Winsome Wisdom: The Best Gift You Can Give Your Customers by Steve Chappell
The following has become an all too common occurrence in our world of essential services. This story could be about one of your customers...
"T’was the day before Christmas and all through the house, every creature was stirring, including the phone as it chirped its announcement that friend or family member was calling to wish you a Merry Christmas. Only it was neither...
It was, instead, someone claiming to be from the power company calling to inform you that your payment hasn’t been received and that your service is scheduled to be disconnected within one hour, and it’s Christmas Eve!
Oh, Dear! There must be some mistake! I’m sure that bill was paid! 
Nope... it was not! And if we don’t receive your payment before 4 pm, your service will be cut off. Your total is $437.26 including late changes.
But it’s Christmas Eve! How can I pay within an hour?
No problem. Simply purchase a prepaid debit card at your local retailer, then call the toll free number and give them the account number from your card...you can also use PayPal or Green Dot...."
Stories like this seldom have a happy ending... unless you’re the scammer!
In 2013, phone thieves got $890 from Randy’s Pizza in Durham, N.C. The call came right in the middle of lunch hour, claiming to be Duke Energy and stating the power would be shut off in 45 minutes if the bill wasn't paid. Randy paid!
Three years later, the ruse continues. Why?? Are our customers that naïve? No, but they are uninformed in matters of utility business practices, and it’s up to us to change that.
This year, let’s give our customers the most valuable gift we can bestow at this special time of year: the gift of security. This means a relentless campaign to inform our customers of the ever-lurking presence of scammers, and most important, how not to get scammed.
Use your newsletter, your bill stuffers, local media, and public gatherings... whatever it takes. But get the word out and keep it out! Education is a non-stop process, and the only protection our customers have is knowledge.
T’is the season of giving, which began with God’s gift of eternal life through the Messiah. May your Christmas be safe, secure, and Heavenly Blessed!