Energy News

EDF Energy suspends doorstep sales

Thursday 08 September, 2011

By Martin Fagan - editorial@consumerchoices.co.uk

EDF Energy follows S&SE and British Gas by suspending unsolicited doorstep sales of gas and electricity contracts.

EDF Energy has become the third of the UK’s “big six” gas and electricity companies to stop doorstep sales.

In July, Scottish and Southern Energy was the first of the “big six” to suspend doorstep sales and British Gas’ followed suit with an announcement in August.

In a statement, EDF Energy said the suspension of doorstep selling came “as part of its commitment to listen to customers”. However, like Scottish and Southern Energy and British Gas, EDF has refused to rule out that it might resume doorstep selling at a later date and said it is merely “reviewing the [sales] channel”.

Following criticism by a parliamentary committee of MPs, energy companies were forced to admit that unsolicited doorstep selling was an increasingly outdated way to find new customers.

Nonetheless, EDF Energy said that it would continue to sell energy face-to-face at retail venues and where prospective customers had made prior appointments.

“This is great news for consumers who for too long have been pressured and tricked in their own homes to make ill informed and costly decisions about their energy provision,” said Ron Gainsford, chief executive of the Trading Standards Institute.

“Cold calling is an unwelcome practice which can also pave the way for opportunist rogues to get their foot in the doorway under the pretence that they are from one of these companies.”

Energy watchdog Consumer Focus has also welcomed EDF Energy’s decision.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have switched to a worse deal on their doorstep,” said Audrey Gallacher, director of energy at Consumer Focus.

“Consumers don’t want or need cold call energy sales that make them feel pressured to switch at the door and don’t offer the best rates.”

Approximately 300 EDF Energy employees will be affected by the decision to suspend doorstep selling. The company said it will undertake a consultation process with all affected employees while the sales tactic is reviewed.