Do the safe thing and call us to verify any representatives
This morning we sent out the following e-mail to customers in and around Spokane County concerning scams and misrepresentations. This action follows complaints we’ve received from customers and two television news stories this week about insulation sales representatives making calls in the Spokane area.
Good tips to follow if you or someone you know is considering home improvement projects:
• Be aware of aggressive sales tactics.
• It’s always a good idea to get multiple bids from contractors.
• Before signing an agreement with an insulation contractor, check their Better Business Bureau rating and verify that the contractor is licensed and bonded in the state where the work is to be done.
• Work must be completed before submitting an Avista rebate application.
Here’s the e-mail:
Dear Avista Utilities Customer,
Due to circumstances that may be happening in your neighborhood we are reaching out to you with this e-mail. Avista has standard business practices to help keep you safe from scams or misrepresentations. Your trust is important to us, and we want you to be informed.
Avista does not partner with any business that goes door-to-door through neighborhoods selling attic insulation or other services, except for its Home Energy Audit contractors in Spokane County who wear Avista identification badges. Avista does not recommend any business to customers. We do offer a number of energy efficiency rebates and incentives, but we work directly with you, our customer, on those programs.
Our field employees always wear an Avista photo identification badge and often wear Avista apparel and drive clearly marked Avista vehicles. Employees typically do not need access to a home or business unless the customer has contacted us about a specific problem or program. Also, employees do not phone or e-mail customers asking for confidential information.
If you are contacted by someone representing themselves as Avista, you can call us any time at (800) 227-9187 to verify the identification of an employee and the purpose of the contact with you. You can also contact us at www.avistautilities.com for additional information.
Thank you,
Avista Utilities