Direct Energy Scam?

[BigNumbers]

So a guy in a Direct Energy jacket came to my door trying to sell my wife on their regulated rate plans. I came as soon as I heard the guy (before my wife could say a thing) and told him we aren't interested.

What bothered me was the guy said 'so you're not with direct energy, right?"
I was like "no, goodbye"... But am now wondering - Are these guys randomly signing people up without their knowledge? Why else would he want to know?

I am on an old regulated-rate Enmax deal I don't want to lose - Can I call Enmax to add a note to my account to call me if they get a cancellation notice first?

No info was given to the guy, so I am not sure he could do much to sign us up without any info.... But I thought this group would know if there is something he could be up to?

[ken0042]

IIRC they need some numbers from your bill. Some of the scammers will ask to see your bill to "show you" how much you could save. However they quickly jot down your meter numbers.

I would still call Enmax; just to be safe.

[BigNumbers]

Is the meter number on the side of my house?

[You Need a Thneed]

Stay far away.

[Kybosh]

I've had these losers be quite forceful in trying to get info. One guy wouldn't leave my porch for a few minutes after I slammed the door on him. Another one let himself into my backyard "just to check". I asked that last guy if he wanted to have a face to face with my 1 wood and I never saw him again.

[Nammer403]

They can pull-up your site ID from a website that's public

[fundmark19]

Direct energy switched me over one time from this exact same scenario an it was a major pain in my ass to get everything back to normal

[Minnie]

Boy howdy, do they get pissy when you tell them to bugger off, they're scam artists.

[BigNumbers]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Direct energy switched me over one time from this exact same scenario an it was a major pain in my ass to get everything back to normal

Even though you gave them zero information?!

I guess I will call Enmax in the AM and see what they can do to ensure no changes are made to my account...

[MolsonInBothHands]

They were very nice the other day. They were just there checking on things because they had received complaints in our neighbourhood that people were paying too much for natural gas.

There should be a law against the tactics these guys use. Making it seem like they are entitled to see your billing info and preying on those that don't know any better.... These guys make my blood boil.

[Cheese]

It is illegal for them to switch you to their account without your signature.
Do not sign with them...there is no sane reason to do so.

http://www.thestar.com/business/pers..._the_door.html

They can apparently use voice approvals, or have tried. It's best to simply give them the big F off routine

[Northendzone]

Guy came to my door one day when I was napping....I fell for the old just sign here so my boss knows I was here.........based on what I could see the cost per unit was about the same as Emma's. the worst part was that it took about 6 months for us to get back the surplus that was built up and they would never draw down on the surplus of you did not pay.

Last time a DE guy came to the house I cut him off and said go away....

[ripTDR]

so from what i understand here in bc, was that in 2009 ish....i cant recall the direct date, they deregulated the natural gas industry where you can purchase natural gas from brokers for a set locked in price for the next(for example) five years. no matter what happens in the market you pay that price per Kj or Btu per cubic foot per pound. from what i remember(my gf at the time...very short time) was semi employed by a brokerage - she only got commission and was enticed by ontario workers who wildly promised lots of money to get people signed up.

this sounds something sorts similar.

[Nammer403]

The company that is well known to doing the "locked in rates" was known as alberta energy savings now known as just energy or energy savings.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Nammer403

The company that is well known to doing the "locked in rates" was known as alberta energy savings now known as just energy or energy savings.

AES I think were the guys offering the fixed rate contracts back in the day when it was like $2-$3 and they were lifetime contracts.

I used to work for DE for a summer doing the door to door scum of the earth thing, you can ask me anything, I'll tell you what I remember. Those AES contracts were unreal, and whenever I met a guy on those I always told him to never surrender them, they were saving people tons of money. In fact, AES after the fact went through and tried to buy them off people to cancel them... what does that tell you?

DE can't sign you up for anything unless you sign a contract. At least, that was the way it was about 7 years ago... their rep also has to place a phone call and the homeowner had to answer a couple questions to a DE operator person. Again, that may have changed.

Hilarious job, lots of funny stories / memories.

[Derek Sutton]

"I just want to see your bill to ensure you are getting the best rates." I Asked him three times what he really wanted and he never said anything other then to see my bill so I told him I would slam the door in his face if he didn't leave. "But I"..SLAM. It total BS that direct energy endorses such trickery.

[BigNumbers]

They never got to see anything, so I feel a bit more comfortable... But will call Enmax in the AM regardless...

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

AES I think were the guys offering the fixed rate contracts back in the day when it was like $2-$3 and they were lifetime contracts.

I used to work for DE for a summer doing the door to door scum of the earth thing, you can ask me anything, I'll tell you what I remember. Those AES contracts were unreal, and whenever I met a guy on those I always told him to never surrender them, they were saving people tons of money. In fact, AES after the fact went through and tried to buy them off people to cancel them... what does that tell you?

DE can't sign you up for anything unless you sign a contract. At least, that was the way it was about 7 years ago... their rep also has to place a phone call and the homeowner had to answer a couple questions to a DE operator person. Again, that may have changed.

Hilarious job, lots of funny stories / memories.

Maybe that's why they were blatantly lying to people door to door by telling people that they had no choice but to sign up, - for rates at least double the rates you could lock in for at Enmax, except with Enmax, you could get out anytime with a penalty of several thousand dollars.

They just about fooled me with the lies the person was telling me.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

I had one of those a couple months ago.

Him, "Have you noticed the price of gas going up lately?"
Me, "Yes, it does that every winter. Thanks. Bye."

[REDVAN]

I had one of them by a few weeks back- told him off and that was that. But those door to door guys are the worst!