Knock Knock. Go away.

Knock knock. I am on the phone, my son is on the bench in his chair, I am cooking my daughters dinner. I don't ignore the knock, I just open the door, take one look at the smart-casual dressed young man with a folder in his hand, say "GO AWAY!" and slam the door before he even has time to say "Hel..."

This is not entirely true. There was a knock on the door. I was on the phone. Nico was on the bench. I was cooking Brooklyn dinner. I didn't ignore the knock and I did open the door and take a look at the young man. Unfortunately, the important part of the story is where it all goes wrong.

I have fallen for the electricity salesman before. I have turned them away before. I have argued at the front door with them that telling me "No, we are not trying to change your electricity provider. You still have the same power, just your bills come from someone else" but today... I was fooled.

" Hi! We are just going around letting people know something important that has happened. You would have got a letter a few weeks ago about the price increases for electricity?"

" Ah-ha "

" Well, that was a mistake, if you are on one kind of meter, that shouldn't be the case. So we are just registering those houses and getting in touch with their electricity company to let them know the rates you should be on and they have 10 days to comply and give you the better rate, or we step in and ensure you get the rate "

I was hooked. For 5 or 10 minutes I stood there as he took all the relevent information before I saw the form. Instantly recognisable as an energy transfer order. ARRRRRG. In my mind I began seething but I couldn't bring myself to have wasted the last 10 minutes and say "Go Away". Maybe I am too polite, maybe the young man had been too charming and I didn't want to hurt his feelings.

Either way, I decided to stick it out, see what the rates were and see what my company could do for me, the loyal-for-6-years consumer. Thankfully, the time I spent at the door was not entirely wasted as my current company did come to the party and give me a lower rate*. Brooklyn's dinner was not burnt and I got Nico off the bench in the first few minutes of the conversation. All was not lost, and I saved some money... so will I listen nex time? NOT A CHANCE .... but I am thinking I might send Brooklyn to the door with a totally age inappropriate sentence to recite.



*after 2 x 10 minute hold times and a further 20 minute discussion.