Media Release: AGL is second energy retailer in as many days to agree to blanket cessation of door-to-door sales – Consumer Action calls on others to follow their lead
Householders should soon notice a meaningful decrease in visits from unwanted energy hawkers, with the announcement by a second major energy retailer, AGL, that it too will cease all door-to-door selling.
The news comes hot on the heels of EnergyAustralia’s announcement on Monday that it will stop door-to-door selling at the end of March.
“AGL is to be congratulated for listening to consumers,” said Catriona Lowe, Co-CEO of Consumer Action. “Dissatisfaction with door-to-door selling has been the source of consumer angst for many years, and it is fantastic to see some businesses acting to wind up this unpopular sales channel. AGL trialled stopping door to door selling in Queensland and South Australia but has today announced that it will also stop this channel in Victoria and NSW”.
Both AGL and EnergyAustralia nominated consumer complaints as the driver for the business decision to stop door-to-door selling. AGL’s media release quoted research that found only six per cent of people had a positive experience the last time a salesperson approached them. Consumer Action’s research published a year ago, found only three per cent of people had a positive opinion of door-to-door energy salespeople.
In June last year, Consumer Action challenged major energy retailers to cease door-to-door selling, including AGL, Australian Power and Gas, Lumo, Momentum Energy, Origin, Red Energy, Simply Energy and TRUenergy (now part of EnergyAustralia).
“AGL and EnergyAustralia are to be commended for their leadership in stopping door-to-door selling”, Ms Lowe stated. “We now challenge the rest of the majors to step up to the mark. Otherwise, given the strong consumer sentiment against door-to-door selling, we would expect to see consumers start to vote with their feet.”
