Third Party Energy SCAM! - US Energy Savings

nykittyny

DO NOT let these people into your home!!

I overheard them speaking to my upstairs neighbor today, who was outside on our stoop. A man told her he was there to read the meters. She told him to ring me, which he did.

The "representative" said "I am here from the utility company, and I need to come in and read your meters". I asked "which utility company? A company that already provides service to this house?" He said "No, my company is U.S Energy Savings (shows me his "badge"), but we work with National Grid and ConED, and we just need to read your meter so we can give you the savings you have coming to you, and then I just need you to quickly sign a few things."

The paperwork on his clipboard was clearly paperwork that would change our service over to their company. I said "so you are trying to sell us something?" He said "No, I am not trying to sell you anything, I just need to read your meters and have you sign a quick form."

Can you believe the outright lies and manipulation? My neighbor and I shooed him away, and watched him and 2 other "representatives" go to our neighbors doors. I called 311 to complain, and was told I should just call the company itself to register a complaint. What good would that do? But I tried anyway, and of course got no help, while I waited forever on my cell phone to speak to a supervisor, who never came. I am still waiting for the callback I am supposed to get.

Any suggestions on the proper way to combat this? This company is an obvious scammer, and they want access to our homes to pull off their stunt.

(I didnt intentionally crosspost this....it was originally meant for the PArk Slope board)

longtimesloper

Oh for crying out loud! he says he's not there to sell you anything but needs to read your meters and then wants you to SIGN something? Is he kidding? Thanks for letting us know, I will be on the lookout.

Was this today? where abouts in the Slope did it happen?

nykittyny

This was on 7th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. There were 3 of them covering the block. Two men, 1 woman. I asked them for a business card and got a generic piece of paper with just the company onfo - no info about the "representative".

longtimesloper

Wonderful! Will be on the lookout

ssp stacy

Subject: So, are there any non-scam alternatives?

Hi All,
Let me confess to being one of those idiots who actually fell for the IDT sign-up. Luckily I seem to have emerged unscathed and am back with ConEd. Here's my question: Since ConEd acknowledges that there are alternative suppliers worth considering, does anyone know who the reputable and actually cheaper ones are? Who has switched and is glad they did? Or is it really just best to stick with the Devil You Know (i.e., ConEd).

iliveingreenpoint

I would think they are legit- not their "sales" or "no sale" pitch but AMerican Airlines was offering miles to switch to them. I had been meaning to look into them but then the offer expired so I threw out the mailing. Can't you call the better business bureau?

pitu

This came through Park SLope Neighbors:
Beware of Home Energy Scams

Several stories have been making the rounds in local blogs (notably Gowanus Lounge) and other media regarding deceptive sales techniques being employed by local Energy Service Companies (ESCOs).

In a nutshell, these unscrupulous operators talk their way into information about your local energy supplier, on the promise of saving you money by lowering your rate for electricity or gas. While they promise a quote, before you know it, you've been signed up for their service, usually at a significant increase versus what you'd been paying your old supplier.

The Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights, which has been ground zero for these scams, have prepared helpful flyer, which warns about what to look for, how to protect your rights, and whom to contact if you've been the victim of one of these operations.

To download a copy (it's a PDF), click on the following link:

http://www.ccgreenwoodhts.com/pdfs/ccgh-escos-slammed-flyer-111908.pdf

pitu

This came through Park SLope Neighbors:
Beware of Home Energy Scams

Several stories have been making the rounds in local blogs (notably Gowanus Lounge) and other media regarding deceptive sales techniques being employed by local Energy Service Companies (ESCOs).

In a nutshell, these unscrupulous operators talk their way into information about your local energy supplier, on the promise of saving you money by lowering your rate for electricity or gas. While they promise a quote, before you know it, you've been signed up for their service, usually at a significant increase versus what you'd been paying your old supplier.

The Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights, which has been ground zero for these scams, have prepared helpful flyer, which warns about what to look for, how to protect your rights, and whom to contact if you've been the victim of one of these operations.

To download a copy (it's a PDF), click on the following link:

http://www.ccgreenwoodhts.com/pdfs/ccgh-escos-slammed-flyer-111908.pdf

lizschillare

got hit tonight, after being hit earlier in the day. twice in one day? beware slopers...

mpmav1

lizschillare wrote: got hit tonight, after being hit earlier in the day. twice in one day? beware slopers...

Haha, are you in my building! I was just getting on to warn people that they are out and about (Prospect Ave and 7th).

Be like me and angerly say your NOT interested in IDT and slam the door.

lizschillare

Haha, are you in my building! I was just getting on to warn people that they are out and about (Prospect Ave and 7th).

dang, they're fast. i'm at 16th between 4th & 5th.

lizschillare

oops, didn't quite work how i wanted it to.

brooklynjack

iliveingreenpoint wrote: I would think they are legit- not their "sales" or "no sale" pitch but AMerican Airlines was offering miles to switch to them. I had been meaning to look into them but then the offer expired so I threw out the mailing. Can't you call the better business bureau?

