Drive to switch off hard sell

By HELEN MONKS
Updated:

 

LIFE is about to get a lot tougher for energy firms that employ high-pressure sellers to push unwitting customers into switching their supplier.

Energywatch, the independent gas and electricity consumers' watchdog, is launching a major drive to combat the unscrupulous tactics it says many gas and electricity suppliers use to swell customer numbers and boost profits.

The organisation is keeping details of the campaign under wraps until its launch at the end of January. But top of its hit list will be companies that send out door-to-door salespeople, typically paid by commission, who often end up transferring a householder's energy supplier without the customer's full consent.

Energywatch says it received 90,000 complaints about energy salespeople in 2001, prompting the Government recently to threaten fines for companies guilty of sharp practices.

'The campaign will draw on new Energywatch complaints data and will detail the steps the watchdog will be taking to combat fraud and misselling,' says Energywatch spokeswoman Tracey Page. 'This is an issue which can affect millions of consumers.'

The campaign comes amid growing public concern over gas price rises above the rate of inflation. Nearly 20% of British Gas's 13.5m customers are preparing to switch suppliers, according to an ICM poll for Energywatch released last week. That followed BG's announcement that it would raise prices by 10%.

Energywatch said its campaign will be ongoing. To find out more, click here.

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