Beware of the gas price feint: How to spot a scam

Energy prices have become a significant financial burden for many households. In this context, consumer advice centers are warning of a new, sophisticated scam.

Dubious door-to-door salespeople exploit people's uncertainty and need for gas price stability to foist unwanted contracts on them under the guise of a “capped gas price”. This is not only misleading, but can also have financial consequences for those affected, who often only realize too late that they have fallen into a trap.

The trick with the “capped gas price”

The scam works as follows: At the front door, sellers pretend to be employees of the basic supplier or a local energy supplier and lure people with the promise of reducing gas costs for consumers, especially after the state gas price cap is abolished.

They claim to be able to offer a cap on the gas price, but first demand to see the conditions of the current gas supply contract and the meter number. Consumers are then supposed to sign a kind of “advertising agreement” on a tablet, which in reality leads to a change of provider.

What to do with foisted contracts?

Jan Bornemann from the Hamburg Consumer Center points out that gas contracts concluded at the front door can be canceled within 14 days if proper cancellation instructions are available. He recommends sending the cancellation by registered mail or fax and providing proof of receipt by the contractual partner.

Those affected should also inform the old gas supplier that the termination was not made on their behalf.

Preventive measures against fraud

To protect yourself from such fraud, the Hamburg consumer advice center provides important tips:

Be particularly careful at the front door.
Do not reveal any personal information or contract details.
Do not sign anything without checking it carefully.
Also, get a copy of all signed documents and insist on getting all contract details in writing before agreeing to a contract.

Questions and answers about front door fraud:

Question 1: What should you do if you unknowingly signed a gas contract at your front door?
Answer 1: Cancel the contract within 14 days of signing the contract by registered mail or fax. Also inform your old gas supplier about the unwanted change.

Question 2: How can you protect yourself from such scams?
Answer 2: Do not give out any personal information at the front door, do not sign anything without checking and always have a copy of all signed documents and the written contract details given to you.

Question 3: What do the scammers promise at the front door?
Answer 3: You claim that, as an employee of the basic supplier or a local energy supplier, you can reduce gas costs by capping the gas price.

Question 4: Why is it difficult to reverse an unwanted contract change?
Answer 4: Because the suppliers often stand in the way and do not simply accept that the contract termination was not on behalf of the consumer.

Question 5: What does “advertising consent” actually mean?
Answer 5: Despite the harmless-sounding name, this consent actually leads to a change of gas supplier.

Conclusion

The current warning from the Hamburg Consumer Center about the new front door scam shows how important it is to be vigilant and not to be misled by supposedly cheap offers.

Consumers can protect themselves by obtaining written information and critically examining all documents. Anyone who has nevertheless fallen into such a trap has the option of revoking the contract and returning to the old provider.

Comprehensive information and knowledge of your own rights are crucial in the fight against dubious practices.

Source: consumer advice center

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