New York deregulated electricity and gas suppliers (as per law). So now companies have sprung up to provide consumers with alternate "supplies" of gas and/or electric.
Here's how the scam works. Representitives will call, (or come to your doorstep) and usually ask you to get your utility bill. Often times they will tell you that they are the "supplier" of your utility company. (Which is not true; all utility companies purchase their own gas and electric at whole sale rates.) Than they will ask for (or copy) the "POD ID" number. (POD ID is your "point of delivery" identification number in the energy network that services your area.) After they've gotten this number (or written it down) than they will tell you they can save you money (usually 7% off) your utility bill and the "sales pitch" begins; but actually they've already gotten what they want. I've had contact with two of these "companies" - one came to my door, the other called me.
They will tell you right away they don't want to see your utility account number; but the "POD ID" number is actually more valuable to them than your account number. Your utiltiy provider will always stay the same (Rochester Gas and Electric, Niagra Mohawk, ConEd etc) but who supplies the power it's-self can change. Once someone has a POD ID number though, they can request the utility company to change the customer's supplier. This can happen even if you haven't signed anything. It seems to me that this is what's happened to other consumers who've filed complaints on "Rip off report" conserning IDT Energy. The representative, once having the POD ID enrolled the consumer with out the consumers knowledge.
So what do you do if you've inadvertantly fallen for this scam? If one of these companies has gotten a hold of your POD ID, than call your utility company and have them put a lock on your POD ID number. This can only be changed if you contact the utilty company yourself to switch it. Hope this was helpful to anyone else who may have been caught in this scam.
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