Doorstepping and responsibility

frivolous_fay

Hi,

In a nutshell...

If someone signs you up to an electricity provider on your doorstep, and in the process tells you something about the service that then turns out to be completely wrong / false, does the customer have any right to appeal / complain and be taken seriously?

And to save time... due to my meter I have a choice of two (count 'em!) energy suppliers - so when the other one came to my door I figured it would save me ringing THEM up! (I was already dissatisfied with eon). Given a reasonable choice of tariffs / providers, I would naturally have used a comparison site.

TIA!

Premier_2

You are given full details in writing. One of those terms is nearly always only what is in writing is applicable. You have a 14 day cooling off period.

Poppycat

They like telling porky pies so as to get you signed up. I wouldn't entertain any salesman at my door no matter what they are selling

frivolous_fay

Hm, I'll check the paperwork but I'd be surprised if it mentions a standing charge. The salesmen said there wouldn't be one.

Premier_2

frivolous_fay wrote: »

Hm, I'll check the paperwork but I'd be surprised if it mentions a standing charge. The salesmen said there wouldn't be one.

Assuming they offer both alternatives, they may have put you on a standing charge tariff by mistake/accident.

Unless you are a very low user, it doesn't usually make much difference whether you are on a SC or NSC tariff for electricity as you nearly always exceed the tier 1 level.

It could be a saving for gas though during the summer to be on a NSC tariff as you may not reach the tier1 limit.

If this is the first bill and you've just noticed you are on a standing charge tariff, if you speak to the supplier nicely, they may agree to re-bill you based on the similar NSC tariff if that is what you would prefer.

frivolous_fay

Yes, this is the first bill... 10 months after signing

frivolous_fay

Well, npower were gracious enough to sound as though they were taking it seriously, and have given me a complaint reference and passed it on to the 'agent team'.

Ignite

NPower will take it very seriously. We had an idiot on our doorstep from NPower who would not leave until he had seen a bill. It took the threat of a call to the police to get him to go. NPower took this very seriously and did a full investigation. On the day they called us with the results and offered us £75 to say sorry, it was reported that they were fined £1.5 million for doorstep mis selling. That is why they will take you seriously.

timmmers

Ignite wrote: »

NPower will take it very seriously. We had an idiot on our doorstep from NPower who would not leave until he had seen a bill. It took the threat of a call to the police to get him to go. NPower took this very seriously and did a full investigation. On the day they called us with the results and offered us £75 to say sorry, it was reported that they were fined £1.5 million for doorstep mis selling. That is why they will take you seriously.

They (And many others) were fined for lots of things...including making up deals from homes where they never met the occupants.
That was in the days when companies were using agancies rather than their own staff though. Staff still have targets to meet, but where once they were on commision only and almost forced to mis sell, now they are mainly employed and paid a basic ..and more importantly accountable and sackable.

I was a manager of such teams once upon a time. When deregulation hadn't quite started and people liked the new idea of cheaper gas and lecky. It's all different now, easier for the customer and it can't be at all easy for the sales guys.

I get them at my door, claiming all sorts of BS, I tell them my old job...tell them I feel sorry for them but I'm busy. Telling a door to door salesman to go away is normal to them, it isn't rude or unusual.

Say what you need to, politely, turn your back and finish it by closing the door.
While you are talking, you're a possible deal to them, it's part of the training.

You have a cooling off period even if you aren't lied to BTW.

t