Door to Door Hot Water Heater Sales

There’s been a flurry of activity on the mailing list about recent door to door sales of hot water heaters.  Quite a few people thought it could be a scam, prompting this warning from our neighbours in Hintonburg, Cheryl is on the security committee there:

—— Forwarded Message: ——
From: Cheryl Parrott
Subject: Re: [Champlain] [Crime] Hot water tank guy – anybody mention this in relation to Crime Stoppers?
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:42:19 -0500

[…]
Across the City people have complained about the aggressive tactics of one water heater rental company – National Home Services.  Their sales people have been very aggressive at the door, hard to get rid of them – sometimes people have to threaten to call police to get them to leave, one was charged with assault. They make us stories about why they need to check the water heater and have accused people of not being environmentally friendly. Attached is one recent article in the Citizen where it mentions them again.  They are mentioned near the end of the article where it talks about a salesman saying the Govt has asked them to inspect to make sure water heaters are all Energy Star.  I have copied the sentences below

Last Tuesday, a marketer for National Home Services told Garvey that the Ontario government had contracted the company to check residential water heaters for Energy Star efficiency ratings. Suspicious, Garvey asked to see a letter which gave National that authority. Garvey told him to leave when he couldn’t produce it.

In the late fall our Community Officer, Andrew Milton, plus a representative from MPP Yasir Naqvi met with the VP of National Home Services. They committed to monitoring the training of their representatives and to have our Officer come and speak to the trainees. So far that has not happened and we have asked to have a meeting with the VP here.

So they are not scamming just aggressive to get people to buy so they get the commission. So if they are aggressive – won’t take no for an answer, or block the door from closing Police should be called and also Cst. Milton should be informed for follow-up miltona@ottawapolice.ca 613-236-1222 x 5871

Cheryl

MailingList.2012.02.21.HughAdamiNationalHomeServices.pdf