A Morwell pensioner has warned locals to be on the lookout for what he fears may be a dodgy door-to-door salesperson pressuring vulnerable people into signing up to energy deals.
Maryvale Crescent resident Tony Hawkins has made a complaint to the Energy and Water Ombudsman after at least four of his neighbours gave away their banking details.
He said a man who only provided a first name was cagey about showing official identification and then disappeared before his ID could be confirmed.
The salesperson had been doorknocking Department of Housing units and was claiming to be from an energy market comparison website Switch and Save.
“Elderly and vulnerable people are being pressured into signing these deals. He kept saying it was a special offer that you have to sign up to today or the offer won’t exist,” Mr Hawkins said.
He said further red flags were raised when he realised the salesman was only offering Alinta Energy deals,instead of looking across the market.
“He gave me a number to call to verify who he was, but it took me straight to an Alinta call centre in the Phillippines,” Mr Hawkins said.
“I asked to see his ID and for him to stay while I made the call but he left, claiming he had another appointment.”
He said the man left a card with another neighbour.
The salesman said it was connected to his own consultancy business, but the card displayed a different first name and a generic email address.
An Alinta spokesman confirmed the salesman was not connected to Alinta.
“We have relayed the concerns raised to Switch and Save so they can investigate,” the spokesman said.
The Express has attempted to contact Switch and Save but did not receive a response before deadline.
An Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria spokesman said account holders should only hand over their personal information if they were completely certain what they were signing up to.
“You can request the following from a marketing representative at any time: identification or verification, which company the marketer is representing and to leave your property,” he said.
He said residents could keep travelling salespeople at bay by displaying a “do not knock” sign, and to go the government-run Victorian Energy Compare website to find the best energy deals.
