State acts against aggressive telemarketers.
FPL applauds state taking legal action to stop unsolicited energy audit calls.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) filed legal action to stop an aggressive marketing scheme targeting customers of FPL and other Florida utilities.
We received reports from thousands of customers and worked closely with FDACS, customers and law enforcement officials for nearly a year to help stop the relentless solicitations, which used FPL's name and trademarked logo without authorization.
Some of the unsolicited calls claimed to be an "important message for FPL customers." The group also may have posed as employees of FPL or FPL-approved contractors in order to conduct home energy audits and sell energy-related services or equipment.
"On behalf of our 10,000 employees and 4.5 million customers, FPL wishes to thank the state and local officials who worked for many months on this operation," said Marlene Santos, FPL's vice president of customer service. "While today's action is great news, we urge our customers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious calls or visits."
If you received calls or visits of this nature, contact the FDACS Consumer Assistance Call Center at 800helpfla.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA.
Read the full FDACS announcement for more and learn how to protect yourself against improper activity by visiting FPL.com/fplprotect.
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Yesterday someone from a company purporting to be FPL--operating in conjunction with UCO, no less--left notices on all our association apartment doorknobs stating that they would be coming by to do energy audits today or tomorrow. Their notice replicated the FPL logo. I checked with FPL to make sure this was a fraudulent thing, and they said it was, so I removed all the doorknob hangers and posted one of the notices on our bulletin board, noting in bold letters that this was fraudulent. The day before, they hung their notices on our neighboring association's doorknobs.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me so angry that they would outright lie like this and prey on the elderly. It's as if they have no conscience at all.
Hi Lanny,
ReplyDeleteMay 18, 2011 1:28 PM,
Can you please advise whom at FPL you contacted?
Thanks,
Dave Israel
Hi Dave,
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten that this subject had been addressed on the blog until later, so I simply called the Customer Service number on my phone bill, 697-8000. I spoke with a woman but didn't make note of her name. She said they had had many similar complaints and gave me two places to contact if I wanted to follow up:
www.800helpFLA.com and 800-435-7352. I didn't bother to follow up because she had said so many had already contacted them about it. It was later, in skimming through some of the old blogs, that I recalled this subject had been addressed and then made my comment.
The notices were printed on white 8-1/2x11 paper folded in half lengthwise and inserted in a white plastic doorknob hanger. They were left on all our doorknobs (Sheffield N), including second floor, and I understand they were on Sheffield K's doorknobs the previous day.
At the top of the notice is the FPL logo (looked just like the real thing) and under it "United Civic Organization Inc." Under this it reads: "(Attention: Century Village Residents)/FPL will be conducting Home Energy Surveys in your community/at no cost to you," etc., etc. The doorknob hanger also had the FPL logo on it, blue on white.
I would be glad to bring you a sample. Sorry I can't tell you more.