Airtricity reach new low

Catalpa1

Energy salesman signed up woman with mental age of child

I thought I was beyond being shocked by their tactics, but if "the sale" is all that matters we are a sad sad society
. I suppose the apologie is good but this represents the worst of how to exploit the vulnerable

“The salesman cannot have been unaware of her condition,” said a spokesperson for the family. “It is instantly apparent from both her speech and her appearance that she is not mentally competent, and to have taken advantage of that fact is just despicable.
“She has the mental age of a child and has an intellectual disability that renders her legally incompetent, meaning that she cannot enter into binding contracts like the one she was enticed to sign by the representative of Airtricity,” he said.
After it was contacted, Airtricity issued an apology and waived the energy charges that had accrued since the incident. It also arranged for the account to be returned to the previous electricity supplier.
“As a result, we have conducted a full review of our sales processes to ensure that our sales procedures remain fair and responsible at all times and that the protection of vulnerable customers continues to be at the heart of our procedures

http://www.galwaynews.ie/19531-energy-salesman-signed-woman-mental-age-child

Cabaal

err except the salesman is not employed by Airtricity he would have been employed by a sales company that the likes of Vodafone, Eircom, GB, ESB also use.

The sales company just cares about sales they don't really care about the company they are selling for they just want sales as thats how the sales reps make money. Its all about commission.

So to claim Airtricity have reached a new low is actually pretty inaccurate in this situation.

The news story is inaccurate to claim the door to door salesman was a Airtricity employee. Poor reporting to be honest.

littlejp

It is bad reporting but do you not think Airtricity are responsible for these sales people? They are representing Airtricity after all.

keithclancy

littlejp wrote: »

It is bad reporting but do you not think Airtricity are responsible for these sales people? They are representing Airtricity after all.

No worse than salespeople for any company really, anyone thats commision based will sell their own mother to make a sale, the ones that don't end up quitting quite early on.

I never buy anything off people that come to my door.

My rule is if a deal came to me, its probably not a deal.

Cabaal

littlejp wrote: »

It is bad reporting but do you not think Airtricity are responsible for these sales people? They are representing Airtricity after all.

I think its bad reporting to claim they are employed by Airtricity, they are not and this is a fact. Its a reporters job to report the facts and they didn't in this instance.

The issues experienced are with the marketing company, as I've already explained.

As such its the marketing company's policies that are at fault, the only reason why Airtricity responded with what they did is if they responded saying its the marketing company people will simply think they are attempting to shift blame so from a PR standpoint its easier to just get the issue over and done with.

maxer68

Cabaal wrote: »

I think its bad reporting to claim they are employed by Airtricity, they are not and this is a fact. Its a reporters job to report the facts and they didn't in this instance.

.

It doesn't say that they were an employee. Its says a representative of Airtricity.

The sales contract is with an independent sales company to hire people to represent & sell on behalf of Airtricity.

Once they are selling an Airtricity product, they are representing Airtricity. It is for Airtricity to lay down ground rules with anyone selling on their behalf.

Cabaal

maxer68 wrote: »

It doesn't say that they were an employee. Its says a representative of Airtricity.

Yes it does

Home energy supplier Airtricity has been forced to conduct a review of its sales practices after one of its employees enticed a Galway woman with an intellectual disability to sign up for the electricity provider’s services.

The sales contract is with an independent sales company to hire people to represent & sell on behalf of Airtricity.

Once they are selling an Airtricity product, they are representing Airtricity. It is for Airtricity to lay down ground rules with anyone selling on their behalf.

Yes and undoubtedly like any other company they do but for anyone that has had experience with any of these company's, has worked for one or knows anyone that has worked for one will tell you these ground rules mean nothing.

All the reps and the marketing company care about is commission and my point still stands its inaccurate to claim the person in question was a Airtricity employee when he was not.

foggy_lad

Cabaal wrote: »

Yes it does






Yes and undoubtedly like any other company they do but for anyone that has had experience with any of these company's, has worked for one or knows anyone that has worked for one will tell you these ground rules mean nothing.

All the reps and the marketing company care about is commission and my point still stands its inaccurate to claim the person in question was a Airtricity employee when he was not.

Would it be fair to say that Airtricity use this company for their door to door sales because of their very aggressive sales technique? they want results at very little cost. they must surely be aware for some time that the company that represents them at doorstep level is behaving the way they are?

Cabaal

foggy_lad wrote: »

Would it be fair to say that Airtricity use this company for their door to door sales because of their very aggressive sales technique? they want results at very little cost. they must surely be aware for some time that the company that represents them at doorstep level is behaving the way they are?

That is speculation on your part. However if you apply your logic then it also means every other utility company in Ireland is guilty of the same type of practice so it would be kinda unfair to single out one company

fergpie

Seems to me that the sales representative was acting as an agent of airtricity and therefore airtricity is liable for the actions of their agent as long as the agent was acting within his powers (i.e entice customers to switch electricity provider)

However despicable the behavior of the sales rep was, ultimately airtricity is responsible.

maxer68

Cabaal wrote: »

Yes it does

I'm off to specsavers:)


But on amore serious note, I will not entertain Airtricity in any way whatsoever due to these continued stories of harassment.

keithclancy

foggy_lad wrote: »

Would it be fair to say that Airtricity use this company for their door to door sales because of their very aggressive sales technique? they want results at very little cost. they must surely be aware for some time that the company that represents them at doorstep level is behaving the way they are?

Of course they do, they are a business, not a charity.

foggy_lad

keithclancy wrote: »

Of course they do, they are a business, not a charity.

Regardless how those results are achieved by their contractors?

dudara

Thread closed as this is not a Consumer Issue - just an opportunity for more Airtricity complaining.

dudara