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East Gippslanders get protected from Victorian Energy Upgrades program telemarketing and door knocking with bans

Residents in East Gippsland gain protection from aggressive energy sales tactics, with telemarketing and door knocking banned for Victorian Energy Upgrades program participants, effective May and August. Compliance monitored; breaches fined.

By news@gippsland - 6th May 2024 - Back to News

East Gippsland residents will no longer face forceful sales tactics from energy companies after the Nationals were successful in advocating for a ban on telemarketing and doorknocking. From May 1, providers and participants in the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program - an initiative that provides State Government incentives for households that install certain energy efficient products and services - are not allowed to cold call a person to promote these products and services.

Starting May 1, VEU program participants cannot cold call to promote energy-efficient products. August 1 brings a door knocking ban. Non-compliance risks fines or program exclusion

Door knocking ban

A ban on door knocking will come into effect on August 1. The changes also mean that providers and participants cannot purchase a person's contact details from a third party or arrange a contractor or other agent to call or doorknock on their behalf. Nationals MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said many residents had contacted his office to protest the aggressive tactics used by some companies involved in the VEU program.

"Even residents who had signed up to the Do Not Call register were being repeatedly harassed and coerced by people promoting products from heaters and hot water systems to showerheads, clothes dryers and fridges. These new bans are a protection for residents, particularly the elderly, who might not be able to advocate effectively for themselves and are pressured into signing up for products and services they do not want, under the guise of it being cost-saving," he said.

Energy program regulation

Mr Bull also said, "People have rightly had enough of companies and third parties overstepping the mark to spruik their products under this program, and I am pleased that advocacy from the Nationals on behalf of community members has pushed the State Government to act."

The Essential Services Commission will monitor compliance with the new laws, with companies found to be in breach liable for fines of up to $46,000. They can also be suspended or removed from the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. Mr Bull said people could report anyone in breach of the new laws by:

• Calling the commission on 03 9032 1310
• By emailing veu@esc.vic.gov.au

Residents can also lodge a complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria online or by calling 131 450.

Pictures from Tim Bull MP website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com