Don't be fooled by doorstep energy salesmen
Filed under: House and Home
Knock, knock. Who's there? Your new energy supplier, perhaps? Most Britons have had someone come to their door selling a gas or electricity plan at some point over the last few years.
But research shows that almost four fifths of the 7 million or so who have agreed to a doorstep energy switch feel they got a poor deal, which is why the government is introducing mandatory written quotes for such sales.
According to new rules, anyone sold a new energy plan on the doorstep, in the high street or even in a shop or store must now be given a written quote before the sale can go through.
The move is a response to growing concerns over doorstep selling and the prevalence of consumers who feel hard done by once they realise what their new deal entails.
But while the necessity for written quotations will help to protect people against salesmen who promise the world but deliver poor value for money as it will give the consumer proof of the deal they have been offered, it will not prevent them ending up on an expensive deal.
Price comparison website uSwitch is therefore warning consumers to be on their guard against doorstep and other direct energy salesmen – even if they offer a written quotation of the deal they can provide.
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: "This new rule is not about making sure consumers get the best deal, or even a better deal. It's about making sure they have written proof of what they've been offered. It is then down to them to take this information and check for themselves whether they will be better off or not."
Doorstep energy salesmen only ever represent one company, meaning they will be doing their best to convince you that supplier is the best on the market, whatever prices are available from rival firms.
Worse still, direct energy salesmen are not even obliged to tell people about even their own company's most competitive deals – not to mention those on offer elsewhere.
Little wonder then that more than a third of those targeted by direct energy salesmen feel they are not given enough information to make a truly informed decision.
The best deals tend to be online plans, which are very unlikely to be sold by a direct salesman, so it is worth doing your homework before signing up even if the plan on offer does beat your current energy deal.
Robinson added: "The cheapest plans tend to be online and are generally around £300 a year cheaper than standard plans, so consumers signing up with a salesman without comparing first could still lose out.
"The new quotation system doesn't tackle these issues, but it does mean consumers can protect themselves by taking the quotes and comparing prices before signing on the dotted line."
Useful tips to keep in mind when dealing with doorstep energy salesmen include ensuring that you know and recognise the company they are representing and that they have the right to discuss the supplier's online plans with you.
Before signing up to a new deal, it is also important to check whether you will be subject to any exit penalties should you change your mind.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-06-2010 @ 8:34PM
Steve Fayers said...
Make no mistake, the door knockers are earning £50 plus to secure a dual bill tariff and some sign up 15 households a day, which is a nice little earner for anyone.
Also they are not employed directly through the energy supplier but by marketing agencies who employ sales staff not energy advisors.
These people are trained to sell at all costs and they can earn more in a day than you will save in a year so beware.
Steve
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 3:28AM
stewart said...
Just a quick reply to your statement concerning earnings if i may, £50 per deal is way out there with the fairies mate it is more like £15 ! and as for 15 households per day, i wish!!!!!
More like 15 a week if your lucky!!!!.
2-06-2010 @ 8:47PM
artisannes said...
What annoys me about this 'advice' is that is only relates to a salesman you let in as if you are virtually obliged to do so. Say no thank you as soon as you encounter them on the door step and close your front door firmly, even if it means you do so while they are still taking and most of them will be. End of problem. You're not remotely obliged to talk with or respond to any salesman who decides to target you at a time of their choosing and on spec.
Remember too that the 'we are inspecting homes in your road due to them being built abouit ... bla bla - we can give you a free inspection - bla bla" is a scam to win business through worrying you. They are saleman who want to repoint, reroof, rewindow - you name it, they will try and sound like an official body of inspectors.
If you want to change your energy supplier or secure the services of a building firm then search out the various rates on the internet. Get references.
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2-07-2010 @ 4:00AM
gary said...
Yes they are con men, i did it myself and you are told to sell at all costs, and the customer as no idea what they are signing. my tip just say NO, then go online where deals are always cheaper.
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2-08-2010 @ 3:27AM
stewart said...
well Gary i have been in the industry in question for over 10 years and while i will readilly admit there have been rouges out there willing to say just about anything i take exception to your statement that seems to imply ALL are con men.
In my experience by far the majority employed in this way have conducted themselves with honesty and integrity, often walking away from a potential sale if no realistic saving was possible.
2-07-2010 @ 4:43AM
poppy said...
