Real Energy Supplier vs Energy Broker Scam
Tell a genuine energy supplier or switching service apart from an energy broker or doorstep scam.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Most people who knock on your door about energy, or ring you about a tariff, are doing an ordinary job, and switching supplier is a normal thing that costs nothing. A genuine agent or broker hands you written terms, names the supplier they are signing you to, gives you a company registration number, and accepts without complaint that you want a day to think about it. The scam version works because energy bills are genuinely confusing and because the pitch arrives with a clipboard, a lanyard, and a saving that sounds plausible when you are standing on your own doorstep. Pressure is the tell. If someone needs your signature or your bank details before you have read anything, the offer is not really about the tariff.
Side-by-side comparison
| Real energy supplier | Energy broker scam | |
|---|---|---|
| Authorisation | Listed on Ofgem's register; verifiable company number | Cannot provide a company registration or regulator reference |
| Upfront fee | No fee to switch; savings come from a lower tariff | Charges a joining fee, 'admin cost', or 'savings guarantee' deposit |
| Contact method | You initiate contact or they follow opt-in marketing rules | Unsolicited doorstep or cold-call pressure to sign on the spot |
| Contract | Provides full written contract and cooling-off period | Minimal paperwork; rushes signature without explaining terms |
| Meter access | Reads meter through official process or smart meter | Asks to photograph your bank details alongside the meter |
Common red flags
- Pressure to sign a contract on the doorstep with no time to read it
- Request for bank details or direct debit before any written agreement
- Cannot name or verify the energy supplier they are signing you up to
- Claims of a government grant requiring an upfront fee
- Aggressive tactics when you ask for time to check credentials
Verification steps
- Check the company on the Ofgem supplier register or Companies House
- Ask for full written terms before agreeing to anything
- Use a regulated comparison site (such as Ofgem-accredited) to verify any claimed savings
- Exercise your 14-day cooling-off period if you do sign
What not to do
- Don't sign anything on the doorstep without reading the contract
- Don't hand over bank details or meter photos on the spot
- Don't pay any upfront fee to switch energy supplier
A safe response
You are allowed to say no at the door without explaining yourself. Try something plain such as: I do not sign anything on the doorstep, please leave a leaflet. Then close the door. If the offer genuinely interested you, look up your current supplier's number on your latest bill, or use an Ofgem-accredited comparison service you reach by typing the address yourself, and switch from there at your own pace. If you have already signed, you normally have a fourteen-day cooling-off period, so contact the named supplier and your current one immediately. If money has left your account, tell your bank and report it to Action Fraud.
Frequently asked questions
I signed something on the doorstep yesterday. Can I still get out of it?
Usually yes. Contracts agreed at your home normally carry a fourteen-day cooling-off period, so put your cancellation in writing as soon as you can and keep a copy. Also ring your current supplier and tell them you did not intend to switch, since they can often block a transfer that has not completed. If you gave bank details, ask your bank to watch for or cancel any new direct debit set up in that name.
How do I check whether my supply has been switched without my agreement?
Log into your existing supplier's account or ring the number on your latest bill and ask whether a transfer request has been received for your address. Check your bank statement for any new direct debit you did not set up. If a switch you never agreed to is in progress, say so clearly to your current supplier and put a complaint in writing. If it is not resolved, the Energy Ombudsman can look at the case.
Is a doorstep energy sales visit always a scam?
Not always, but any genuine agent will give you written materials, a cooling-off period, and their company registration number. Refusing to provide these is a red flag.