to feel rather unsettled by this conman?

[boschy]

Yesterday a man appeared on my doorstep, addressed me by name and told me that we were in arrears with one of the utilities companies, and that he was here to collect as little or as much as I could pay, and would be back the same time every week. No shame involved, I was just one of 70 houses in the area he visits on this basis.

Tbh, it's not the sort of thing I would know off the top of my head, so I asked him for some paperwork - he said he couldnt give me anyway, but did give me a postcard on which he handwrote what he said we owed - over £400. the card had a nice logo of the utility company he said he represented, and a message about looking out for bogus callers.

The man was scarily plausible and very persistent. Eventually I had to say that I couldnt pay anything til I'd spoken to my husband, so he left. (Obv I wouldnt have paid anything anyway, just wanted to get rid of him).

So I called the company and surprise surprise, we dont owe them anything. I've told the police about the conman and they want to come and see me although they cant say when that would be (was supposed to be within an hour yesterday - now they say not til next week).

The thing is, we are quite isolated - house is down a track, there are neighbours along the track but once you get here no one could see you. I've always mostly left the front door open so the dog could wander in and out at will, but am going to keep it locked now.

DH says bloke will not come back, his scam didnt work and not to worry, but I just feel on edge, and maybe he was casing the joint for a burglary or something? The man has discovered that I am here alone during the day and that the dog is not exactly burglar-eating material...

So AIBU to feel a bit anxious, am I just being a wuss?

We are considering it hyper.

If I was going to do something like this (which obv I wouldnt!!) I would go to something like a busy street in a town, where you prob wouldnt really be noticed, not pick out a quite isolated house with a complicated escape route - I think that's the bit that freaks me out personally, quite apart from the other people being vulnerable elderly/mentally ill issue, which makes me angry.

Perhaps a busy street in a town would be more savvy in general about stuff like this and maybe less older/vulnerable people too. Also wrongly or rightly there is a bit of perception of cash stuffed in vases/ under matresses in more secluded spots! (not that I've thought about this much!!)

haha at cash in vases/under mattresses! pretty damn sure I'd know if it was there, we'd have spent it by now! maybe I'd best tidy up before the burglars come? or else we will be like that yellow pages ad...

Ooo why don't you check just in case! Your DP might turn out to be the stereotype and you might find a nice wadge down the sofa

Can see my step grandad falling for this :(

There will be elderly people who will panic on the word "arrears" and hand over whatever cash they have to this scumbag.

I'd go for the camera option too, and make it visible, out of reach so if he does return he knows he's being filmed.

We have red stickers on our doors, handed out by local police/council, stating that we do not want unsolicited callers and if they knock the police will be contacted. This was especially important when my mother was still with us as she has mild dementia. It seems to work quite well, all the neighbours have them right enough and we're in a cul-de-sac so not so easy to prey on us.

PCSO came out tonight and will make sure that the local Trading Standards bods know and can get things moving (quite interesting, they can go in on the 'misrepresentation of corporate logo' line). he was also going to do a bit of door-knocking locally to see if anyone else saw the scumbag. he thinks it unlikely the man will come back...

so I dont really think there is anything else I can do, just hope he was scared off and doesnt try it again elsewhere.

UPDATE: he came back just now!! said had I decided I was going to pay him? I asked to check his identification, which looked ok and I got his name. I told him to leave (the very friendly but bouncy Lab may have influenced his decision), followed him out and got a car reg. no. which I have given to police.

now I think am I going mad? maybe we do owe money... but then they told me I was in credit...

Good for you Boschy.

The police will be able to do something if they have the car reg ( if it is indeed the car reg and not false plates )

Your utility company would have issued a bill if you were in arrears, you would have a letter stating this.
Check again with them if it puts your mind at rest

Sounds like he's trying his scam again!

Cheeky fucker.

What did the police say?

Jeez, I kinda hope you do owe money as otherwise he's got a scary amount of cheek!

the police are going to put the number out in case there is a patrol car in the area (most unlikely on previous experience!)

I am pretty sure that if we were in arrears we would have paperwork to say so, but it just makes you question yourself somehow.

god how scarey. I think the company would normally inform you by letter and I deffo dont think they send people round to collect payment

Can´t believe he tried again.

That would worry me tbh.

If it happens again-could you take his card, leave him on the doorstep-on the pretext of phoning the co to check him out, & call the police immediately?

There is a water company that allow doorstop payments to be made. I have a relative that is paying arrears off this way.

Is it possible that he is genuine & has been given false information, then?

Also-the fact that he said he would talk to both OP & her husband, rather than just leaving?

(Or am I being gullible?)

Sounds to me like he was real, TBH. He had your name, address and your power company details? Debts can be collected like this my friend used to be a collection agent for a debt company. It was a shit job! Also, d

I agree with others that the first step of the utilities company would be an arrears letter, then probably a slightly stronger-worded one, then a threat of debt collectors and only after all of that would they send someone out in person.

Can't believe the cheek of this guy! Stay safe OP.

Sorry - also doubt a scammer would drive out to an isolated property where you could see his car details, and then come back again.

the first time I didnt ask for ID and he didnt offer it, nor any paperwork. he eventually gave me a postcard and hand-wrote on it what he said we owed - the police now have this.

this time he didnt offer ID but I asked to see the tag round his neck (which he wasnt wearing last time). it had his name and a company name. have googled the company name but not found anything which makes much sense.

our water company said they DO occasionally use door to door collections but only in cases where it has been agreed with the customer in advance. nothing like this has been agreed with us - and in fact we are quite substantially in credit with them.

well I suppose if its a case of mistaken identity and he is tracked down via the numberplate it should all become clear.

Can he tell you your account number? Actually that wouldn't prove anything except he knows how to dig through rubbish....

Have you moved in the last 6 or 7 years? It sounds like an old debt that's been sold on

we've been here 14 years so unlikely to be an old debt. I think I might call the company again just to double treble check.

I´d call them again & if he´s genuine-tell them to give out correct details in future!

Omg keep doors and windows locked just incase