Very official-looking ID badge. — Photo by John Ruscher
Guard your utility bills, folks. Some misleading energy salesmen are poking around Bushwick. In fact, they just stopped by my building at Troutman and Knickerbocker for the second time in two days. Yesterday they identified themselves as being from a company called IDT — oh wait, they just came by again, for a third time, as I’m typing this.
Anyway, they flashed some laminated ID tags and said that if I showed them my Con Ed bill, they would be able to save me money on it. Skeptical, I declined and googled IDT to find that, though legit, they are notorious for their deceptive and aggressive techniques in trying to get people to switch their energy plans. Often that switch results in a higher bill rather than the money saving example IDT uses as bait.
When I informed one of my upstairs neighbors about what I had found just as he was about to unwittingly sign the IDT forms, the salesmen started screaming at me — and then called me a “fucking dick.”
The second time, the guy didn’t even say he was from IDT. He just asked if we were Con Ed customers and if he could “review” our bill. The third time I managed to snap the above photo one of the salesmen as my roommate told him to leave us alone.
Consumerist.com has covered the company extensively, and Brownstoner has a nice post about what you should know and what you can do about such “ESCOS Slamming.” If you’ve given any of these guys your information, you can request an “ESCOS freeze” to restore your original electricity plan.
John December 17th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Make that four times. This time the guy buzzed us saying “gas and electricity.”
Jeremy Sapienza December 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I work at home so I see these guys every month or so, and they only come during the day on weekdays. It’s not at all clear what the deal is, so I have them explain it to me. It’s still confusing. I don’t understand why they need a copy of my bill — I don’t even have one, we pay it online — and I REALLY don’t understand why there is no 1) number to call to verify and 2) why they insist you can’t sign up online somewhere. When they said that last thing I said “this is stupid, bye,” and shut the door.
Now I just tell them to go away from my upstairs window.
chillinoncentral December 17th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Wow, John! This time the news came right to your doorstep… and you reacted perfectly with this report. They sure went to the wrong house, LOL. Kudos and thank you for the heads up.
Diego December 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
and I thought I was doing the right thing, saving money and all – I actually got a visit right after I moved in so I thought it was normal … thanks for waking me up with this helpful post
daveffreep December 17th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
These guys are always coming by my building. I’ve caught them walking the hallways several times, as my neighbors have let them in and left them to roam. I make them leave.
chillinoncentral December 17th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I wonder if they may have a hidden agenda, like burglary?
Dresden December 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am
This makes me want to fart electricity and give it to the people.
Dresden December 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Am I the only one who thinks they might just put your ConEd account into their name and then “submeter” your account back to you?
That’s why they need to see your bill. So they can call ConEd later and reassign the account.
Like these guys provide electricity!!! HA HA HA!
powkang December 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
ooh, i hate these people. they buzz during the day and instead of using the intercom, i often stick my head out the window and ask who people are and identifying them by sight rather than fuzzy intercom. i stuck my head out my window and said, “hello?” and the first thing they said was: “speak english?” sure. ok. i’m asian. but last i checked, i’m far from the only asian in the city who speaks english.
chillinoncentral December 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Has anyone reported their activities to the police? This cannot be legal and there may be tens/hundreds who’s finances may have already been taken advantage of in our community.
jessica December 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
IDT has been calling my number for months..I never pick up and they never leave a message:
Caller ID: 518-687-6720
If this number calls you, ignore it or if you figure out how to stop it, let me know. I am on all the no call lists–and they still call me.
Dresden–if you figure out the fart thing you will be a ba-zillionaire.
pixie December 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
If your number is on a no call list and they call, they can be fined. Next time pick up and tell them that – they won’t call back.
I’m glad you posted that number because my whole family is in that area code and I would probably pick up. Luckily we have a locked gate in front of our house so they can’t get in to ring my bell.
vertigo December 19th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I had these guys buzz my door, and I just screamed “NO SOLICITORS, I’M CALLING THE COPS” and they proceeded to hit every other button on the building.
They prey on bushwick because they convince the people here who don’t speak english so well that they work for the energy company. THEY DO switch your service over if they get to see your bill. I go through my building and explain to anyone who doesn’t speak english that they will give you a lower bill for one month, and then each month it costs more and more.
If one of these assemblyman REALLY want to do something for this neighborhood, they should push for legislation to stop this deceptive business practice. But they really don’t so here they come again.
There are multiple articles about them on consumerist.
http://consumerist.com/search/idt/
Jessica E. December 19th, 2008 at 10:55 am
They called me again at 8am. I will pick up next time and threaten them with fines (and hell fire).
chillinoncentral December 19th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Very nice link, vertigo!!
Dresden December 20th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Jessica – I’m hard at work for the people.
Mjay December 20th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Jeremy,
Thank you SO MUCH for this story!!! You saved me money!
I had just signed up 3 days previous and canceled without penalty. Whew.
Mjay December 20th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
or rather, thank you John!
jessica December 26th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
They just called me A-gain. I pretended to be a creepy old man and hit on the guy. We’ll see if they call me back.
Franco January 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I’ve been seeing calls from the 518-687-6720 number on my cell phone. They never leave a message.
Somebody needs to dump a bucket of water out the window on these cretins, like my Grandma used to do…
peace
chillinoncentral January 6th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
HAHA – EXACTLY, Franco!!
=]]
Christina May 13th, 2009 at 9:36 am
They’re baaack! Came to Goodwin pl. yesterday. Convinced my boyfriend to sign us up (even though his name doesn’t appear on the bill). I immediately called and put blocks on our national grid and con ed accounts. Whew!