Vince Cable

Further to the story of local people suffering mis-selling by Scottish and Southern Energy, the company has written to MP Vincent Cable, apologising for "any upset to residents" and blaming "rogue agents" for irregular practices.

Vincent Cable reports however that he has heard further reports from residents (most recently in Strawberry Hill) that official looking representatives of the company had sought admission to their homes to check the meter on the grounds that Seeboard was "over charging" because it was French! "Most residents will have sent these con-men packing but some may have been tricked into admitting the salesmen and then signing a contract. Frankly I do not know whether the company is responsible or the agents which it uses; from a residents point of view it makes little difference. What matters is that they should stop and disciplinary action be taken against the rogue salesmen".

"I have now heard of another scandal in which this company has been involved. Residents have reported to me that they were given false meter readings and are now being pursued by debt collectors for debts they didn't have. Unfortunately, the energy customers' watch dog won't touch this because it involves debt collectors!"