Elderly targeted by energy salespeople
Warwickshire consumers have been complaining to Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service about the behaviour of over zealous door to door energy sales representatives.
In Nuneaton, unscrupulous representatives targeted sheltered accommodation housing complexes and two people with dementia were convinced to change their supplier.
In Southam, a resident endured almost an hour of high pressure doorstep selling before signing a contract to change her supplier.
Door to door energy sales representatives typically work on commission and are only interested in consumers signing up with their company. They are less interested in ensuring that consumers get the best deal.
Warwickshire Trading Standards advise that although changing your energy supplier should not cost you any money, if you don’t do some research and shop around, you may find yourself switched to a more expensive tariff than the one you are on!
Warwickshire Trading Standards are aware of a number of high pressure sales techniques used by unscrupulous sales people to ‘encourage’ or simply mislead householders in to signing a contract to change their energy supplier. These include:
· “I’m here to read the meter – please sign here.” There is no need to sign for a meter reading.
· “Sign here so we can send you further information about the prices we offer.” There is no need to sign for further information.
· “Sign here to say I visited you today or else I’ll be in trouble with my boss.” You don’t need to sign to confirm the salesperson’s visit.
· “I won’t get my commission unless you sign.” Sales representatives are usually only paid commission if you agree to switch supplier.
· “This deal is only available today. You’ll lose out if you don’t sign now.” Do not be pressurised into signing on the spot. Take plenty of time to properly consider any deal you are offered and shop around.
· “I can’t leave your house until you sign.” If the salesperson will not leave when asked, call the police.
Consumers interested in changing their supplier are advised to shop around for the best deal. Helpful advice and straightforward and up to date price comparisons between different suppliers are available by visiting the energywatch website: http://www.energywatch.org.uk
On the doorstep
· Beware of bogus callers - check their identity and company.
· You do not have to change your supplier of electricity if you choose not to.
· If you are asked to sign any document check that it is not an agreement or contract.
· By law, if you sign a contract in your home as the result of an unsolicited visit, or a visit arranged through an unsolicited phone call, you have a seven day "cooling off" period to change your mind and cancel. This also applies if you enter in to a contract over the phone.
· It is now a criminal offence for traders not to provide information, in writing, on how to cancel a contract, when the contract is agreed and signed, as a result of an unsolicited visit.