Yes, most of these companies are legit in that they registered and regulated ESCOs. However many of the ESCOs use multi level marketing sales schemes and their sales forces use questionable tactics. Check some of the writings on http://consumerist.com/search/esco/

The Better Business Bureau is a private organization and has no authority other than that given to it by its member organizations.

Call 311, the Public Service Commission, or the Attorney General.

filmlover44

Mpmav1 wrote: [quote=lizschillare]got hit tonight, after being hit earlier in the day. twice in one day? beware slopers...

Haha, are you in my building! I was just getting on to warn people that they are out and about (Prospect Ave and 7th).

Be like me and angerly say your NOT interested in IDT and slam the door.

Yeah, the guy came into my building on Prospect near 6th. Of course our door doesn't lock so he was able to come right in. At least he identified himself as IDT. I told him that he needed to leave the building. He did.

I did have a sign posted in the hallway about them, the one from the Greenwood Heights association that Pitu posted but my crappy asshole landlord took it down. Fortunately, it was up long enough for everyone to see it.

ljnd

We had one of those guys try to push his way in. I informed him that I wasn't interested (repeatedly, repeatedly) and then he asked to meet with the neighbors upstairs. I told him, "This is NOT a good time - they have toddlers and are eating dinner now." And he rolled his eyes and stomped out muttering nasty things at me.

mpmav1

filmlover44 wrote: [quote=Mpmav1][quote=lizschillare]got hit tonight, after being hit earlier in the day. twice in one day? beware slopers...

Haha, are you in my building! I was just getting on to warn people that they are out and about (Prospect Ave and 7th).

Be like me and angerly say your NOT interested in IDT and slam the door.

Yeah, the guy came into my building on Prospect near 6th. Of course our door doesn't lock so he was able to come right in. At least he identified himself as IDT. I told him that he needed to leave the building. He did.

I did have a sign posted in the hallway about them, the one from the Greenwood Heights association that Pitu posted but my crappy asshole landlord took it down. Fortunately, it was up long enough for everyone to see it.

I think you legally have to have an outside locking door. At least that's what I've heard.

snickers76

They've come to my door twice already. The second time, I curtly told the woman "No thanks" and she muttered something under her breath. Whatever.

reggi

Well here it is Saturday and they knocked on my door late this afternoon
prior to my seeing this but I shooed them away just the same.

filmlover44

Mpmav1 wrote:

I think you legally have to have an outside locking door. At least that's what I've heard.

<rant>
You are 100% correct. I got him to fix it after living here for a year and a half after some detectives came by to investigate a robbery next door and promised one of my neighbors that they were going to call him. They never did - he's hard to reach (I have his cell phone number, my neighbor didn't have it). I did scare him enough to get him to fix it. Fortunately the psychopath who is the son of the below mentioned lady (who is actually very nice) was in prison for a while and the lock worked.

Now it doesn't shut again and I don't care any more. Let him keep his filthy hallway, his heatless apartment and his roaches and doors that don't shut and the unusable "yard" that is full of the pee soaked kotex and other trash from the lady upstairs along with the trash that he puts back there himself.

</rant>
:x

livetotravel

Two guys from IDT knocked on my apartment door Fri night - what really pissed me off was that they kept pressing buzzers until someone buzzed them in - stupid! I asked them to leave the building because they were uninvited.

mpmav1

filmlover44 wrote: [quote=Mpmav1]

I think you legally have to have an outside locking door. At least that's what I've heard.

<rant>
You are 100% correct. I got him to fix it after living here for a year and a half after some detectives came by to investigate a robbery next door and promised one of my neighbors that they were going to call him. They never did - he's hard to reach (I have his cell phone number, my neighbor didn't have it). I did scare him enough to get him to fix it. Fortunately the psychopath who is the son of the below mentioned lady (who is actually very nice) was in prison for a while and the lock worked.

Now it doesn't shut again and I don't care any more. Let him keep his filthy hallway, his heatless apartment and his roaches and doors that don't shut and the unusable "yard" that is full of the pee soaked kotex and other trash from the lady upstairs along with the trash that he puts back there himself.

</rant>
:x

YIKES! Sorry.. that really sucks. I guess I will not complain about my place for a while in honor of this situation!

filmlover44

It could always be worse!

lostingreenwoodhts

Just received this from one of the list servs I am not. A MUST READ if you have been scammed by IDT:

I was contacted for the second time by an anonymous tipster who recommended yet another venue to complain against IDT Energy's (IDT Corporation) and Midtown Promotions' "ESCOS Slamming" (scamming) techniques perpetrated on our communities and others through out Brooklyn, Queens and the City. While complaints to the New York State Public Service Commission and the Better Business Bureau of NJ and NY, you can also submit anonymous complaints against IDT to their auditor, Grant Thorton LLP ( http://www.grantthornton.com/ ) via an ethics complaint company EthicsPoint.

Thanks to the hundreds of you who have responded (with horror stories, unfortunately) to date.

