Davey condemns Doorstep Sales Scandal

8.5.03

MP backs Commons motion against energy misselling

Edward Davey MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has this week backed the largest ever investigation into doorstep gas and electricity salesmen, calling it a 'wake up call to energy companies'. A nationwide survey published last week shows that as many as 1.4 million householders in the UK have had a bad experience with an energy sales agent, including tactics such as lying to customers, pestering them and even forging their signatures.

Many people in Kingston and Surbiton have raised their own bad experiences with Edward Davey and the Liberal Democrat MP has regularly helped Borough residents in their complaints over energy misselling.

Commenting on this latest campaign Edward Davey said:

"This practice has got to stop. My constituents risk being harassed on their own doorstep by rude and pushy sales agents who have been known to resort to blatant lies to get a signature on the dotted line.

"Parliament has made several attempts to stop these distressing practices, but this new report shows the energy companies have not put their house in order. I'm glad London Electricity has been fined for their misselling, but that only shows the practice is persisting.

"I am particularly concerned for many pensioners in my constituency who have been exploited. I urge anyone who is unhappy with the behavior of energy sales agents to stand up and make a complaint to the Trading Standards Institute."