Follow Up To Electricity Mis-selling Story

12.01.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 15th Mar 2004

Following the reports last week of unscrupulous activities by electricity salesmen locally, the gas and electricity watchdog, Energywatch, has written to Vincent Cable, MP, to confirm that it is investigating "hundreds of similar cases from Scottish and Southern Group" and recognises the Twickenham cases as "blatant mis-selling". The matter has been formally referred to the energy regulator OFgem.

Other cases have come to light in Richmond and Kingston (contact Andrew Pilkington 8332 7919).

Vincent Cable said: "having lifted this stone, I am discovering that there are a lot of unpleasant creatures underneath. This company are not alone in mis-selling since Energywatch tell me they are getting 400 complaints a week about gas and electricity salesmen but the sales reps of Scottish and Southern seem to be uniquely cynical and devious in their tactics. Vulnerable people must be protected from them and compensation paid to anyone whose power supply is switched against their wishes or without their full knowledge and consent".