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Friday, April 30, 2010

BEWARE OF FRAUD BY ENERGY COMPANIES

Protect yourself from fraud! If anyone rings your doorbell and tells you that he or she is from an energy company and they can save you money on your electric or gas bill, do not open your door, even if they show you their identification.

If you do open your door, do not show them your Con Edison bill or your National Grid bill. If you do, they might switch your account from Con Edison or National Grid to their company without your permission. Do not sign anything. Call the police to report the person. Describe the person to the police, if you're able to. If the person touches you or curses at you, tell the police.

Representatives of several companies, including Just Energy, have been going to homes in this area. They were in our neighborhood as recently as last night. Just Energy has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. Just Energy is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. 541 complaints have been filed with the Better Business Bureau against Just Energy. The Better Business Bureau says

Complainants allege they were subject to misleading sales practices, such as unauthorized enrollment in the program offered, and/or misrepresentation of contract length, and/or guarantees of savings, and/or ability to cancel the contract after the initial three day period.
 

Consumer complaints also allege that the sales representatives from US Energy Savings...[are] misrepresenting their identities.
 

Additional complaints allege that consumers who did not speak and/or understand English were likewise solicited and their signatures were obtained, enrolling them into US Energy's five year contract, despite these individuals' failure to fully understand what they were signing.
 

Other complaints allege that upon signing up with the company on the premise of savings on gas, consumers' bills did not decrease, but instead increased substantially.