NPower - tasked with checking people aren't paying too much?

magyar

Plushchris wrote: »

Cant help but think you are toeing the company line there Magyar using terms like "investigated" and "disciplined"

What people really want to hear is "Stopped" but that hasnt happened has it, these scumbags have been knocking on peoples doors and telling lies for ages now and nothing has changed.

I don't work for npower, I just know the industry very, very well. Look, I'm not saying that these practices don't happen, and I'm certainly not defending them.

But it's not easy to 'stop' practices like this, because they're basically rogue salesmen going off on a tangent. You can train them all you like, but ultimately if they choose to act illegally, the company can't easily stop them.

I used the word discipline to mean 'it will follow a company disciplinary procedure'. In most cases this would be instant dismissal for something like gross misconduct.

VickyA_2

I'm sorry now that we didn't get his name. The rugby was about to start and DH just wanted him off our doorstep so that he could settle down. My concern is that if we nearly fell for it, how many other people WOULD fall for it.

magyar

VickyA wrote: »

I'm sorry now that we didn't get his name. The rugby was about to start and DH just wanted him off our doorstep so that he could settle down. My concern is that if we nearly fell for it, how many other people WOULD fall for it.

Exactly my point. Look, to everyone who thinks energy suppliers are evil, do you REALLY think that you would ring up and report someone and they'd just go "Oh, let's ignore it, another mug will for the scam?" Do you REALLY think that they want their company's name dragged through the mud?

If you don't report them, they just go and rip someone else off. Complaining to Ofgem just add '1' to npower's statistics.

closed

If they wanted to stop it, or cared about their reputation, they'd stop cold calling, on commission.

They exploit the homeowner, and the salesperson, just like every other company who sends people out knocking on doors. They will do anything to get a sale, because they don't get paid otherwise.

magyar

closed wrote: »

If they wanted to stop it, or cared about their reputation, they'd stop cold calling, on commission.

They exploit the homeowner, and the salesperson, just like every other company who sends people out knocking on doors. They will do anything to get a sale, because they don't get paid otherwise.

I agree that would stop it, but equally that would also stop a lot of people from switching to cheaper tariffs. Not everyone is aware that you can switch.

closed

ofgem could force utility companies to send out a did you know you can switch and check your prices at these websites letter out, annually, or on each bill, and to make it easy this is your actual annual kwh usage etc.

A company who sends out cold callers, turns a blind eye to anything they do, someone complains, they might get sacked, and then someone else comes along and does exactly the same - it's part of the wink wink training of door to door selling.

If you want to stop the practice, pay them a fixed salary with no targets, then they won't have to lie.

magyar

closed wrote: »

ofgem could force utility companies to send out a did you know you can switch and check your prices at these websites letter out, annually, or on each bill.

A company who sends out cold callers, turns a blind eye to anything they do, someone complains, they might get sacked, and then someone else comes along and does exactly the same.

Yes it could, and I personally think there's much more than Ofgem could do.

All I've been saying all along is that it cannot HURT to report the salesman to the company concerned, and that they will discipline them.

That doesn't mean I don't think Ofgem could do more.

ricky9

closed wrote: »

If they wanted to stop it, or cared about their reputation, they'd stop cold calling, on commission.

They exploit the homeowner, and the salesperson, just like every other company who sends people out knocking on doors. They will do anything to get a sale, because they don't get paid otherwise.

This is part of the problem other peoples[FONT=&quot] Perception[/FONT].
not all sales people are on commision only most direct employed get a good basic salary.
Yes they have targets to meet if they did not the price we pay for our fuels would be a lot higher.
I know npower sales staff must go through two telephone calls with there customers before the customer is aloud to sign up and the customer must agree at both stages.
and no i dont work for npower

closed

How does a sales target make our prices cheaper?

Here's an idea to make our prices cheaper, stop paying cold callers to annoy/deceive people, on the phone, and at the door.

A customer will agree to anything, if they've been told their direct debit is going down to £xx/month, doesn't mean it will cover the bill, and is unlikely to be the cheapest deal on the market for any length of time, if ever.

ricky9

A customer will agree to anything, if they've been told their direct debit is going down to £xx/month,

What are you saying that customers only think about how much there DD is every month.
I dont think so.

How does a sales target make our prices cheaper?

Over 90% of customers change suppliers by someone calling on them.
If these 90% did not change they would still be with there host supplier paying more.
Open competion