We have filed two complaints as of today:

1. Falsification of contracts, reports or records (i.e. if you were ESCOS Slammed)

2. Misconduct or inappropriate behavior (i.e. "Hi, I work for Con Ed/Nat Grid and I can save you $$" or aggressive sales tactics)

I encourage EVERYONE who has written/called us or posted complaints on browstoner, gowanuslounge or brooklynian or to CB7 to take the 10 mins to file one or two complaints.

Here's how you go about filing an on-line complaint (you can do it by phone as well at 866-739-4134):

1. Visit https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/en/report_custom.asp?clientid=15191 or via Grant Thorton LLP's website, under the "ethics" link at the bottom of every page.

2. Click on the "Make a Report" button (this will take you to the Ethicspoint.com portal)

3. You will see options on how to report a single or multiple ethics transgressions against IDT Energy (IDT Corporation) and their third-party sales team at Midtown promotions (Chris Polke, CEO) as it states "You are currently in the confidential and secure reporting structure of EthicsPoint. Below are the choices available to you. Please click on the arrow to select the type of report you would like to make."

4. Depending on whether you were "ESCOS slammed" (ie. signed up for service change to IDT Energy with out your permission) or scammed by a sales rep into thinking the change "will save you money" or if they represented themselves as "working for Con Ed or National Grid."

5. As per above, select either (or both): Falsification of contracts, reports or records and/or Misconduct or inappropriate behavior

It is important to fill out as much info as you may have, which can be done anonymously, but make sure to reference you are "filing a complaint against IDT Energy (IDT Corporation) and their 3rd-party sales team Midtown Promotions to the independent auditor Grant Thorton LLP."

It's that easy (really)! Took me longer to read my e-mail than to file the complaint

Grant Thorton LLP MUST investigate all ethics charges and report them back to their board and subsequently to the SEC and other agencies due to IDT Energy's conduct and if it deemed unethical or illegal. Think about Enron and Arthur Anderson...ring a bell?

Ultimately it's all up to you. I'm just passing along the info. This and help from our local electeds should help us turn the tide against this type of improper sales tactics!

NOTE: for the press and the blogs, if you repost this (please do) leave my name of of it (or contact me if you need to). For our fellow community groups and list serves: please pass this info along to anyone who may have been slammed or scammed.

Perhaps we'll get a New Year's treat and see IDT Energy (IDT Corporation) and Midtown promotions get what's coming to them...proper legal action ad accountability for, in my POV, their illegal and unethical sales techniques.

Happy 2009 in advance to all!

Anyone gonna file a complaint?

filmlover44

They're Baaaacckk. I answered the front door, told the guy to go away. He asked if I minded if he spoke to my neighbors and I said, yes I do.

dixiecupdrinking

I saw them on 13th between 5th and 6th maybe 10 days ago. I was on a run and almost stopped to yell at the guy; he was desperately pleading with someone on the other side of the door to get them to open up. The residents of the house happily seem to have gotten the memo about these guys.

filmlover44

filmlover44 wrote: They're Baaaacckk. I answered the front door, told the guy to go away. He asked if I minded if he spoke to my neighbors and I said, yes I do.

They came back AGAIN last night and then AGAIN today. They are desperate to get into this building. I guess the people working this job are working on commission or something.

hollyhock

Subject: Just tell them to leave...

Thanks for your posts on this message board I was already aware of this issue when they came to our building yesterday. I just kept repeating over and over, "You need to leave the building. You need to leave the building." Eventually they got the picture when I said something about calling the cops. We then did call the local precinct and were told that technically they are legitimate. Unfortunately that is true but that doesn't make them any less slimy. Either way if you ask them to leave they need to go without question. Just beware... they are still out doing this stuff.

nitcomb

Wow, I had no idea how widespread this was. These clowns came to my house on Garfield on Jan 3. They didn't ask to see the meters, only my latest National Grid bill. They were very pushy... things like "what, don't you want to save on your bill?" I finally told him to get off my property. Beware!

nitcomb

Wow, I had no idea how widespread this was. These clowns came to my house on Garfield on Jan 3. They didn't ask to see the meters, only my latest National Grid bill. They were very pushy... things like "what, don't you want to save on your bill?" I finally told him to get off my property. Beware!

antigone

I think these scammers came to our house this afternoon. My daughter was home and turned them away. Fortunately, she's a cynical city kid, but I wish she had not answered the door at all. They said they could help us save $$ on our Con Ed bills. We live in Boerum Hill and pay our utility bills online.

Actually, maybe it's a different scammer. One of the guys gave my daughter his card (because he thought she was cute, not for business purposes) and the card reads "U Turn Networking" and it has a picture of a baby on the front ("Your business is your baby. Watch her grow". The guy's name is Oscar Diaz. WTF?

apple pants

These people came by my apartment twice and I asked them to leave me their information so that I could look them up to see if it was legit. The guy didn't want too either time. He asked to see my bill and promised me a better rate in writing and handed me a contract to sign. I refused and suggested to him that if he was uncomfortable leaving the information with me to review that he couldn't possibly expect me to sign it. He did the ole grumble grumble grumble and left. The thing is, it could be legit, but with such a bad attitude, I lost all interest. I actually suggested to him that he leave his name so that I could use his name if I decided to use the service. He refused. So it goes.