang my electricity supplier and everything was restored as was.

A few weeks later, I was pleasantly suprised to see the same chap in the Jobcentre where I then worked. He'd had to come in as he'd been sacked from his job!

It was nice to know my complaint was taken seriously :-)

JoolzS

I always tell anyone who tries to sell me anything or get me to change energy suppliers on my doorstep to simply F.O.! I also tell them that if I want to change then I will do so via the internet.

If they get pushy then I use the F.O. defence (using the actual words and closing the door in their face). I refuse to feel guilty about it. I also use this tactic on the bible-bashers who chose to disturb my weekend sleep.

Julie

hubballi

I had a Southern Electric guy come round who set me up to move from N Power (I had problems with N Power) so I moved as he showed me how much I would save. He also said if I wasn't happy with it I could move at any time. It's due to change in September (he said they are Atlantic) so I will see what the bill is like.

He read my meter too.