An energy company previously fined by the industry watchdog has been targeting households in Fieldway and New Addington, falsely claiming to be working with Croydon Council.
Over the past week, the council’s trading standards team has received a number of complaints concerning residents who have been cold called by a representative of Coventry-based Economy Energy.
Gaining access by claiming that he needed to read the property’s meter, he then asks the resident which company supplies their energy and goes on to say that Economy Energy is working with the council, which is keen that as many residents as possible switch supplier, to his company.
Croydon Council does not have, and has never had, any affiliation with Economy Energy.
In December of last year, the company was fined £250,000 by Ofgem following an investigation into the company’s lack of compliance with industry regulations – read more. And the company is currently under investigation into the sales practices it employs – read more.
Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for communities, safety and justice
“As ever, I’d urge residents to never allow cold callers access to their home without first checking the caller is a representative of a legitimate company and carries ID that can be confidently checked.
“For this individual to gain access on the pretence of being a meter reader and then claim that his company is working with the council to get customers to switch their energy account is particularly disturbing.
“I’d stress that the council has no links, whatsoever, to Economy Energy, and would urge residents to have nothing to do with anybody claiming to represent the company.”
Anybody who is concerned about the behaviour of an energy company sales agent should call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or click here.
Croydon’s trading standards team recommends residents enrol in utility companies’ password schemes. Under such schemes, customers register a password of their choice that they can ask any caller from the company to provide before giving access to their property. Inability to provide the password indicates that the caller is not from the company and the resident then knows not to let them in.
