MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester Police say a reported “scam” involving someone going door-to-door to view electric bills is not a scam.
“Direct Energy has a State of NH permit to solicit on behalf of Direct Energy,” said Lt. Brian O’Keefe, who added that police are still looking into whether the salesman has proper permits from the city to go door-to-door.
Police were swamped with calls on Friday, as was Eversource, after WMUR reported door-to-door representatives were not authorized by Eversource.
That much was true.
“Please advise readers the company is legitimate, they are not fraudulent and if they are not interested, turn them away,” O’Keefe said.
Police are continuing to investigate the complaints. We’ll bring you updated information as we get it.
⇒You can contact Direct Energy NH here.
This isn’t the first time Eversource has issued a statement about scammers. In October Eversource addressed an uptick in scams. After Friday’s flurry of reports, the company issued the following reminder about consumer safety:
Most scams threaten customers with disconnection of electric service if they do not make a same-day payment. Customers may be contacted either by phone or in-person at their home or business.
Customers are advised to never allow an unexpected visitor to enter their home. Always call Eversource directly to confirm any offers or requests.
Immediately report any incidents of potential fraud or identity theft to local law enforcement.
Eversource almost never makes unsolicited house visits. Exceptions might include a collections activity for past due balances (which includes written, advanced notice for any customer schedule for disconnection), accessing our equipment to ensure safe and effective operation, or if there is another safety concern.
In addition, please remember the following tips:
- Never provide personal financial or utility account information to any unsolicited individual, in person, on the phone, or online, even if the individual seems legitimate.
- Eversource would never ask you to purchase prepaid cards or make an immediate payment at a third-party location, like a grocery store. We have a very secure, protected billing system, and you have multiple, convenient options to pay your bills, including direct debit, check, credit card and cash.
- Customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive written notice that includes the actions they can take to maintain service.
- All employees carry company-issued identification, and any electrical contractors working with us carry documentation explaining the nature and location of their work. Customers can always call us to verify this information.
- Eversource would never solicit door-to-door or over the phone on behalf of a specific competitive/alternate energy supplier.
- Always verify whether these contacts are legitimate by asking for some basic information about your account. Our representatives will always be able to provide the name on the account, the account address, and the exact past due balance. If the caller cannot provide that information, the call is not from us. Regardless of what the caller claims to know about your account, including basic account information, if the caller is requesting an immediate payment using a third party location, or with a cash card, hang up immediately and contact us directly to verify the call was legitimate.
- Callers say they represent the Billing or Disconnect Department and tell customers their power will be shut off if they don’t make a an immediate payment.
- Callers instruct customers to make an immediate payment at a third-party location, like a grocery store, or by purchasing a “Green Dot” VISA card. Customers are then asked to call another phone number where information is obtained from the credit card and the monetary value is removed.
- A business customer reported receiving a call advising him that “the system crashed after the hurricane” and that they would need to make a payment over the phone to maintain service. Other callers told customers we did not receive payment because of the hurricane, so we will disconnect their service immediately unless they make a payment.
- A caller told a customer there is a problem with the meter, and she is being overcharged. The caller instructed the customer to purchase a prepaid credit card for $200. The caller then called back later and advised the customer that the payment isn’t showing up, so she needs to purchase another card for $300. The caller assures the customer we will fix the meter and refund the money.orby
- A scammer knocked on a customer’s door. He was wearing a badge that was hard to read and had a poor copy of what appeared to be an electric bill. He said several customers in the area were complaining that the rates were too high, so he wanted to check the meter to find out the customer’s usage.
- An unsolicited salesman knocked on a customer’s door stating there was a problem with her utilities and she had failed to respond to urgent messages. The salesman insisted that he could get her a rebate on her current energy bill and demanded to see a copy of the bill.