Pete got switched over to IDT Energy by a scammy door-to-door salesman, thanks to his sleepy and ignorant roommate, and now he wants help.

Unlike Pete, his roommate doesn’t read The Consumerist and so when an IDT Energy rep came to his door and said he was from ConEd and just needed a signature, she unwittingly authorized the switch.

Once Pete found out, he called up ConEd and got a block placed on his account, but he wonders if that’s enough. He writes,

…I am concerned about what she signed and I wonder if IDT can some how hold me accountable for it, and switch me over anyways.

Getting the account lock is good move, and you’re probably covered just from that. To be doubly sure, you can call IDT Energy at 1-877-877-6866. Other readers reported that the company actually doesn’t give you a hassle at all when you try to cancel IDT after the switcharoo.

After that, report the incident to the NY Attorney General at 212-416-8000. They need more complaints lodged against IDT Energy before they will open an investigation.

Here’s the thing… it is actually possible to save money using IDT Energy. Instead of a fixed rate, you get a variable one, which can be lower than what you get through ConEd. However, no business should be allowed to use their kind of outright deception to sell its services.

Pete’s letter, inside…

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Pete writes:

hey guys,

last friday, IDT came knocking at my door. interestingly enough they came on the day our electric bill was delivered. i have read all about them on your website for months and would have closed the door in their face and called the police. however i wasnt home, my roommate was. she was half asleep, they said they were from coned. she didnt know what was going on, she showed them our bill and signed some form about switching over. uh oh!

i called coned edison and explained what happened, the cs rep said that she would put a block on my acct that would prevent someone from changing my energy service provider. so IDT would not be able to switch me over. i asked several times for clarification about this block placed on my account, and was assured that it meant no one could switch my account. i would continue to be billed by coned. so i think i am ok. the electric bill is in my name, and i would assume IDT cant do anything unless i have signed the forms, not my roommate. however i am concerned about what she signed and i wonder if IDT can some how hold me accountable for it, and switch me over anyways.

my roommate remembers them saying that something will be sent to us in the mail to sign and send back, but she was half asleep and cant quite remember. they have my acct number and address info, as well as my name on their forms. have you guys heard about the process after someone signs the door to door salesman’s forms? maybe you can post something asking for people’s experiences after they were duped and signed the form? should i bother calling IDT and say cancel this transaction, do not switch my energy service, i do not want to you use your company?

those fuckers!

-pete

— BEN POPKEN

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