Advice from Scottish Water after bogus calls in Ayrshire
Scottish Water is urging customers to help stop bogus callers by using our Card, Check and Call advice following a number of bogus caller incidents in parts of Ayrshire such as Ayr, Kilwinning, Crosshouse and Tarbolton.
Remembering this series of simple steps can help to beat these callous conmen, who prey particularly on the vulnerable and elderly in our communities.
Following Scottish Water’s simple Three C’s advice could help communities throughout the area to beat the bogus caller:
Card – You can ask callers to pass their ID card or letter through the letter box in order to verify their identity.
Check – Check the identity card carefully: Is the photo on the card the same as the person at the door? Does the card contain the Scottish Water Customer Helpline number? Has the card been tampered with in any way?
If you are not confident that they are a genuine caller, then send them away!
Call – If you are in any doubt about the caller's identity please call our Customer Helpline on 0800 0778778. We advise customers to contact utility companies by using phone numbers found in telephone directories or the internet, but never from ID cards or letters presented, because these could be false. If you are still suspicious contact a neighbour or call the police.
Mrs Jane McKenzie, Scottish Water’s regional communities team manager for the area, said: “All our employees carry identity cards, which they are more than happy to show when requested to do so. Householders shouldn’t let anyone into their home until they are sure of their identity. Check through the peep hole on your door; ask them to pass their ID card or letter through the letter box. Our employees will be more than happy to wait while you check their identity.
“On occasion, when we need access to a customer’s property we normally try to contact them in advance and arrange a suitable time. However, there may be occasions when we need to cold-call. But all our employees carry ID badges and are happy to display these on arrival. Our staff and contractors never call at a customer’s home to collect money.”
In a bid to help protect customers against bogus callers, Scottish Water is again offering an Anti-Bogus Caller Pack which contains a personal electronic alarm, door viewer, UV Marker Pen and guard bar.
Packs are available to the first 100 customers contacting Scottish Water by emailing customermarketing@scottishwater.co.uk or writing to us quoting Bogus Caller Pack, Customer Marketing, PO Box 8855 Edinburgh EH10 6YQ.