Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

[Amethyst]

So, the other day I had a gentleman knock on my door to try and make me change my electricity and gas supplier to Utilita - this is they http://www.utilita.co.uk

Only he didn't mention changing supplier....

He mentioned the Government scheme, and he mentioned I must have seen it on TV ..... about the new Smart Meters being rolled out across the country and how my address was on the list for an upgrade.

Thankfully I'm not daft (having been on here for the last seven years) and told him I don't want to change supplier.....

However, after I got rid of him, he visited my neighbours.

She came for a coffee yesterday telling me about how she was getting a new smart meter..... so I groaned .... and asked her if she wanted to change electricity suppliers. She said no she was just getting a new meter which would mean she wouldn't have to fumble about in the dark to put her key token in the meter. (We're mostly on prepayment in my neighbourhood).

She didn't even realise she would be changing suppliers. She also didn't realise she had signed up to a 12 month contract with a £40 get out fee. She didn't realise the pence per kilowatt hour would be increasing. She did say she had to speak to a customer service lady on the telephone while he was at her house, who checked it was all sold properly - asked her a few questions about the salesman behaviour etc - but even after that still didn't understand she was changing supplier.

She has 14 days to cancel but I don't think she will, she's been swayed by the idea of this spangly new meter. Even though she would be getting one from E-on anyway - they are aiming to have a million installed by the end of 2015. The rates aren't terrible and probably quite competitive, however being conned into changing supplier should be a thing of the past.

The big six energy companies stopped doorstep selling in, I think, 2012, after misselling complaints.

I'll get the paperwork he left her later today and post it up. It's probably all complaint. But to be honest quite a few of my neighbours are quite vulnerable and I doubt she would have read it.

Has anyone else had a Utilita salesman, or another utilities doorstep seller recently ?

[Kati]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

I haven't (yet) but I'll make sure I have fun if one does turn up :tinysmile_twink_t2:

This (https://www.gov.uk/doorstep-selling-regulations) tells you what they can and can't do.

Doorstep selling regulations

If you sell products and services worth over £42 to a customer at their home you must provide certain information for your customers, including their right to cancel. Failure to provide this information is a criminal offence.

This includes the sale of products and services to customers at:

• their home
• their workplace
• another individual’s home

Before an order is placed

You must follow certain rules before and after an order is placed. You must display information such as:

• your business name and contact details
• a description of your goods or services
• the price, including all taxes
• how a customer can pay
• delivery arrangements, costs and how long goods will take to arrive
• the minimum length of their contract
• conditions for terminating contracts
• information about the customer’s right to cancel within 14 days

You must tell the customer if they will be responsible for paying for the return of goods if they cancel. If you don’t, they’re not liable for the costs.

After an order is placed

You must get in touch with your customer in writing after an order is placed and before the goods or services have been delivered.
You must tell them:

• details of what they have purchased
• the total cost
• arrangements for delivery
• the minimum duration of any contract and arrangements for terminating the contract
• how and when they can cancel an order and who pays for returning goods
• an address where complaints can be sent
• any guarantees or after-sales services you offer
• conditions for terminating contracts
• any helpline call charges that are more than calling an 01, 02 or 03 number, or a mobile or free number

Sale of Goods Act

All businesses that supply goods, including online and distance sellers, must follow the ‘Sale of Goods Act’.
These rules apply whether you visit a customer with or without an appointment, or agree the sales contract verbally or in writing.
Who the rules apply to

The rules apply if you sell goods or services such as:

• home improvement, extension work, repair and maintenance services
• gardening services
• personal items such as cosmetics, clothes, jewellery and toiletries
• household items
• books and leisure items
• nutrition and health products
• energy supplies (eg gas and electricity)
• disability aids and mobility products such as stair lifts, scooters and buggies

Exceptions

These rules don’t apply to:

• financial services eg mortgages, pensions, insurance
• contracts for the construction of new houses and flats, sale or rental of property (but they do apply to estate agents’ marketing services, extensions, patios, conservatories or driveways and to repairs, refurbishment and improvement of property)
• contracts for food and drink supplied by regular roundsmen, like a milkman
• contracts under £43

Penalties


Failure to inform a customer of their right to cancel is a criminal offence. If convicted the trader and/or their business could be fined up to £5,000.

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Response from Utilita.

