Consumers warned about energy salesmen
www.moneynews.co.uk > Other > Consumers warned about energy salesmen
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Consumers warned about energy salesmen
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One in five people contacted by an energy salesman by phone feel that they have been "mis-led" or "pressurised", according to new research commissioned by the independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog.
Allan Asher, chief executive of energywatch, said: "We are seeing evidence of "tele-fraud", with salesmen mis-representing who they represent or how much consumers can save."
The energy watchdog fears that complaints may rocket as the industry moves to telesales as a cheaper and less regulated method of winning new customers.
New figures from ICM research professionals revealed that telesales is now as popular as doorstep selling. Thirty-eight per cent of those surveyed had been approached by a doorstep energy salesman in the last year, while 35 per cent of respondents said that someone had tried to sell energy to them by telephone.
Mr Asher said: "Our evidence shows that hundreds of people are being duped or pressurised by telephone scams.
"Yet, consumers have far less protection from poor telephone selling than they do from doorstep sales."
Energywatch is calling for the industry's AES Code of Practice to be extended to cover telesales. Currently it only addresses face-to-face energy mis-selling.
Mr Asher added: "It is quite ridiculous that the industry's flagship Code of Practice for marketing does not cover telesales."
For consumers that are called by a salesperson, energywatch gave the following advice:
- Be aware that you can agree verbally to changing to a new supplier
- Don't agree to anything by telephone unless you are sure you want to sign up
- If you do agree to change supplier and you change your mind, you have 14 days to cancel the contract
Related News : Other |
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