Protect Yourself From an Electricity Scam
With cheaper electricity deals this Spring, lots of companies are looking to sign up new customers. Unfortunately, not all have good intentions. Some of the sales pitches you’ll hear will be from scammers. Here’s how you can identify a Texas electricity scam and protect yourself and your wallet.
How to Recognize an Electricity Scam
Texas electricity scammers can come from anywhere. But they’re usually door-to-door salesmen, or they call you on the phone. They’ll try to build a rapport with you, asking you personal questions and befriending you before they give you their pitch. Usually, they’ll want to “enroll” you for a cheaper plan or trick you into switching energy providers without your permission.
You can recognize an electricity scam by these four factors.
1. Deals Too Good to Be True
Scammers often offer electricity rates that are much lower than the real rates. But, with the prices dropping during the Spring shoulder months, it’s harder to know what price is real and what is a little too low. Knowing the price of electricity and the details of your current rate can help you identify what an unrealistic price is.
2. Sense of Urgency
A scammer will often push you to pay quickly – usually to prevent you from realizing that it’s a scam. They may even threaten to cut your power if you don’t give them money right away. In Texas, only the TDU can turn off your power. So, their threats are empty.
3. Prepaid Debit Cards
If a sales agent asks you to pay with a prepaid debit card, gift card, or wire transfer, you know it’s a scam. And if they ask you to pay by check made out to their name instead of the electric company, it’s a clear red flag.
4. Fuzzy Details
If a representative of a provider can’t bring up specific details about your plan or agreement, you can suspect a scam. Likewise, never provide them with them with information they don’t know. So, watch out for vague descriptions, promises of high-value sign-up gifts, and a lack of evidence to support their claims.
5. Unrepresented
If a sales agent represents a specific provider, they’ll have a permit and company identification. And they’ll give you business cards and printed-out details of their plans. So, if the salesperson on your doorstep can’t produce these, don’t let them into your home.
How to Report an Electricity Scam
If you suspect that a caller or a door-to-door salesman is a scammer, you need to notify the police. Call 9-1-1 or 3-1-1 for the non-emergency police line, and describe the scam as well as the scammer for the report.
It may also be worth notifying your neighbors that you suspect the door-to-door salesman is a scammer, as they may try other houses in your neighborhood.
What to Do If You Get Scammed
Sadly, electricity scammers are getting smarter every day. So, if you or someone close to you gets scammed, it’s important to know that it’s not your fault. It’s the scammer’s fault.
Report your interaction to the police to help them identify the scammer. You may also be able to claim some of the money back through your bank.
Shop Texas Electricity Safely
The safest way to shop for electricity is through verified retailers like www.texaselectricityratings.com. We work closely with all the providers to give you the latest deals, so signing up through our website is a safe and reliable way to shop for electricity.