I was tricked into signing up. I thought the guy had come to read the meter. He said he was going to check that I was on the right tariff. Silly me I was having a nap and didn't have my glasses on when he called, so I couldn't read his id. The next day I sent a written cancellation by recorded delivery. I knew I was being pushed into something, but I had a taxi coming to pick me up and I signed just to get him out the door.
I broke all my own rules about opening the door when I don't know who it is I even have the notice up saying "we don't buy anything at the doorstep"
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2-07-2010 @ 4:51AM
chris said...
they also arrive at the most inconvenient time of the day, normally just after you have got back from work and prepairing food for the kids. i have a sign on my door saying, cold callers not welcome, abusive home owner. i had a bloke come round once during a rugby match. can you believe that? i told him to f@#k off very quickly. dont be gentle with these guys because you ll land up holding the short straw.
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2-07-2010 @ 5:05AM
mike said...
dont rush to british gas because they have brought their prices down,the rest will follow suit, british gas will up their rate again when they have you under their wing they have done it so many times in the past
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 8:48AM
john said...
which energy company do you work for???
i am a customer of British Gas which I must add is a British Company. They have provided me with outstanding customer services while keeping me updtaed with products and services which benifit me.
British Gas are looking after its customers.
2-07-2010 @ 5:16AM
Big Bill said...
They are liars and cheats - I wouldn't believe a single thing they say and have sometimes been lucky enough to be able to quote actual figures back at them. Unfortunately, you don't really want a confrontation on your doorstep on a freezing day or evening.
It's sad that this is the kind of job that is open to people now.
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2-07-2010 @ 6:10AM
roger said...
Beware of Southern Electric reps who claim that Southern Electric own Transco and therefore your gas meter stating they have the right to enter your property to check the gas reduction unit. All claims are bull so tell them to clear off.
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2-07-2010 @ 6:14AM
Chris said...
Hi guys. I used to do this job for Southern Electric. We were all sent up to their training camp in Scotland where we were shown the tricks of the trade. Pushing through peoples front doors head down, convincing people wew are from That company and we are the cheapest. In the end I quit as I felt quilty about what I was doing. I was always being pushed by my area manager to get get more contracts at any cost. If I was you when they knock tell them to fxxk off and get a real job.
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2-07-2010 @ 6:52AM
Nautilus said...
I was recently given to understand that " Cold Calling" is now illegal because of the past scams and cons that have gone on in the past , especially to the elderly
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 3:26AM
stewart said...
Just a quick reply to your statement / question, no cold calling is not illegal, even these new "no uninvited caller" zones are unenforcable, while cold calling remains a legitimate occupation an individual cannot be denied the right to prosecute their lawful occupation.
2-07-2010 @ 6:59AM
davritc said...
Uswitch quoted above fail to mention that they only recommend a company that pays them a commission if you switch so going online does not necessarily mean you are getting the best deat.
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 8:56AM
KK said...
I got stung by this twice,.... one salesman came round promising a great deal which i signed for and turned out to be paying more than the one i was on at the time. However a few months later the same guy turns up selling for the another company, telling me the deal im on is really bad......i reminded him he sold it to me in the first place!!. He had lied through his teeth, and i had put in a complaint about him to the energy company, so maybe thats why he was working for another one. I would never trust these people, they cost my daughter and my aunt a lot of money as well...........never again!!!
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 8:53AM
john said...
Like all of us on times we tend to be vulnerable.
Always ensure you check their ID and never sign anything until you have spoken to your supplier. Your supplier does not want to loose your custom and will offer you an incentive to remain with them, usually credit off your energy account.
Remember the rule, speak to your energy supplier to ensure you that you are on the best deal that suits your needs.
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2-07-2010 @ 9:00AM
ace1e8 said...
Had a salsman call once told him catogoricly no. Weeks later got a letter from my supplier saying sorry i was leaving them for another company.
Took me months to sort it out.
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 6:33AM
Ged said...
The energy companies all use different methods of calculating your bill.Why aren't they made to tell you how much a unit of electricity and a unit of gas is then we could all see which was the best deal,or is that too simple? How can a company tell me they can save me money if they don't know which company or tariff I'm on?
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 8:29AM
Rosalind said...
One such salesman from Southern Electricity or whatever it is got in the door by saying there was a problem. I was furious when I discovered the problem was I wasn't with that company. Why they use such pathetic ploys I've no idea. When another one came with the same message the next day he got an earful!
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