False claims by electricity and gas salespeople

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, warns of ‘dodgy’ tactics being used to sign people up to new electricity and gas suppliers.

An elderly Benalla citizen was approached recently by a door-to-door salesman who claimed that the State Government was directing energy consumers to use “green power” and that it was compulsory to allocate part of a consumer’s electricity usage to renewable energy production.

Dr Sykes said, “We have been in touch with the supplier and found that the salespeople were not stating the truth. I warn those people who are approached to change energy suppliers to insist that the salesperson shows identification and also to show an offer summary which outlines the charges and plans that they may be offering.

“While consumers are encouraged to determine which supplier can offer the best prices and plans, it is wise to study the differences being presented.”

Dr Sykes added, “If a consumer feels that they have been ‘conned’ into signing an agreement and wish to review or withdraw the agreement, they should contact the energy supplier and ask firstly if they are employing salespeople door-to-door and secondly, ask for a full explanation of the plan that has been offered to you.”

Victoria’s Energy suppliers contact details are:

• AGL - 131245 - Electricity and Gas
• Country Energy - 132 356 - Electricity
• Energy Australia - 138 808 - Electricity and Gas
• Jackgreen Energy - 1300 465 225 - Electricity
• Momentum Energy - 1300 662778 - Electricity
• Origin Energy - 132 463 - Electricity and Gas
• Powerdirect - 1300 307 966 - Electricity
• Red Energy - 131 806 - Electricity
• TRUEnergy - 133 466 - Electricity and Gas
• Victoria Electricity - 1300 136 749 - Electricity and Gas