Birmingham bogus bidet callers warning

Severn Trent is reminding residents in Birmingham of the many safeguards available to help householders protect themselves against bogus callers after a recent incident in the city.

Bogus callers, or distraction burglars, often claim to be from a utility company to gain access to a home and steal from it. These criminals are cunning and often intimidating, and deliberately target the elderly or vulnerable.

Severn Trent was pleased to hear from a customer who had received a phone call claiming to be from the company. The caller offered to fit a bidet free of charge due to problems in the area with items being flushed away that should be bagged and binned instead.

Severn Trent is trying to make customers aware of the problems on incorrectly flushing items (costing private households money), advice can be found on the company website and free fat traps are available. However, Severn Trent is not phoning customers to offer free bidets.

Luckily, the customer contacted Severn Trent first before going any further with the ‘offer’.

Anyone who calls from Severn Trent will always be happy for customers to check who they are and the advice is to take the name and phone number of the caller. Customers should then call us on 08457 500 500 to ensure that it is genuine.

Severn Trent customers who may be concerned about the possibility of bogus callers turning up at the door are being encouraged to contact the company to set up a password. Customers who decide to set up a password can feel safer in the knowledge that if a Severn Trent employee genuinely does need access to their home, he or she will know the chosen word.

Simon Mullan, director of customer relations at Severn Trent said: “Even if you haven’t signed up for a password, there are ways you can protect yourself against these criminals.

“If someone knocks on your door claiming to be from Severn Trent, ‘the water company’ or ‘the water board’ ask him or her to wait outside and ring 0845 604 1655 to check their identity. The phone number is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Our employees fully expect to be asked to show you an identity card and wait outside while you carry out the necessary checks. Severn Trent employees will never pressure you to open the door.

“Remember ID cards can be faked, so it’s best to check the caller’s identity by ringing a number you’ve found from another source – don’t automatically assume the phone number on the card is valid.

“To stay one step ahead, it’s best to keep our number to hand should someone show up at your door unexpectedly. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s always better to be prepared.

“We’re also encouraging customers to remind friends, family members and neighbours about how they can protect themselves. To ensure the message gets across, we need to work together.”

The Consumer Council for Water has set up a printable form which lists contact numbers for water as well as energy companies. If you know someone who may feel safer by having these numbers to hand, visit www.ccwater.org.uk to print one out for them. 

Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “Anyone can go to our website; choose their utility suppliers, and print off a list of contact phone numbers along with our list of top tips to keep near the telephone.”

Top Tips to protect against bogus callers

• Check to see if you know the caller from the window.
• Keep your door on the chain and look to see who is calling before opening it.
• Ask to see the caller’s identification. He or she should show it to you through the crack in the door, or through the letter box. Check that the person is genuine by calling the organisation he or she claims to be from, but make sure you get the phone number from a separate source, such as the phone book or a previous bill.
• You are entirely within your rights to have the person wait outside while you phone the organisation the caller says they are from to check their validity.
• If the visitor insists they need access immediately, or before you carry out the necessary checks immediately call 999.