Complaint Review: Major Energy

I live in Lockport, NY in an apartment complex. In the hallway I overheard a representative from a company asking if electricity was included or if we paid. They then asked to see a copy of their bill to see if they qualified for a reduction in their bill because of a new law that was passed.

I walked out the door when she was done with my neighbor and a representative claimed they were associated with NYSEG and that a new law was passed that said that I might qualify for an energy rate reduction, if I would just show them a recent bill. They had a big pile of papers and a clipboard with NYSEG on the corner of a page.  She also said that many of my neighbors had qualified for this discount...which I thought was odd because I overheard her ask about the complex having no knowledge of my area and at that point, she hadn't proceeded across the street to other 'neighbors'.

I told her I paid my bill online. When I asked for her identification, I noticed she was wearing a Major Energy badge, in addition to a Major Energy hat, and jacket.  I received a pamphlet of this company, which I looked up - http://www.majorenergyservices.com/

I also checked NYSEG which did list the company as an electrical supplier - http://www.nyseg.com/UsageAndSafety/energysupplier/electricitysuppliers.html

However, the representative couldn't tell me about the new law when I asked and when I asked for her name and supervisor information, so I could confirm what she was saying about being affiliated with NYSEG -  I was given a pamphlet (which I passed long to my landlord) with her name and a generic number for the company. She then booked it out of the complex, not bothering to go upstairs to other neighbors.

I was leery about being asked to see a copy of my bill as that has some personal information and being that it was one of the first things I was asked, I was immediately turned off. It would be better to supply information of what a rate might be so that you can determine whether or not you wish to contact Major Energy regarding the reduction.

I find this door to door method highly misleading because I recalled reading on the NYSEG site the following:

"Because of some recent complaints, NYSEG and RG&E also remind  customers that they do not market energy door-to-door, that NYSEG and  RG&E employees would never ask a customer for an account number or a bill, and that they would never contact a customer and ask for an account number or any other personal information."

Referenced from this resource:
http://www.rge.com/OurCompany/News/2010/112310askforid112210.html