Beware of problems when switching electricity contracts!

Ever since the total deregulation of electricity retailing, there has been an increase in problems related to switching contracts as a result of solicitation through phone calls and visits.

電力の小売全面自由化以降、電話や訪問による勧誘をきっかけとした契約の切り替えに関するトラブルが増加しています。

There are cases in which the other person pretends to be from a major power company or a related party and solicits people to switch contracts, saying “the electricity rates are cheaper,” as well as serious cases in which the person asks for information about the monthly electricity usage statements and changes the contract without the consumer noticing.

大手電力会社やその関係者をかたって「電気の料金が安くなる」と契約の切り替えを勧誘するケースや、事業者が検針票の情報を聞き出し、消費者が気付かない間に契約が切り替わっていたという悪質なケースもみられます。

If you are solicited, confirm the name and contact details of the company that solicited you and the company that you are signing a new contract with, have them properly explain the plan and calculation method, and consider the need to switch contracts. If there is no need, then refuse the offer.

勧誘を受けた場合は、勧誘してきた会社と新たに契約する会社の社名や連絡先を確認し、プランや算定方法をよく説明してもらうと共に、契約切り替えの必要性について検討し、必要がなければ、きっぱりと断りましょう。

In addition, your monthly electricity usage statement is important personal information as it contains information necessary for switching contracts. Even if someone asks for information such as your name, customer number, and supply point identification number during solicitation, do not easily share it with them.

また、検針票には契約の切り替えに必要な情報が記載されており、その情報は重要な個人情報です。勧誘時に氏名や顧客番号、供給地点特定番号等を聞かれても、安易に教えないようにしましょう。

If you signed a contract through phone solicitation or door-to-door sales, in principle, there is a cooling-off period of eight days from the day of receipt of contract documentation.

電話勧誘や訪問販売で契約した場合、契約書面受領日より8日間は、原則としてクーリング・オフができます。