July 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 64

NRPA Update

Early Contract Terminations

ave you noticed an increase of assertive salespeople targeting customers of energy suppliers through mailings, phone calls and door-to-door
soliciting? " Slamming " occurs when a misleading salesperson obtains
a customer's electricity account number, and then switches the account to a different provider without the customer's knowledge or consent. This
effectively terminates the customer's existing contract. Awareness and education
are the best defenses against the costs and hassles associated with slamming.
Best Practices
To prevent early electricity provider
contract termination from happening
to your park or recreation center:
* Make your employees aware that
misleading calls and visits from
nefarious actors are possible. Even
employees who are not authorized
to make contract decisions can be
hounded into providing confidential information.
* Protect your energy bills and account numbers as you would any
confidential business information.
Your electricity account number is
often the only requirement for an
unauthorized supplier switch.
* Beware of an energy salesperson
who claims to represent the electric
utility. Anyone who works for the
electric utility already has digital
access to your account information.
* Beware of promotional offers that
require your signature or verbal
commitment.
* Advise your employees to block
salespeople from engaging with
other employees.
* Ask callers if they are properly licensed with the state public utility
commission.
* Request to be removed from call lists.
* Review your electricity bill each
month for unauthorized charges or
changes.

" A few weeks ago, I handed over my
electricity bill to a man who claimed
to represent my local utility company.
He offered to evaluate my electricity
bill as a complimentary service. A
few weeks later, my electricity supplier unexpectedly dropped my account.
Without my consent or knowledge,
the man had obtained my account
number from my bills and canceled
my electricity supply contract. I was
at risk of being charged termination
fees for canceling my supply contract
before its expiration date. I had no
idea that the contract was canceled.
APPI Energy and my supplier
worked together on my behalf to reenroll my electricity supply contract,
saving me thousands of dollars in
early termination penalties. I determined the name of the company that
canceled my electric supply without
my knowledge. I reported the company to the Better Business Bureau, and
sequentially learned that the man
who misrepresented himself was no
longer with the energy company. "
Since 2011, NRPA has endorsed
APPI Energy to provide data-driven
procurement and consulting solutions to members. For more information visit www.nrpa.org/Membership/Endorsed-Business-Provider/
APPI-Energy or contact APPI Energy at 800.520.6685.

Customer Story:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
62 Parks & Recreation

| J U LY 2 0 1 5 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

- Hayley MacDonell, NRPA's Membership Programs Manager

Test Your Park
and Recreation
Knowledge
The following question is a sample
Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination question.
Responsibility for the development of a checklist for assuring
uniformity and thoroughness of
facility opening and closing procedures typically lies with the:
A. Agency director
B. Facility manager
C. Park security officer
D. Superintendent of parks
Calling all beginning to mid-level
professionals! The Certified Park and
Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the
national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be
at the forefront of their profession.
For more information on the CPRP
certification program, please visit
www.nrpa.org/cprp.

July 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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