Watts The Matter With James?
A young man knocked on my door one day. He was in a plain button-down white polo and wore a name tag that just said “James.”
Me: “Hello?”
James: “Hi! I’m from [Electricity provider]. Can I talk to [My Name]?”
Me: “That’s me.”
I do not have a unisex name, so there is no way he thought I was my husband.
James: “Oh. Um… is your husband home?”
Me: “You asked for me.”
James: “Yes… But… well, I’m here to talk to your husband about switching power suppliers. Is he available?”
Me: “No.”
Awkward pause.
James: “So, um… well, could you ask him for a copy of your electric bill?”
Me: “No.”
James: “I… uh… I was just… we are offering cheaper electricity rates for—”
Me: “—What’s your rate?”
James: “Well, if I can see your electricity bill, I—”
Me: “—You don’t know what you’re charging?”
James: “I do, but—”
Me: “Okay, so what is it?”
James: “If I could talk to the man of the—”
Me: “—No.”
James: “Well, I just — if I could talk to—”
Me: “—No.”
James: “Well, I… I… I have… I need to speak to the person paying the bills.”
Me: “That’s me.”
James: “Okay, so if you have your bill, I can—”
Me: “—I know what we pay. Give me your rate or f*** off.”
He stared at me for a few seconds before turning away and getting in a car down the block. I googled the company later and found that they had predatory practices, several people saying they had been involuntarily switched to their company after handing over their electricity bills for “comparison.”
