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Nationals' secure ending to telemarketing for Victorian Energy Upgrade scheme stopping intrusive practices and ensuring compliance

Gippsland residents find relief as telemarketing for the Victorian Energy Upgrade scheme ceases, replaced by door-knocking. Nationals' intervention addresses complaints, ensuring compliance and shielding residents from intrusive tactics.

By news@gippsland - 7th May 2024 - Back to News

Gippslanders will no longer be subject to the nuisance practices of telemarketers spruiking the Victorian Energy Upgrade (VEU) scheme with door-knocking next on the chopping block. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien said the ban on telemarketing and door-knocking for the VEU comes after a review of the practices that was secured by The Nationals.

Mr. O'Brien stated the ESC will oversee law compliance, imposing fines of up to $46,000 for breaches. He urges reporting of disruptive telemarketing, deterring such practices

End to VEU telemarketing

Mr O'Brien said, "From May accredited providers of the VEU scheme are not allowed to cold call a person to promote products and services with a ban on door knocking to come into effect on August 1."

Mr O'Brien said he wrote to the Minister for Energy back in 2022 urging action after his office was inundated with complaints about the telemarketing practices of accredited providers under the VEU scheme. "The Minister responded at the time and offered assurances that they had the situation under control by introducing a "Code of Conduct" for these contractors, but anecdotal evidence proved that the invasive and disruptive telemarketing practices of these accredited providers did not subside."

"The code of conduct that governed the accredited providers under the program stated that they could not call the same household twice within 30 days - the problem remained that there were multiple companies contacting the same household. Fast forward two years and I am grateful that commonsense has prevailed and we will no longer be subjected to these nuisance telemarketing practices," Mr O'Brien said.

Enforcing VEU compliance

Mr O'Brien said the Essential Services Commission (ESC) will monitor compliance with the new laws, with companies found to be in breach liable for fines of up to $46,000. "The tactics that have been used by many of these VEU providers have been extremely disruptive and often intimidating, particularly for our more vulnerable residents. I encourage anyone who is cold-called by a VEU provider to report the breach in order to deter these unnecessary telemarketing practices."

Mr O'Brien said people could report breaches of the new laws by calling the commission on 03 9032 1310 or by emailing veu@esc.vic.gov.au. Residents can also lodge a complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria online at Consumer Affairs Victoria website or by calling 131 450.

Pictures from 9 News Australia YouTube channel.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com