Why doesn’t it surprise me weird stuff happens on Ground Hog’s day?

It was about 1 in the afternoon when this guy started banging on my doorbell. It had to be a guy–women are just far more gracious about such things. My husband was resting after a particularly grueling session at the physical therapist, so I was trying to prevent further ear assault. I stood inside, the locked screen door between him and me.

He told me that APS and the state of AZ were trying to help residents on fixed incomes get relief from their electric bills caused by the recent rate hike approved by the AZ Corporation Commission, and that he’d been sent by both those entities to do just that.

He first asked me how much I was paying now for electricity. The only information I provided was that it was under $300. Next, he went alongside the house and succeeded in waking up Hubby, ostensibly to look at my electric meter. He came back and asked me to pull up one of my bills on my laptop, and he was going to show me a graph to compare my bill to his figures to demonstrate how much I could save. That clearly was not gonna happen. We played pingpong for about 10 minutes, neither of us gaining any ground whatever. He was trying to convince me that APs had discontinued applications to this program online and that the only way to get it was to go through the process with him. I wasn’t buying. I was also suspicious that he didn’t wish to provide a company name when requested to do so. He finally said something like “number 1 solar.”

I eventually told him that we weren’t going to entertain any further discussion until I verified his story with APS. He could come back later if he desired to do so. I suspected, correctly, I wouldn’t see him again.

Meanwhile, just for the halibut, I did two things.
1) I checked the
APS Website
The relevant article was buried in the ‘Help’ section and pointed to:
Protect Yourself Against Utility Scams

The salient portion in my case stated:
“Solar installers claiming to partner with APS: We do not sell or lease solar systems and are currently not in partnership with any solar installers to offer special deals or incentives by phone or door-to-door. See our
frequently asked questions about going solar .

2) I called APs and spoke with a lady named Lisa. She confirmed what by this time I was already certain of, and took my report, for whatever it’s worth.

Answering the door was actually a mistake on my part, despite my good motives. If your HOA or landlord allows, I suggest a “no soliciting / no trespassing sign”. That should alert sensible people they’re treading on perilous ground. Unfortunately many HOA’s and landlords don’t allow them.

Though I answered the door, the scammer was not allowed in, and the wooden door was blocking the view inside. Never let people in you don’t know. Period.

Lastly, I verified, verified, verified. I basically assume folks like that are lying through their teeth to me unless and until I can prove otherwise.

It’s easy to get sucked in by those who say they want to help you. Don’t! Sometimes, all they really want to do is help their pocketbooks. Maybe next time if one of these idiots shows up at my door, I’ll call the sheriff, though they usually can’t be bothered to come. In any event, scammers be advised: “you no scamma this grandma.”

Farewell till the next post. In the meantime, “Be smart, be wise, always verifies”, and “stop and think before you click that link.”