Updated: British Gas suspends 42 Sainsbury’s sales staff

British Gas has said stories posted late last night in the Mail Online and This is Money that it has suspended 43 sales staff for alleged mis-selling in Sainsbury's supermarket are inaccurate. However, the firm has suspended 42 staff for allegedly massaging data in order to falsely claim commission.

The titles, both published by Associated Newspapers, quote figures from consumer organisation and online switching site Which? that customers could have lost out by up to £300.

The stories cite sources from both British Gas and Sainsbury’s confirming that suspensions have taken place and suggest that more suspensions could follow.

British Gas is currently preparing a statement on the story. Utility Week understands that number of staff quoted by the paper is correct, and that British Gas is carrying out an investigation, but that the company will dispute the £300 figure attributed to Which? and the article’s thrust that thousands of customers have been affected.

Update: British Gas has now issued a statement on the story:

“The report in today’s Daily Mail is inaccurate. No employees have been suspended for transferring customers to more expensive tariffs,” said a spokesperson.

“42 of our employees have been suspended for allegedly submitting inaccurate customer details in order to falsely claim commission from British Gas. A full investigation is under way but we are satisfied that no customer is out of pocket due to this. There have been 18 complaints over the last two months. All of these customers have been contacted and the information corrected.

“We always take swift and decisive action to ensure customers get the best service and offer from British Gas.”

Clarification: This story was updated and amended following confirmation and a statement from British Gas at 15.30 today.