although illegal, telephone canvassing continues

Lucie is angry. “I am called several times a week on my cell phone for energy saving work, when I do not want to do any work and I have no confidence in any proposals over the phone”, she annoys. However, she should not be disturbed by this type of canvassing, since it is prohibited.

Since entry into force of the Law of July 24, 2020 aiming to supervise telephone canvassing and to fight against fraudulent calls, commercial prospecting by telephone for the purpose of selling equipment or carrying out work aimed at saving energy or producing renewable energies is in fact prohibited.

Read also Why France refuses to ban telephone canvassing

Any contract relating to these areas and concluded following canvassing by telephone is also considered void. The only exception: if you have a current contract with the professional in question, says the law.

End of the one euro isolation scheme

The association UFC-Que Choisir is nevertheless always regularly seized by its members for fraudulent calls and indicates that the latter are notably called by a “Regional aid office”, a “National agency for free insulation”.

These structures say they verify the eligibility of the household under the device “insulation for one euro” and propose changes of boiler, heat pumps or insulation work. Among the arguments they put forward to keep you on the phone: “You have indicated that you agree to be called back”, or “This is not canvassing, we just check if you are entitled to aid”.

“These practices are obviously illegal, but there is a big gap between the rule and what is actually happening. Much of the public ignores their rights and the penalties are random. Companies are therefore betting on the not seen not caught, believes Alain Bazot, president of the UFC-Que Choisir.

And even in the event of a sanction, canvassing can remain financially interesting for companies, he adds.

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In an attempt to cut short the scams, the government decided to stop, the 1er July 2021, the one-euro offer scheme, particularly highlighted during canvassing.

But “The risk is that the direct sellers add in their speech the idea that it is the last moment to take advantage of it”, indicates Nicolas Moulin, founder of PrimesEnergie.fr, a company specializing in the purchase of energy certificates from individuals. “We will therefore have to be particularly vigilant in the coming weeks”, he recommends.

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