Too bad this is only good in the 5 boroughs.
My mother-in-law got hassled by a similar group in Westchester Co. They had come to my house and their pitch was "Hi, we're from the energy company, I need to see your electric bill" Really? I told the guy in no uncertain terms to go scratch and to leave the premises before I called the police for trespassing. He had rung a few other doorbells in the house already and I told everyone to go back to their apartments, nothing to see here.

I ended up calling my in-law's that live down the street but I was too late. They refused to leave. I tried telling them to get rid of them - but by that point my mother-in-law had engaged them. Finally convinced them to go though.. but it was like fighting a roach infestation.

A en elected official wants everyone to use a gmail account? Just doesn't sound right.

@lawnmowerdeth: I thought about that too, and I came to the conclusion that (I'm assuming this is legitimate) it's because he doesn't want the complaints to go directly to his mailbox. He's probably got a mess of other things to do, and it's pretty common to set up additional e-mail addresses to direct e-mails to. I'm not surprised it's a gmail account.

@lawnmowerdeth: As an elected official, he is probably not considered an employee of the city so does not have easy access to the city's technology. At least that is how it is here in the city where I work. The council members normally come with their own email addresses and continue using them even if they get a city account.

@mbouchard: yeah, any process involving a government (like getting a new email address) is a pain in the rear, it's so much easier to just make one on gmail

Heh he misspelled IDT in the third paragraph.

Direct energy just came to my door, and I am in NY so the next time an energy company comes to my door, I will be reporting it. Thanks for the information.

@lawnmowerdeth:

paranoid much? do you think this is a secret campaign by keyspan or coned trying to get intel on their competition by pretending to be a city council member?

I have a 3 year contract with Advent energy. No matter how high rates go they can't charge me more than what the contract is. They're cheaper than Con Ed. You need to check the terms these companies are offering. If you have a contract they can't change it no matter what. Had the same thing few years back with a gas company in NJ. They got killed when gas went up but they never charged me more and I saved a bundle. At the end of the contract which was for two years they wrote and told me they couldn't keep me as a client and I ended up back with the local gas company at a much higher rate.

@senor macho solo:

No, but apparently you've thought it through already!

If you do not feel comfortable using the Gmail please send complaints to deblasio@council.ny.ny.us

Thanks,
Tom Gray
District Director
City Council Member Bill de Blasio
(718) 854-9791
(718) 854-1146 Fax

I work for a door to door Energy company and it really frustrates me to see Esco's like IDT and any others in the market who go around lying, cheating or misleading the customers into a product or program. Most energy customers will hear about the bad press and think all Esco's are alike. Its not good for business, There are good companies with good programs and products its a shame that these fool need to ruin it for the rest of us.

On March 29, 2004, D. Michael Jewett, a former employee whose employment the company terminated less than seven months after he was first hired, filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, following his termination. The complaint alleges (i) violations of the New Jersey Anti-Racketeering Statute; (ii) violations of the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act ("CEPA"); (iii) viloations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination ("LAD"); (iv) common law defamation; and (v) New Jersey common law intentional infliction of emotional distress ("IIED")

Company Officers:
Ira A. Greenstein
James A. Courter (Vice Chairman & CEO)
Marc E. Knoller
Joyce J. Mason (EVP & Corporate Secretary)
Howard S. Jonas (Chairman of the Board)

Company Information:
520 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel. 1.973.438.1000

@Blueskylaw: YOu didn't say what company.

I worked for direct energy for about a week a few years ago. I left the company on my own because what they are doing is an enormous scam. We are instructed to say that we are from the gas company and told that we can lower the price of a persons gas or hydro bill. This is a lie. More often then not the customer will end up paying much, much more.

A few things really bothered me though. One was that we were instructed to target lower income housing. The explanation I got was that the houses are closer together and it was easier to hit more. While this may be true it was also because these people were often new immigrants (I live in Ontario) and did not know any better.

Often times people would complain that a person had been by earlier that week. Direct Energy has many offices around Toronto and there is no communication between them. The focus is on selling and with a hefty commission for each plan sold, there are people willing to do this.

The whole operation made me feel uncomfortable. It was when they insisted on paying me under the table that I decided defrauding people was not worth it.

If any of these people come to your door do not give them the time of day. It is a scam that has somehow been legalized.