Has anyone else gotten a strange visit from Constellation Energy?

[Anonymous]

Please tell me if this is real, and if I missed something here... or if you think it's a scam or people casing the house!
Yesterday around 7pm (had just put DD in bed) someone knocks on the door (immediately sets dogs off - wakes DD - starts crying, then screaming - but I digress) and introduces themselves as Whoever with Constellation Energy. They have a polo shirt with Constellation logo (I guess it's the Constellation logo).
Their spiel was something like "Have you heard about the new law that will reduce your Pepco bill? It was just passed and we sent out letters but we think most people tossed them. Something about Pepco can no longer upcharge on energy supplied by someone else (like they can't put a markup on Constellation's electrons or something). BUT... you have to "apply" to have this law applied to you."
This is where I started to get really weirded out.
He continues "So what I need to do is to call "somewhere" and give them your information so that you can have this 15-20 bucks/mo back. All the info can be found on your last bill."
Me "Don't you have a form you can give me or a number I can call? And our bills are sent electronically anyway, I don't have a paper copy"
Him "No, but this will only take a sec and all I really need is your account number. So I can wait right here while you print out your latest bill."
Me "Don't you hear the screaming child? Are you kidding me?"
Him "Oh, sorry about that, I did not mean to do that. If it's more convenient I can come back in like a half hour?"
Me "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So, what do you all think of this? Nothing that I can find on Pepco's website, but then again, it's Pepco.

[Anonymous]

This makes no sense. Constellation and Pepco are not even affiliated. Be careful

[Anonymous]

I'd report it to both Constellation and PEPCO. Constellation is BGE right? And the Public Service Commission.

[Anonymous]

It's a scam--they want your Pepco account #. I don't remember what they do with it, but it's nefarious. Report it, even after the fact, and let your neighbors know as well.

[Anonymous]

Huh. I thought it was weird.
Par for the course - yesterday was the WORST DAY EVER and getting scammed would only add to it. Glad I said nothing. Will contact Pepco and Constellation asap. Thanks DCUM!

[Anonymous]

OP here, I just called Pepco and Constellation.
I had to convince Pepco that they were not talking about Energy Choice. The lack of printed material and the "I need your account number" helped the case, I guess. They took down some information and asked for my contact info in case they needed more details or to follow up, etc. They thanked me for calling them and making them aware.
Constellation had no clue what to do, and it sounded like the girl was simply going to ignore it. She kept saying, "ummmm... ok" and "I don't know what you want me to do with this information." I kindly suggested that they put something out to their customers stating that "Constellation people will never come to your door and ask for your account number" or "If someone claims to be from Constellation, ask them for (this thing)".

If nothing else, this proves that Pepco's customer service HAS improved markedly

[Anonymous]

This is a scam. It was in the news. Google it. There are articles about it. Next time call the cops.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I actually just got a call back from Constellation (different person, this one clearly has been trained to speak to the public).
She asked for some further details, saying that they wanted to make sure, scam vs really, really bad employee. Apparently they DO have people going around my area (I gave the address of a vacant house on my block) trying to get people to switch to Constellation as an alternate provider. Or something.
I figure there is NO WAY the scammers would have the contact number I gave Constellation and Pepco (which is not even registered in my name, and is not on my account number).
She said that she thinks it was just a very new employee who needs some serious retraining. She explained away the whole "I can't leave printed materials" and "I need to call in your account number." She thanked me for sharing my concerns, because even if it was a totally innocent thing, they want to pull this guy off the streets and retrain him.
Whatever, I still didn't give her my account number. So I would say that maybe, just maybe, it was NOT a scam against Constellation, but that Constellation is full of scam artists. Their whole operation seemed shady. We switched suppliers several years ago and not one person came to our door. It was all totally legit and above-board and we never felt "weird" in the process.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. thanks for the update and info

[Anonymous]

same thing happened to us last week. Which neighborhood do you live in? We live in Kalorama.

[Anonymous]

Oh my goodness Urban Moms! Please be hip to 2012. Yes Constellation hires Door-To-Door sales teams who's jobs are to go acquire customers for Constellation's SUPPLY. Many companies do the same each and every day where there is energy deregulation. SHEEESH. Keep up with the times. MX Energy, Direct Energy, Washington Gas, Commerce Energy, Just Energy, and probably many more all do the same. Has no one here ever spoke to an energy consultant at their door before? I have spoken to many of them. With energy choice in MD and in many states across the country, energy companies do need some sort of account number in order to switch a customer's supplier from one energy supplier to another. How else would they identify you if you wanted to switch? Please think about this... If you give a complete stranger your electric bill, the only information that a stranger can do is pay your bill for you using the account number or know your address. (which apparently they already do if they knock on your door) Even if you call in with my account number as me, you would still need my social or verbal password to "enter" my account to ask specific questions. In which case, if they know your social security number then you are already in bigger trouble than you thought! Lets just all think about things with a level head before everyone jumps to irrational conclusions. My daughter is an Energy Consultant for a large electric company.

[Anonymous]

We had this happen to us with constellation energy. They literally refused to leave my door step until I threatned to call the police for trespassing. They are known for really shady sales techniques.

[Anonymous]

I had a visit from a "Pepco employee" with a similar tale including a letter that "may have been thrown away." I just shut the door. I called Pepco and they said they did not have any people in my area doing this. I should have called the police.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a visit from a "Pepco employee" with a similar tale including a letter that "may have been thrown away." I just shut the door. I called Pepco and they said they did not have any people in my area doing this. I should have called the police.

I think this must be a stock trick for door-to-door salesmen. I briefly tried working as one (encyclopedias) as an undergrad, and was instructed to ask if my boss had called or written to "let folks know we'd be coming through". Of course, people would say no, because he had done no such thing!!

I don't see why legitimate businesses would engage in door-to-door sales these days. Very shady, even if they are hawking a real product.

[Anonymous]

Constellation energy knocked on my door today as well. I was very weary and not sure what to make of it. He fed me some schpeel on how Ameren Illinois has 3 different suppliers to choose from and we can pick which one we want. I kindly asked him to wait outside while i verified with Ameren Illinois. I went inside and called Ameren. They verified everything that he had told me. They do have 3 different suppliers and Ameren just picks one for you unless you call and ask for a specific one. They also told me that Constellation does have the least charges than the other 2 companies. I thanked them and went back outside. When I said I would switch he did ask me for my account number. However, he did not write it down. When he called in he left the phone on speaker so that I could hear him switching it over. Then afterwards, Ameren called me to confirm that I had made a switch over to constellation. It was all totally legit.