Liverpool-based social landlord Riverside is supporting the Top up Safe campaign by warning its tenants and residents not to buy credit for their pre-payment electricity meters on the doorstep.
It is estimated that 85,000 households have been affected by a doorstep scam whereby criminals are using cloned keys to top up credit illegally then offering customers £50-worth of electricity top-up for a cash payment of just £25.
In response, energy companies together with Consumer Focus have launched a national campaign, Top up Safe, encouraging pre-pay meter customers to only buy top-up through official channels.
Riverside’s Strategic Affordable Warmth Officer Emily Hoyle said: “We are urging our tenants and residents to only buy credit for their pre-pay electricity meter from official outlets such as the Post Office, PayPoint or Payzone. Electricity companies never sell top-up door-to-door, only through official outlets.
“If anyone offers you energy top-ups on the doorstep, they are trying to involve you in criminal activity. Don’t be fooled. Energy companies can always detect when they have not received payment for electricity used and any customer buying top-up from a criminal will end up paying twice, first to the criminal and then to their energy supplier.”
For more information visit www.top-upsafe.com or contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
If you know anyone illegally selling electricity meter top-ups, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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