Clearview South Feb 2013 - Issue 135 | Page 62

INDUSTRYNEWS OFT FIRES WARNING SHOT TO ENERGY FIRMS ON IMPORTANCE OF GOOD PRACTICE As more and more consumers are concerned about energy efficiency issues*, and sales of products grow**, The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has fired a warning shot across the bows of industry providers about the importance of good practice and maintaining high standards to consumers. The OFT has written to more than 50 of the leading installers of double glazing, insulation and solar panels, asking them to ensure they are providing consistently good standards to consumers. The initiative is part of an OFT drive to raise compliance standards across the energy efficiency sector. An OFT review of the sector, published on 10th January, found instances of poor practice towards consumers such as the use of high pressure sales techniques, unclear information about paperwork and cancellation rights, and poor quality installations. for a grant or subsidy. Energy efficiency products are often sold in the home and the review has also highlighted the use of high pressure selling techniques by some, such as salespeople staying in consumers’ homes for several hours, or indicating that a product is only available at a discount if bought immediately. To address the concerns arising from the review, the OFT is working with fellow enforcers, regulators, government, industry and consumer groups to promote a consistent level of good business practice. is important that people can be confident the companies they deal with are complying with the law, and that they are able to make informed purchases, without pressure sales techniques. “Many businesses in this sector comply with the law and engage in good business practices but we urge others to raise their standards. Businesses that fail to address the issues that we have identified risk enforcement action.” The OFT stressed that the investigation in the sector is ongoing and it has not yet reached any conclusions on whether the law has been breached. It also points out that there is no suggestion that any of the businesses to which it has written advisory letters are in breach of the law. * Energy efficiency is an area of growing interest and enquiry for consumers. Consumer Direct received around 13,000 contacts about double glazing, insulation and solar panels between November 2010 and November 2011, and Consumer Direct and Citizens’ Advice received over 14,000 contacts about these markets between November 2011 and November 2012. ‘The OFT has advised businesses of their obligations under consumer protection law, and has highlighted that they are responsible for the actions of their representatives, whether employed directly or indirectly – for example as third party lead generators or canvassers’ Energy efficiency measures can provide major benefits to households through lower energy bills and warmer homes. The wider sector, with sales worth around £18 billion in 2010-11, is expected to be an area of substantial economic growth in the future. But the OFT’s review found that the behaviour of some businesses in the energy efficiency sector – including instances of poor practice, some of which might breach consumer law – risk undermining consumer confidence and limiting expansion of the market. Concerns include instances where consumers have been given potentially misleading or inaccurate information about the energy they could save or their eligibility The OFT has advised businesses of their obligations under consumer protection law, and has highlighted that they are responsible for the actions of their representatives, whether employed directly or indirectly – for example as third party lead generators or canvassers. The OFT has also opened an investigation in the sector which focuses on business practices that raise particularly significant concerns. Local Authority Trading Standards Services (TSS) have also been actively engaged in this sector, working closely with the OFT. Nisha Arora, Director in the OFT’s Services, Infrastructure and Public Markets Group, said: “Energy efficiency products offer real benefits to consumers and the sector has significant potential for business growth. However, it ‘Many business’ engage in good practice but others need to raise standards’ **According to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Energy Efficiency sector in the UK had sales of £17.6 billion in 2010/11. Sales in this sector have grown by over four per cent per year since 2007/8, and are projected to grow by around five per cent per year between 2010/11 and 2014/15. ‘Energy efficiency products are often sold in the home and the review has also highlighted the use of high pressure selling techniques by some’ http://twitter.com/OFTgov http://www.oft.gov.uk 62 FEB 2013 To read more, visit www.clearview-uk.com