PSE&G. Need A New Supplier?

A man rang my bell yesterday and said he was from PSE&G. He did not ask me for any personal information, not even my name. He stated that PSE&G is no longer a supplier (I can't recall if it is for gas, electric, or both) and that I needed to pick a new one. Supposedly this was on page three of a bill, but since my bill was wildly overpaid a few months back (some of you may remember that saga) I haven't been looking at the bill closely, only peeking to make sure I didn't owe anything yet, so it is possible I missed this. I said I didn't feel comfortable making any changes with him, could I go online to their website and do it directly. He said yes.

Is this something I missed? It didn't feel like a scam since he didn't ask me for any information, not even my name, and he didn't pressure me to do anything right then and there. But at the same time I don't recall seeing any threads on this and I figured if we suddenly had to choose a supplier other than PSE&G there should have been at least one thread on this.

Is anyone familiar with this? And if it is legit which supplier should I choose to not get stuck with lower bills for three months followed by sky high bills afterward when the promotional period ends.

PSE&G is still a supplier, and is required to be the default supplier (as in, take anybody who doesn't want to pick a supplier, or who drops a supplier they had previously selected).

Hmmm, this guy specifically said they were no longer a supplier and that if I didn't choose one I would be assigned to one and my rates would be higher. It really seemed like a scam except that he wasn't hard selling anything, wasn't pushing me to sign up then and there, wasn't telling me which supplier would have the "best" price, etc.

It was so weird.

Scam. Call PSE&G if you are concerned, I am sure you know them all personally by now after your ordeal...

If he was a scam artist he was the worst one ever. He didn't ask for my account info, or even my name. The only thing he asked was if I was in charge of the household. He didn't push me to sign up, didn't recommend any particular supplier. And when I said I didn't feel comfortable making any changes with him he said I could go online to PSE&G and do it directly with them.

I guess I'll just check the entire bill the next time it comes in. But at least in the meantime it seems I don't need to worry about not having a supplier like he claimed.

If and when PSEG were to no longer be a supplier (which is unlikely), they won't be coming to your door to notify you.

Scam!!!

I have page 3 of my most recent PSE&G bill in front of me now. The closest statement on that page to what you are reporting reads as follows (emphasis mine):

"The total supply amount of [insert cost here] reflects your Price to Compare for this month should you choose another gas supplier for these services."

This may or may not have been a scam but the person at you door was clearly spreading misinformation in an attempt to make a sale.

I have had the scam people in the past, but they were more assertive. Maybe this guy backed off because I was quite annoyed from the moment I stepped out the door (who does solicitation on a Saturday AND rings the bell repeatedly) and my body language (mommy stand of fists on hips while staring at him, though this is no longer effective on my six year old), and I also told him I had heard about scammers duping people into switching and then after three months of low rates their bills skyrocket. He might have figured from the start I wasn't going let him switch me to a new provider and decided it wasn't worth the effort

Actually, he was pretty good. He has you doubting your judgement and he kept you from calling the police. If you had been more gullible, he would have gotten around to getting your personal information. He knew you weren't a mark after you said what you did, so he walked away to try the next home.

@spontaneous: Girl, you've got to learn to stop answering your doorbell!

I usually don't, but he was persistent.

And the last time I answered (the wrong house incident) it was PSE&G and I was lucky I decided to answer since he was there to cut off my power for non payment.

I was able to straighten that one out, but at least I got it straightened out without having my power shut off.