Utilities company SSE (LON:SSE) has been slapped with the largest ever fine for an energy supplier for misleading customers.
Energy watchdog Ofgem said misleading practices were found at “every stage of the sales process” in the gas and electricity provider’s bid to entice potential clients away from rivals between 2009 and 2011.
The regulator claimed SSE failed to monitor its sales activities adequately, leading to “misleading and unsubstantiated statements...made by sales agents to potential customers about savings”.
Ofgem said: “The level of fine reflects the seriousness and duration of breaches, the likely substantial harm that they have caused and the likely gain to SSE.”
The company, which has already been fined £1.25mln for doorstep mis-selling, apologised for its actions. It stopped doorstop sales in 2011, but said other areas, such as telephone and in-store sales, fell below standards.
“We worked hard to offer competitive prices and carve out an industry-leading position on customer service,” said William Morris, managing director of retail.
“We did not, however, spend enough time monitoring our sales processes. That meant we did not always sell in the right way, and we let some customers down.”
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