15.04.08 Sunday Times reveals cheating tactics of Npower

Hot on the heels of the news that over 5 million of us changed energy provider last year, comes a report from the Sunday Times, which may go some way to explaining the figures. An undercover reporter for the newspaper, working as a trainee saleswoman for Npower, learned that the energy giant is using blatant lies to con unsuspecting householders into changing energy provider.

The journalist spent three weeks being “trained” by experienced sales team members, one of whom admitted that were honesty to be employed, they would never sell anything. Following the Sunday Times investigation, Npower has suspended 17 members of staff. Dishonest tactics employed by Npower sales persons included describing themselves as “the electricity board” which, they said, controls all the energy companies, exploiting Asian and Polish householders whose English was reckoned to be poor, and getting customers to sign a form, purportedly requesting further information but which was in fact a contract. Other victims of such lies include a 91 year old blind man and a man with learning difficulties. The reporter was told that if the householder was aged 45 to 50 and white then she should tell them the truth.

Peter Luff, the chair of the Commons business and enterprise committee, has called for an enquiry by Ofgem and said that he would be making his own enquiries into the matter. A spokesperson for Npower, incidentally the worst energy company for customer complaints, has expressed shock, since the company prides itself on the professionalism of its sales staff.

« Go Back to Main Blog