Last spring, we wrote about door-to-door salesmen pressuring people into switching their energy providers. Here’s another, recent account of similar activity, this time by representatives of Commerce Energy, that left a neighbor, Sarah, upset and made her believe that it was a scam.
We should point out that Commerce Energy is a real company and a major player in electricity. The Inquirer includes them in a list of alternative suppliers here. But their sales tactics have angered many consumers. Sarah’s description of her encounter echoes the experience of many others.
“We have had two Commerce Energy representatives come to our door tonight saying that they wanted a copy of our PECO bill and wanted to sign us up to Commerce Energy whereby we can get lower rates. By way of protection do not sign up with them and do not hand over your PECO bill, as it is an absolute scam as they are basically trying to sign you up for a new energy company and lock you into a 5 year agreement… They are still walking around West Philly trying to sign up other people… They are also quite aggressive and harassing so just tell them to leave.”
I had this experience too. Really super pushy. If it wasn’t a scam it sure felt like it. Don’t show anyone your bill! There’s private information on there.
We had them come by here, too. The one guy said that folks in the neighborhood weren’t in compliance and were being wrongly charged higher rates, blah, blah, blah. Sounded like such a scam.
It certainly feels like a scam and as a woman, I do not feel comfortable when salespeople come to the door after dark. Unfortunately, if you try to ignore then, they will ring many times, or even worse, come to the door right after the see you go in.
The company that was on my block last week was from ISG. They claimed they had a contract with the city to check peoples’ electric rates. She instructed me to go get my utility bill so that she could verify the rate. Uh, huh. I told her it sounded like she was trying to change my utility company. By the way, if you do agree to sign up with one of these companies, you can get out of it. They are not supposed to be doing this.
Ditto here, a young woman. Thankfully I saw warnings on another mailing list and shut her down pretty fast. I wish I’d taken some pics/video.
I resent any company, non-profit, etc. that uses the unsolicited door to door salesman tactic, especially the ones who target people who are just getting home from work and finally settling down. The last kid who came to my house who asked to see my PECO Bill I had to tell a few times that I was not interested and they should go.
I love Green Technology and the environment. I care about the whales, the trees and restricting fracking. I am as liberal and progressive as the next West Philadelphian. But I hate people who get paid to interupt me in my home on my own private time. Whether they are a telemarketer, a pollster, the Philadelphia Orchestra, an environmentalist or some new electricity provider. If that’s your company’s main sales tactic it’s time to get into a new business.