26In light of recent events, Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG) would like to remind its customers once again that the Giessen-based energy and water supplier handles customer data sensitively and never asks for it over the phone or even at the customer's front door. It is also not true - as described by an attentive customer - that the electricity in Giessen would be completely switched over. More and more low-cost providers and energy discounters are using dubious means to catch customers and the methods are becoming increasingly brazen. The fact that customers of Stadtwerke Giessen are also affected by this is illustrated by the calls from unsettled customers to their regional energy supplier.
An employee of a low-cost provider rang the doorbell of an SWG customer and pretended to be an employee of Stadtwerke Gießen AG in order to compare various customer-related data. This involved customer data, such as the customer number. In another case, a customer was led to believe that the electricity in Giessen was being completely changed over and that a contract adjustment was therefore necessary.
SWG expects that the affected customers who have given their customer number to the fraudsters will receive an order confirmation from the low-cost provider in the next few days.
Stadtwerke once again distances itself from the dubious practices of the low-cost providers. "We can only strongly advise our customers not to disclose any customer-related data over the phone or at the front door," explained Ina Weller, company spokesperson for SWG. The company will examine legal measures and take action against the low-cost provider if necessary. As a matter of principle - emphasised Weller - Stadtwerke Gießen AG does not ask for sensitive customer data over the phone or at the customer's front door. Unsettled customers who have had similar dubious experiences can contact Stadtwerke Gießen AG in confidence. Callers can reach the SWG staff on the service hotline Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on 0180 22 11 100 (each call costs 6 cents from a German landline, prices from mobile phone networks may vary).
26.06.2009