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Black Country energy firm fined after pensioner 'duped' into £12,000 credit deal

A Black Country energy firm has been fined after a pensioner was 'duped' into signing a £12,000 credit agreement for solar panels, a court heard.

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The 23-year agreement signed by Betty Harris, aged 82, from Oldbury, would have seen her paying it off until she was 105 years old.

Wolverhampton Magistrates heard how Mrs Harris was approached by two contractors from Walsall-based energy firm Qulham, trading as The Energy Agency.

She was told that the panels were going to be free, despite questioning the contractors on several occasions alongside her son.

Managing director, Amanjeev Atkar, pleaded guilty on behalf of the company to three charges of unfair trading.

The company was ordered to pay a total of more than £18,500, including a £10,000 fine, £7,000 in court costs and compensation to Mrs Harris of £1,300.

Mr Alexandra Barnfield, prosecuting, said: "In her own words Mrs Harris was 'duped' by representatives saying that the panels were free as part of a government scheme, when she ended up with £12,000 debt.

"On another occasion an invoice to The Energy Agency of £7,000 'fell out' of documents and was addressed to Mrs Harris but the rep still insisted that she wouldn't have to pay anything. She later discovered that she had signed a 23-year credit agreement for £12,510.66. It would have lasted until she was 105 years old.

"They engaged in commercial practice that was misleading. This was an elderly and vulnerable lady who was misled into a ridiculous credit agreement that she could not repay."

The court heard that the solar panels were part of a government initiative The Green Deal scheme. The two contractors were dismissed and the finance agreement was settled in full by the company along with the solar panels being removed at the request of Mrs Harris, the court heard.

Mr Tony Watkin, defending, said: "The company fully accepts that Betty Harris is a victim of selling mispractices. Rogue contractors failed to make clear that she was entering into a credit agreement. This is an isolated incident and it was not a con or scheme dreamt up by the company and they deeply regret what has happened here."

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