🛡️ Is this safe? energy scams

Door-to-door offers, phishing emails, switching via comparison sites, smart meters — what is real and what is a scam?

• Is a door-to-door energy offer safeOften not. Door-to-door energy sales is a red flag. You always have 14 days to back out — we explain rights and the cooling-off process.
• Is this a phishing email from my supplierEnergy phishing peaks around annual-statement season and price crises. We give 7 red flags + what to do if you already clicked.
• Is switching via comparison site safeMostly yes, but not all comparison sites show all suppliers. We explain what to watch for and how to judge the "best" deal honestly.
• Is the smart meter privacy-safeDetailed readings could in theory reveal presence patterns. In practice this is tightly walled since 2018. Here what the DPA and grid operators may.
• Is this callcenter offer safeReal suppliers rarely cold-call. 14-day cooling-off always applies on phone sales. 6 red flags + revocation right.
• Is this energy website realCopycat sites usually run via deviating domains. 7 checks (KvK, ACM license, SSL, EAN input safety) reveal scams in 2 minutes.
• Is a broker/aggregator safeBrokers (Engie, Hollandse Wind, collective platforms) are legal but opaque. We give four questions to weigh the risk.
• Energy switch via employerEmployer collectives are legal and sometimes beneficial — but can lock you to one supplier or long term. Four considerations.
• Pay a year upfront — safe?A 3-7% discount looks attractive but you carry the supplier's bankruptcy risk for 12 months. We explain how to weigh.
• Final statement by email — real?Real final statements arrive by email too. But phishers exploit that exact expectation. 5 verification points prevent damage.
• Is door-to-door ISDE offer safeOften a scam variant. Real certified installers rarely cold-sell. 5 checks between serious installer and scam.
• Is home-battery provider safeHome-battery market is young + opaque. 6 checks between Tesla-Powerwall-level and risky private-label.
• Is solar-panel provider safePV market has both excellent and scammy players. 7 checks (RnQ-cert, warranties, inverter brand, insurance) reveal the difference.
• Is "limited-time discount" safeReal energy discounts aren't forced on the spot. "Sign today" pressure is almost always a sales tactic. 4 counter-moves.
• Is "energy label upgrade service" scamOften grey. Real label improvement requires actual measures. "Paper improvement" is challengeable and can become fraud.
• Is subsidy intermediary safeFor consumer ISDE: rarely worth it (20-30% commission of subsidy). For SME EIA + SDE++: can pay off on complex apps. Pricing politics explained.
• Is heat-pump+financing offer safeBeware "no upfront cost" + "we arrange everything". Read financing terms BEFORE signing. 5 critical points explained.
• Is buyer claim post-sale safeOn sale with valid NTA 8800 label you're largely protected. Claim only on demonstrable error + non-disclosure of known defect. Defense explained.