IDT Energy, which specializes in going door to door and lying to customers in order to get sales, has expanded its reach past NYC and is now conning the good citizens in Albany, NY, according to this reader Peter’s letter:

The woman was friendly and nice and my wife didn’t distrust her, essentially, because she was a friendly/nice young woman. What was funny was that the woman convinced my wife that IDT had purchased National Grid, and was therefore now our energy provider. She indicated to my wife that the result of this merger was a monopoly, and because of associated regulations, we would begin saving money on our utility bill in the form of refunded state taxes (???). She asked for a copy of our most recent utility, and showed my wife where it stated this. My wife then signed the IDT forms stating that we had voluntarily switched to IDT….

Nope, IDT Energy has not bought National Grid. You got conned.

(Photo: Meghann Marco)

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Fortunately I was able to easily cancel the agreement under the 3-day cancellation period, and to IDT’s credit, they were very easy to deal with over the phone, but this all seems a little slimy in the same sense as the ConEd concerns.

However they are training these IDT reps, it must be really good. My wife was sure that the young woman believed that everything that she was saying was on the up-and-up.

It’s true, if you find yourself snookered into a deal with IDT Energy, you can call them up and cancel. Or you can even call up your original energy provider and get the changeover request blocked.

We would also recommend filing a complaint with your public utilities commission against IDT’s false advertising practices. Only by amassing reports will any type of regulatory action spring to life.

P.S. IDT Energy, we hate you. — BEN POPKEN

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