Two energy renovation companies sanctioned for telephone canvassing

The law against abusive telephone canvassing, promulgated in July 2020, prohibits any telephone prospecting for energy renovation work, a sector where unscrupulous companies have taken advantage of public subsidies to abuse households.

The sanction was pronounced on October 18 by the departmental director of the protection of the populations of Ille-et-Vilaine, following an investigation by the DGCCRF, said in a press release the body under the Ministry of Economy.

Almatys and Nrgie Conseil both sell goods and services to generate energy savings, such as heat pumps.

Almatys would have "canvassed several hundred thousand consumers by telephone between October and November 2020", while Nrgie Conseil is accused of having "canvassed tens of thousands of consumers by telephone in January 2021".

In 2020, the Repression of Fraud had already sanctioned 108 direct sellers for "non-compliance with the system of opposition to canvassing", for a total fine of 4,3 million euros. "This amount has doubled compared to 2019 and is expected to grow further in 2021," she says.

The DGCCRF also recalls that in the energy renovation sector, only a company having a contractual relationship "already in progress" with a consumer can contact him. Consumers who wish to report abusive behavior can do so on a dedicated platform, SignalConso.

For other sectors, the law of July 2020 raised the penalties for abusive canvassing: administrative fines can go up to 75.000 euros for individuals and 375.000 euros for companies.