"Clean Energy" Door-to-door Sales (Legit or Scam?)

Submitted by Odd_Contest2252 t3_yillky in baltimore

Hi everyone,

Since moving to the area we've received a number of different door-to-door sales people advertising to switch our utilities over based on promises of saving money from BGE. Our complex has clearly displayed no sollictor signs at the entrance, and two different sales people that I've talked to now have opened the conversation by falsely stating that they're from BGE themselves.

The most recent person who came today arrived asking if I had received my energy efficient lightbulbs in the mail from BGE, and when I told her that I didn't know what she was talking about she said "just let me see your bill and I'll show you where it has what I'm talking about." I made an excuse about having work and politely asked her to come back another time. Googling her pitch, I learned that it was the opening to one of these cleanchoice energy pitches,

As someone who doesn't really have experience with this where I used to live, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what the door-to-door sollicitors actually want and if it's actually money saving/planet saving? My scam radar is going off hard as it stands.

3

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

NeatLeft t1_iuj9vby wrote

They’re just paid salesman. They’re knocking on your door to make the company and themselves more money, not help you out.

27

Odd_Contest2252 OP t1_iujasbv wrote

Yeah I mean I should have clarified I understand the premise of door-to-door sales. By "what do they want" I'm more wondering if the entire clean choice energy concept that BGE has been sending mailers about is a scam or it's just the companies that are sending the salespeople that are shady?

2

probablywrongbutmeh t1_iujcqks wrote

Never show them your bill. If they capture the right info they will sometimes switch your servicer without your consent.

26

planetarylaw t1_iujl0rp wrote

This exact thing has happened to many of my neighbors.

4

fijimermaidsg t1_iujeyww wrote

Scam, don't show them your bill.

When I first moved to Baltimore, they had a polite female student-type come to my door to talk about clean energy. I stupidly showed her my bill and she immediately signed us up to a 3rd party provider! We called the company right away and managed to cancel it.

These days, I never open the door to anyone, it's hard enough to get actual BGE people on the line when you need them.

17

RL_Mutt t1_iujdpur wrote

Always a scam.

12

jesus_chen t1_iuk33u5 wrote

If a product or service was of any true value would it be sold door to door in 2022?

6

baltimorecalling t1_iujfjmu wrote

Scam. You can find other energy vendors simply by browsing the BGE website.

Don't let them see any of your electricity bills. They will copy your account number and switch you without your consent.

3

ThatguyfromBaltimore t1_iujajpa wrote

Had one the other day that refused to leave when I told her, bluntly, I was not interested and I had to go back to work. She was at my door yelling for 20-30 seconds before her teammate told her to leave. (Also she ignored the no soliciting sign on my fence and door, but that's a different story)

2

rzrshrp t1_iujpt8z wrote

They're legitimately trying to sell you a different energy plan. They're still salespeople though, so the level of honesty and scammyness will vary. I switched mine with one of these reps more than a decade ago and it went fine but I can definitely see some trying to switch your bill without your consent or being overly pushy because they're salespeople and getting you to switch is probably their livelihood.

As others have said, it's probably best to just go to the energy choice website. That way you can have the facts without someone possibly misleading you and being pushy.

2

bob_smithey t1_iujr2mo wrote

I had one guy come by, as proof of what he was selling.... he had a new hat with TF on it. Right buddy. Good luck, now step off the porch. I mean, at least come back with a better scam dude.

1

DrJungeyBrungenMD t1_iuk23y3 wrote

I had one sell a roommate a “variable rate plan” one time, roommate didn’t tell any of the rest of us. Our bills started off cheap, but within a year they were four times what we were paying before.

1