Energy News

British Gas halts doorstep sales

By Garnet Roach - garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

British Gas puts doorstep selling on hold.

British Gas, the UK’s biggest energy provider, will suspend doorstep selling, it announced today.

The “outdated” practice will be put on hold for three months, said British Gas, following recent criticism of doorstep selling by MPs.

The energy giant has followed in the footsteps of Scottish and Southern in ditching the sales tactic, after watchdog Consumer Focus called on all suppliers to end doorstep sales.

British Gas said it wanted to “rebuild trust” in the energy industry.

Ian Peters, managing director of energy at British Gas, said: “Doorstep selling, in its current form, is no longer a sustainable way to engage or build a relationship with customers. We want the energy advice we give our customers to be trusted and delivered at a time and place that is convenient to them.”

Consumer Focus urged consumers to “think twice before they buy on the doorstep”.

Adam Scorer, director of external affairs at Consumer Focus, said: “For over a decade cold call doorstep sales have led to hundreds of thousands of people paying more for their energy after switching to a worse deal. We know people strongly dislike doorstep sales, feel pressured to switch at the door and that energy firms don’t offer their best rates face-to-face.

“Cold call energy sales simply aren’t what customers need or want.”