We need to have a word, because we keep hearing about it. Energy scams are doing the rounds, and they tend to target exactly the businesses that are trying to do the right thing by looking for a better deal. A little caution goes a long way, so here is the straight talk.
How the scams work
The pattern is usually the same. You get a call or an email, often dressed up to look like it comes from your supplier or an official body. There is a sense of urgency. There is a great-sounding offer. And there is a push to give over details or money quickly, before you have had a chance to think.
The whole thing is built to rush you. That rush is the warning sign.
What to do if it feels off
If a call or email does not sit right, trust that instinct. Our advice is simple:
- Delete the email. Do not click the links.
- Do not return the call. If it is genuinely your supplier, you can ring them on a number you find yourself.
- Never give your card details. No legitimate supplier or broker needs them handed over on a cold call.
You are allowed to be cautious. A real company will never mind you taking your time to check.
How to know who you can trust
The flip side of all this is making sure you can tell a genuine broker from a chancer. With us, the checks are easy, because we have nothing to hide.
We are a Devon-based business, working out of the Genesis Building in Plymouth. We have a track record you can look at, including work with well-known local names like the Duke of Cornwall hotel, the Mount Batten Centre and St Enodoc Hotel. You can read our reviews, and you are welcome to speak to existing clients to check we are who we say we are.
That is the test, really. A trustworthy broker is happy to be checked. Anyone who gets cagey when you ask to verify them is telling you something.
The honest offer
When you do work with someone genuine, the deal should be clear. With us, the Smarta Switch Challenge means we will find you at least £1,000 in savings across energy, water, merchant services and broadband. And we’re paid by the supplier when you switch, never by you, so there is never a fee chasing you afterwards.
What to do this week
If you have had a suspicious call, do not engage with it. Instead, deal with a local business you can actually check. Upload a recent bill at /upload-bill/ and we will review it for free, in plain English, with nothing to hide.