Npower suspends 17 salespeople for lying

London -- Sales staff at Npower, a leading British energy company, has been lying to people to get them to sign up with the utility, a newspaper investigation alleges.

The Sunday Times of London reported the company's salespeople routinely deceive consumers to collect commissions.

The newspaper claims Npower staff engaged in such practices as making customers sign a form without revealing it was a contract. The company also allegedly exploited consumers with limited English skills and lied about standing charges.

A sales member told an undercover journalist from the newspaper: "Whatever I'm doing here you don't have to discuss with anyone else, because if you're going to be very honest we can't sell anything."

Npower on Friday suspended 17 salespeople after learning of the Sunday Times' findings, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.