Unscrupulous sales tactics

The list below gives just some of the common lines spun by unscrupulous energy salespeople to small businesses to get them to sign contracts.  Unfortunately, this is not an exhaustive list… They say they’re from the government, or the regulator or even energywatch, and you need to ‘register’ immediately to avoid being cut off. They tell you can cancel the contract at any time during a cooling-off period (small businesses do not have a cooling-off period). They tell you they are an independent agent, but only recommend the supplier that is paying them commission (always ask salespeople who they are working for). They say the supplier you are already with has decided to stop supplying businesses. They say there is a debt on your account from the previous tenant, and if you don’t register the supply in your name you will be liable to pay it. They say you are not registered and that this is illegal. They tell you your current supplier is about to raise their prices and the supplier they represent is cheaper (remember they don’t know how much you’re paying, so they can’t know for certain they can save you money). They tell you nothing is binding until you sign the paperwork (but agreeing over the phone constitutes a legally-binding contract). They tell you they are from your current supplier, and you will be cut off immediately unless you provide your bank details, or that they are renegotiating prices. They tell you your current supplier has gone bust, and you need to sign up with a new one immediately. Take a look at our advice on how to deal with sales calls and remember to be very careful about what you agree to over the phone. If you’ve been on the receiving end of unscrupulous sales tactics then please let us know and we’ll include it here.