We have just followed up the complaint that was raised on the 17th September against the agent that visited the property postcode xxxxxxxxx on Friday xxx September, active around midday - the agent was identified, Utilita took immediate and appropriate action and the agent has been dealt with accordingly. Utilita apologise that on this occassion our selling practice fell under question, we take these reports seriously and continue to take measures to monitor and feedback to all of our agents and selling Team Leaders regularly.

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Different guy this year.... same thing as last year.... complained on Twitter again, hopefully they just take me off their annual visitation list. Well actually that's a bit selfish, hopefully they stop misrepresenting themselves.

[Fred]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Just a note on this for "smart meter" info but nothing to do with "doorstep" selling.

I have been contacted by my supplier (OVO) about smart meters, they were very persistent as I normally fire everybody off. It seems it is because I have meters over ten years old that I do qualify for the "new smart meters" gas & electricity which connect & transmit information over the mobile 3G/4G network which then give very comprehensive information over usage. There is no change to any other part of our contract or deal.

Given we spend nearly three grand a year on these I may find the information quite useful, I am not aware of any body else having the new meters so do not really know for sure..........anybody ?

[Kati]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

We had one of these Utilita guys turn up today ... unfortunately I wasn't the one to open the door (OH did ). He didn't sign anything, thank gods, but I'll be writing to Utilita to make sure they know we are not accepting their offer of a smart meter :nod:

I refuse to change suppliers to a company with so many bad reviews, who send people out in all weathers to try and get unwary 'consumers' to sign up for their 'smart' meters! I'm quite happy with my own thankyou very much

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Just had another guy at the door. I really wasn't in the mood to deal with him so ended up, after saying No Thank you twice, closing the door in his face. He AGAIN started by saying he was there to check the meter. He wasn't, he was there to try and get me to change supplier and sign up for a smart meter.

[Kati]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

I've just tweeted this (and tagged them :lol xx

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

I DM'd them ( again ) on Twitter too xx

[Kati]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Can't wait for the next one to turn up here xx

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

I don't mind salesreps, usually they say what they are there for, I say umm NO ta, and they go away, but when they just lie it really really annoys me - I wish I could bloody act like I believed him and could go through the whole pitch, ( so I could report back lol) but it just makes me too bloody cross. It's the way they want me to justify myself to them that I'm not interested and don't want a smart meter that really gets my goat.

Might have to get one of those 'Salesmen will be shot' signs for my front door.

[Kati]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

I DM'd them ( again ) on Twitter too xx

Have they replied to you yet Ame?? I got a reply to my tweet asking for more details :lol: xx

[Amethyst]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Have spoken with Utilita now, they arranged to call me which is nice and decent customer service.... They assure me their staff are trained to start with the 'are you thinking of changing electricity supplier' and NOT ' I'm here to check your meter', and are going to do a bit of back checking on the guy that came to my house ( so customers and cold calls I guess). So we'll see if things have improved next year ( though suspect I might end up on some sort of 'avoid' list now lol)

It does sound like they are trying to get things sorted out to stop this happening which is great and things have got better since my first complaint. So we shall see.

I have put a complaint in with Ofgem as well anyway, just because they need to be aware if they are considering lifting restrictions on doorstep selling for the big six.

Funnily enough I have just changed energy supplier from EDF to Eon so had he not been so 'salesmanny' I might have been interested in checking the rates out, but just got my back up with the meter checking rubbish.

[Captain Haddock]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Whilst not door-step - well, not yet, anyway! - we are starting to see, up here in Scotland, letters being sent out from suppliers singing the praises of these smart meters and encouraging us to change. As far as I'm concerned, I don't want one, for several reasons. I just hope they don't start getting pushy like the incidences above.

[applesaddz]

Re: Utilities - Doorstep Selling @Utilita and the 'Smart Meter'

Just had one of Utilita doorstep reps knock on our door.
Spiel being, we are in the area changing all meters to smart meters and only here for a short time ( I live in a rural town). When I stated that I'd wait for my supplier to contact me directly he said that they are only here a short time. Not once did he say he was from Utilita, it was on his shirt and Id badge, or that he was selling utilities.
I'm disabled and not well so when he called I was catching up on sleep, so wasn't very alert otherwise he would have been challenged. He was told though I'd wait for my utility company to contact me direct.
He did apologise for waking me up though.
Looks like utilita have not changed their doorstep sales training.