Energy Scammers Plaguing Brooklyn?
We were sent this report courtesy of Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights. Folks from Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights and Flatbush have confirmed the same thing going on in their hoods. Several weeks ago we had an early evening door-to-door visit form 3rd party reps from IDT Energy wanting to explain and “help us” save money…
We were sent this report courtesy of Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights. Folks from Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights and Flatbush have confirmed the same thing going on in their hoods.
Several weeks ago we had an early evening door-to-door visit form 3rd party reps from IDT Energy wanting to explain and “help us” save money on our Con Edison and National Grid bills by allowing IDT Energy to be the supplier. They explained that they were already technically the supplier and that by “going direct” we’d shave $20+ dollars off each of our bills each month. The slick presentation by the trio sounded good…too good to be true.
Update: If you want to contact CCGH about the issue, send an email; there’s also an online poll on the topic here.
During the discussion, the main presenter asked to see a copy of our Con Ed bill to specifically point out (and circle, which he did) the charges that would disappear if IDT Energy was selected by us as the alternative provider. What we saw, but did not dawn on us until later, was that one of the “helpers” was copying down all of our Con Ed information. After seeing him do this, we inquired why they need our info? Since we “did not need to sign up today if we wished not to,” they had our info to mail us more information on IDT Energy. We concluded the conversation that we’d goto to IDT Energy’s website for more info, await something in the mail and make our own educated decision at a later date. We did finally receive more info in the mail from IDT Energy. Information that WE HAD ENROLLED WITH IDT ENERGY and our service would be transferred in November. Seems we’re not the only community.
Needless to say a very unhappy me just got off the phone with IDT Energy finding out that I had “signed up” to transfer my Con Ed supplier to IDT Energy. Not only did I not sign anything, the scumbag rep forged my signature. The rep I spoke to was not surprised in the least (troubling) and removed us from their service and filed a complaint against the rep (who’s # I got). While we feel very angry (and slightly gullible), we wanted to find out if others in the area have had the same problem, alert you if these gentlemen visited you and warn folks to not even give these guys the time of day if they hit your area. We remember the sub-contractor working for Midtown Promotions located in the Bronx. We’re doing research on-line and have already come across this scam and that company’s name (I wish we had kept their card!). But, IDT is subcontracting this out, thus they are the end culprit!
Photo by JeffS.
Seen them in Clinton Hill too. Tried to hit up an elderly neighbor across the street. I went and listened to the pitch, had an idea as to what they were doing. Luckily, the neighbor didn’t take the bait. I explained to here what it was and to be careful.
I also received a phone call soliciting this, not sure if it was IDT.
Add Clinton Hill to the list. This guy came around one evening about 2 weeks ago and told my bro in law he needed a copy of the bill to tell me how much money i could save.Said he was from Con Ed. I was in the living room on the parlor floor and heard the talking.I was leery because of some sheister in bedstuy so my antennaes went up. I ran outside like a bat out of hell, demanded to see his id, asked why con ed would send a rep to see a bill when they have them in the office and told him i was going to make a call upon which he scurried off the block never to be seen or heard from again.
they have come around in williamsburg several times
they demand to see the con ed bill
they are very pushy
In addition to the IDT contractor, someone from US Energy Savings came around. She approached me as I sat on my porch and claimed to be from a “Government Agency.” She said that she was sent to make sure that I was’nt paying too much for my electric bill. I asked her for her I.D. as I informed her that I too worked for the government – the FBI. Not knowing if I was kidding or not, I was of course, she left.
Boerum Hill was hit by “IDT Employees” on Tuesday night. Later I was out in the neighborhood and these same employees were stopping young kids on the street and telling them that if they wanted a job doing this, that there were tons, and to tell anyone “your mother, brother, anyone”
JasonB,
I’ll bet the folks who got scammed feel kind of gullible as well, but the point seems to be the IDT Energy twerp forged their signature.
That goes from sleazy salesmanship to criminal intent to deceive and defraud.
That’s why I hope the D.A. or Attorney General get involved.
They knocked on my door last week in Windsor Terrace – sorry to point out the obvious but it was obviously a scam!
I shred everything with my name on it that comes through the door – so why would I suddenly start showing things with my name and address on it just beacuse some fool with a plastic badge asks for it!
I told him to wait while I went to get the Con Ed bill he asked for – poker was on ESPN so I got a little distracted – 5 minutes later he rang the door again – and that’s when I told him to bugger off.
They came through Flatbush (Victorian Flatbush)in August.
PS. so you can add Bed Stuy to the list of neighborhoods.