Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[micmac]

For the second time this month or so I have had someone showing up at my door and asking me to show my utility bill to qualify for a "discount". But she asked for my "Pepco gas bill". So she did not know what she was talking about. Whats up with that?

[micmac]

No one else experienced this?

[dsachdev]

[ross]

This happened to me once.

They handed me a brochure about opting to use Wash Gas or some other company as an option for electric instead of Pepco claiming it would be a significant discount over time.

If it's the same people, I think this is what they were aiming for: http://www.washgas.com/pages/ElectricUtilityRestructuring

[EntoK]

You're not alone. Some talk on the impersonators at PoP: http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2012/02/pop-psa-pepco-impersonator-still-out-there/

[jack]

Sounds vaguely like what's happened to me via the telephone. A caller wanted me to examine my electric bill, and read back the electric rate, then promised me a lower rate, and subtly tried to smooth-talk me into signing up for this alternative supplier, switching from Pepco, without making it clear that that's what I was doing.

I gave them a pretty irate answer. There are numerous supplier-switching offers arriving in the mail, and they're fairly clear about what the deal is. This telephone pitch was not. These door-to-door visits sound like a similar effort to get people to sign up for Pepco supplier alternatives.

I don't know who they are, but I don't trust them, and I'm suspicious of any something-for-nothing offer. There is, as the saying goes, no such thing as a free lunch.

-- Jack

[micmac]

I was very suspicious - I don't fetch my bills for strangers to look over. The team was going door to door on the whole block and the individual acted very non-plussed that I did not cooperate. I suspect they are paid for each bill that they can get.

[jack]

OK, one of these guys showed up at my door, wanting to see my gas and electric bills to see if I "qualify" for his offering. It's legit, I'm sure, but I don't approve of the tactic, which smacks of high-pressure selling. His explanation for his request to see my bills was way insufficient. -- Jack

[Jennrgolden]

Just now had a guy (1 second ago) stop by and tell me that he workd for Wshington gas and that they are going door to door letting people know they can be protected from future rate increases and to find out if I qualify they he needed to see a copy of my most recent bill. Said thanks but I'll do anything I need to do online and he was polite and left.

Still, despite his politeness, it's shady. You would assume that the gas company for one would never protect you from future rate increases and further, would not need *me* to provide *them* with my bill - they should already have it.

[jack]

[hale]

There were several guys working the 1600 block of Monroe this past Saturday, asking (demanding) to see utility bills. The one who came to my door was very rude and persistent -- I thought he would never leave. He left saying he would note in my record that I would be permanently "ineligible" for any future deals, and made a big deal about shouting out the house number as he wrote it down.

[jack]

[Jennrgolden]

[hale]

The guy who came to my house this past Saturday claimed they had already sent by mail three notices about this "opportunity." Since he presented it in person on Saturday as a "now or never" opportunity, I was naturally very suspicious and suspected some sort of scam.

[Jennrgolden]