You receive a call from someone claiming to represent EDF, Engie, or TotalEnergies. They tell you your contract is outdated, you're overpaying, or a government subsidy entitles you to an immediate discount. In most cases it is a scam. These fraudulent calls are among the most reported consumer complaints on the DGCCRF's Signal Conso platform (signalconso.gouv.fr).
What scammers actually want
With your PDL (contract reference number), fraudsters can switch your energy supplier without your genuine consent. They may also seek your IBAN under the pretence of a refund, or record a verbal agreement to generate a fraudulent electronic signature. The CRE (Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie) and the Médiateur national de l'énergie are France's official energy regulators — neither will ever call you unsolicited to modify your contract.
Your rights and how to report
Door-to-door energy sales have been banned in France since 2022. Any contract concluded by phone grants a 14-day cooling-off period. Register on Bloctel (bloctel.gouv.fr) to reduce unsolicited calls. Search the caller's number on TelCheck before engaging, and report suspicious numbers to the DGCCRF via Signal Conso (signalconso.gouv.fr).