The national energy mediator proposed Monday the prohibition of door-to-door canvassing, or failing measures to strictly regulate door-to-door canvassing for the supply of electricity or gas, while cases of abuse explode .
Read also: Beware of abusive canvassing of energy suppliers
“I was struck by the number of consumers who report abuse of all kinds to me with door-to-door sales, and more particularly that practiced at home. It is unacceptable that consumers end up with energy supply contracts that they have not understood, or that they have never signed! ”, Said Olivier Challan Belval in a press release. "I believe it is necessary to strike hard so that companies which encourage dishonest practices can no longer harm the energy market of individuals by betraying their trust", continued the mediator, in office since November.
Its services are in fact more and more often seized for disputes relating to abusive canvassing, whether by telephone or at home: 1,883 referrals in 2019 against 1,416 in 2018. An increase which is explained "very certainly" by the regulated gas sales tariffs to end soon. The energy mediator considers that it should "ban doorstep selling for the supply of gas and electricity", "at least for the coming period, very sensitive with the end of regulated tariffs for the sale of natural gas in July 2023 ”. Failing that, he proposes four other measures to "strictly regulate" these practices.
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The first would be to prohibit direct sellers from directly collecting the signatures of consumers who are solicited at the place of canvassing. Then prohibit starting the execution of a new contract before the expiration of the period during which the consumer has the right to withdraw (except in the case of moving in). The third measure provides that any contract entered into without respecting the rules would be vitiated by "absolute nullity". Finally, the mediator proposes to create an administrative penalty for withdrawing the authorization to supply energy.
This sanction would come in addition to the fines that may already be imposed by the fraud prevention services (DGCCRF). They thus sanctioned the energy suppliers Eni (315,000 euros) in February and Engie (nearly 900,000 euros) in October.
Read also: In hell of telephone canvassing
