Are the government checking up on energy over-charging?

[mrs.chappie]

I answered the door to an official-looking lady, bearing a clip-board. She claimed to have been sent from the government and it appears that my address has flagged up as being over-charged for my energy.

She insisted she was not from an energy supplier, nor would she try to persuade me to change from my existing supplier. She merely wanted to check my bills.

I showed her the door. It felt like a con.

Has anyone else had such a visit?

[dotty.]

was it anything to do with selling your home and these HIP report things?

[stewey]

Well, mrs chappie. there are certainly some strange visitors below your post.

[mrs.chappie]

No dotty, nothing to do with that. I watched her go to my neighbour, who also showed her the door.

[daffy654]

We had something similar a couple of months ago. The lady claimed to be checking on internet speeds on behalf of the govt. My oh let her in and she asked to use our house phone, the idiot let her and she asked the people on the other end to do a line check. She told us our internet was below par and we could get better speed and service if we signed up to Talk Talk. I told her to get out of my house and that I was reporting her and her dodgy sales technique to Ofcom.

[mrs.chappie]

Good for you daffy. Cheeky bu88ers.

[dotty.]

I know there are no HIPs now but they created a new form of job, the energy assessors, and so this could be them diversifying!

[mrs.chappie]

But neither of us are selling our property, dotty. So why would they be calling on us?

[wolf63]

I got a visit from a guy a few weeks ago saying that I was overpaying for my fuel supply - which I knew. I had decided to leave British Gas - and this guy was actually from Scottish Power.

I got him to fill up all the forms to change me over and I am now with Scottish Power - paying less and not with the nasty British Gas people anymore.

The power companies must get print-outs and use them to target people who may benefit from changing supplier.

And the fact that he was young and cute and my lady cat Merlin loved him had nothing to do with my decision.

[Hopkirk]

She may not be directly employed by an energy supplier, but she would get commission from one if you agreed to switch on her recommendation.

[sherrardk]

Why didn't you ask to see her identification?

[cazzz1975]

we get these people alot with the same shpeel, I think they have to change their sales pitch because the law had been changed on cold calling. I normally tell them to bog off.

[boxtops]

"Being sent from the government" would appear to be a lie, I think they have better things to do. I don't let anyone over the doorstep unless I have asked them to call. Anyone wanting to check my bills without proper authorisation can take a running jump. I ask for ID before I'll let the gasman in.

[mrs.chappie]

She had an identification badge and photograph clipped to her lapel. However, some companies use underhand tactics to try to turn your head, and I decided she wasn't gonna get past first base with me.

I mean, would the government really be bothered enough to send somebody round? Not very likely, is it!

[cazzz1975]

they would inform you ahead of time by post first if it was a government strategy, this is the new type of cold calling I believe..