The company said it will not appeal the fine as it seeks to draw a line under an episode that has lasted over three years since Surrey Trading Standards first brought the case to light.
SSE was convicted of mis-selling in May 2011. Surrey Trading Standards told Guilford Crown Court that SSE may have gained around 800,000 customers via a sales script that lead salesmen to make misleading claims in order to encourage householders to switch energy provider.
During 2010/2011 almost half of SSE’s total customer gains in the UK came from doorstep sales.
The firm went to the Court of Appeal but lost its case in March. Before then the SSE disbanded its door to door sales operation and has made £5 million available to customers that can prove they were mis-sold energy deals. It has also implemented a 10 point plan to regain customer trust.
Since the case came to light, all major energy firms bar Eon have stopped door to door cold calling, although some are still selling on the doorstep via appointments.
See the full story and reaction in next week’s print issue of Utility Week.
For background see: