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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this cold caller was pushy?

41 replies

buddhasbelly · 18/02/2022 16:52

I just had a cold caller from Scottish Power. Trying to get me to switch and fix my rate supposedly capped til 2024.

He had lost his ID badge, he then sent for his workmate to come with his. The guy who had lost his badge was actually OK but the second guy was so pushy and rude. I said I was with OVO and he kept saying no you're with SSE (sse have been bought by OVO, it seemed a weird point for him to niggle on). The 2nd guy said I seemed a bit paranoid (because I wanted to see ID). The phone number to verify the agent did connect to a woman who said she was from Scottish Power but scammers can set up phone numbers, it seemed a poor way to check.

He said they'd identified me as at risk to the price hike due to the way I pay my bill but I pay by direct debit. Isn't that how a lot of people pay?!

The 2nd guy kept pushing and said I won't get this rate if I phone up. They wanted my ACC no and sort code but I said jusg to leave it in the end as the 2nd guy was so rude and the 1st guy was working without ID.

I just kept thinking if this was a vulnerable person itd be shit to have someone being so pushy at your door.

Oh erm

YABU Sales people are jusg doing their job
YANBU sales people need to be banned

Also has anyone else had this from Scottish Power?

OP posts:

ChargingBuck · 18/02/2022 16:57

The 2nd guy said I seemed a bit paranoid (because I wanted to see ID)

How did you not just respond "time to fuck off now mate" & shut the door in their faces?

alexdgr8 · 18/02/2022 16:59

contact scottish power and complain.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 18/02/2022 17:07

The 2nd guy said I seemed a bit paranoid (because I wanted to see ID)

That's the point where it would have ended for me - though actually it wouldn't even have started since I don't buy anything from doorsteppers, be it dishcloths, a utility or anything else

JuergenSchwarzwald · 18/02/2022 17:11

Doorstep selling should be banned. There is no need for it. If you are good at your job, you will get word of mouth referrals and you can also advertise on social media.

I suspect these were scammers anyway.

I know some MNers think it's weird not to open your door to cold callers but why would you?

SNUG2022 · 18/02/2022 17:13

I always say, no thank you, really politely and quickly shut the door. Don't even enter into a discussion. Sometimes I don't even answe the door. I'm just not interested.

Porfre · 18/02/2022 17:14

YANBU
if they start getting pushy, theres nothing to stop you from just closing the door, especially if they are insulting you by calling you paranoid.

cuno · 18/02/2022 17:18

Sounds like a scam to me. Contact SSE using the number online, not the number they gave you, to put in a complaint.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 18/02/2022 17:32

There is a very good reason people are a bit 'paranoid' when there are well known scams presented just like this and with one worker not having ID...

mogsrus · 18/02/2022 17:37

We don’t get many, but had a double glazing one the other week, so told them my SIL is in the game & can do it for 1/3 price, he just smiled & went. I do get cold calls though & that’s the same story I tell them, no matter what is being sold.

VickyEadieofThigh · 18/02/2022 17:39

@alexdgr8

contact scottish power and complain.

I phoned and complained when a pushy cold caller persuaded my elderly dad, who has dementia, to switch a couple of years ago.

These cold callers described by the OP sound dodgy as feck.

toastfiend · 18/02/2022 17:48

I always just cut them off before they hit their stride, say "Sorry, I don't buy anything from cold callers and I'm very busy. Good bye." and shut the door. You're really unlikely to get the best deals from a random person who has rocked up on your doorstep, they shouldn't be working without ID on them, they're quite commonly scammers and I find it extremely intrusive. If they'd accused me of being paranoid I wouldn't have been very polite in my response at all. Don't let social conditioning force you to stay awkwardly listening to their spiel on your doorstep, you're not obliged to and it's actually quite rude of them when you think about it. I don't know why companies continue with these tactics, if they are legit, no one welcomes it and I can't think that they make many sales from it. Same goes for door to door charity donations as well.

Echo the advice from others to call Scottish Power via the number on their website to confirm it's legit. It's probably an external party that they've outsourced to who is actioning this, so a complaint might not be very effective, but they should at least be able to let you know if they were legitimate or not.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 18/02/2022 17:50

The problem is that you engaged. If I open the door and it's a cold caller I just say 'No thanks' and close the door. Sometimes they keep talking to the closed door but I'm walking away from it so no idea what they're saying.

HopefulProcrastinator · 18/02/2022 17:51

Honestly I'm surprised Scottish Power has cold callers doing door to door sales anymore. I thought energy companies had backed away from this practice a few years ago.

YANBU

I'd email a complaint if you can remember the ID details. I would say phone but hanging around for 45 minutes is more punishment for you than them

Winday · 18/02/2022 18:00

They were very pushy. To be honest though, I'm surprised you gave them time enough to be so rude. I'd have shut the door either immediately after learning why they were there, or as soon as I realised salesperson A didn't have any ID.

jimmyhill · 18/02/2022 18:33

Why did you have a conversation with them at all? I try to have said "no thanks" before they finish saying "hello". Then slam the door in their faces

FourChimneys · 18/02/2022 18:44

"Sorry, I only opened the door because I'm expecting the funeral director" works a treat.

ThinWomansBrain · 18/02/2022 18:54

YABU for giving them the time of day

Love the 'funeral director' response above

PolkaSpace · 18/02/2022 18:56

Sounds exactly like how a scammer would behave though

Daphnise · 18/02/2022 18:59

I would say you engaged far too much with them.

Ask them to leave in future, and just keep saying "Please leave now", then shut the door.

Complaints to the energy company will get you nowhere.

MajorCarolDanvers · 18/02/2022 19:01

The 2nd guy said I seemed a bit paranoid (because I wanted to see ID)

MajorCarolDanvers · 18/02/2022 19:01

@MajorCarolDanvers

The 2nd guy said I seemed a bit paranoid (because I wanted to see ID)

Sorry posted too soon.

I would report this to Scottish Power. I'd bet they wouldn't be happy that sales reps are doing this.

EmbarrassedAllOver · 18/02/2022 19:04

Sounds dodgy... definitely complain

ClariceQuiff · 18/02/2022 19:05

Tell them you are not the bill-payer.

winterchills · 18/02/2022 19:13

Definitely sounds like a scam!

dontgiveahoot · 18/02/2022 20:12

Sound dodgy as fuck! I just close the door on anyone selling anything. If I'm in a good mood they might get a no thank you. If I'm in a bad mood they'll be told to fuck off.

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