The company has joined with utilities across the country to spread the word about scams impacting customers nationwide.
Report by Paula Antolini
November 10,2016 4:25PM EDT
Norwalk Police: Eversource Scam Warning
Message from Norwalk Police:
Eversource business and residential customers continue to pick up their phones and open their doors to find individuals on the other side claiming to be “representatives” or “partners” of Eversource. Whether these scammers are using aggressive marketing tactics to sell “discounted power” or threatening to turn off electricity unless an immediate payment is made, the company is warning customers to be cautious. These individuals are not affiliated with Eversource in any capacity and are most likely either scammers or third-party suppliers choosing to use deceptive marketing tactics.
Eversource customer Theodore Owens reports seeing individuals targeting utility customers in his New Britain neighborhood. “Two men came to my door, stated they were representing Eversource and told me they could save me money on my bill,” said Owens. “They quickly flashed a badge and asked to see my bill. I believed they were from Eversource so I showed them my bill. They tricked me and I ended up signing with an alternative company that was charging more than Eversource. These men fooled me and pulled the wool over my eyes.”
Eversource rarely makes unsolicited phone calls and would never solicit door-to-door on behalf of a competitive supplier. All Eversource employees carry company-issued identification, and any electrical contractors working with the company carry documentation explaining the nature and location of their work. Customers can always call Eversource to verify this information. The company has joined with utilities across the country to spread the word about scams impacting customers nationwide.
“We’re hearing from thousands of our customers who continue to be negatively impacted by these dishonest solicitations,” said Penni Conner, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at Eversource. “We urge any customer who feels they have been targeted by deceptive marketers or are the victim of a scam to contact us immediately. Every concern is logged and passed along to state regulators.”
Reminders:
Never provide a copy of your utility bill or account information to any unsolicited person on the phone, at the door, or online, particularly if you question their legitimacy.
Customers can verify they are speaking with an Eversource representative by asking for some basic information about their account like the name on the account, the account address, and the exact balance due.
If you don’t feel comfortable, close the door or hang up the phone.
Eversource urges anyone who believes they are a target of improper solicitation to please contact them directly at 1-800-286-2000. The company tracks these types of customer concerns and reports them to state regulators.
Eversource.com provides more information on how to protect personal information and avoid becoming a victim of utility scams. Concerned customers can also report scams and fraudulent activity by calling PURA at 1-800-382-4586.
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