I have just had an argument with an Indian call centre operator trying to sell me gas and electricity.

I get a lot of sales calls on my land line, despite requesting my number be barred from such activity – most of the time I just apologise and hang up.

This time though, I stupidly gave the operator a chance. Maybe it was because I had recently received a large fuels bill and thought, by a miracle, I would save money. Maybe it was just because I was feeling nice… whatever – I wish I hadn’t gone ahead with it now.

After telling the operator how much I paid to my current supplier, I was predictably given a cheaper quote (from NPower). I thanked the operator for the advice, and agreed to go and carry out my own investigations before changing suppliers. Big mistake!

I was immediately transferred to the operator’s supervisory who reeled off a long list of savings I would make (“You pay £8.71 the first month, followed by £9.23 each subsequent month and then £12.52 after 6 months…”) It was just like from the famous Fonejacker sketch.

I know these companies make commission from introducing customers like me to energy providers, but I was not prepared to take the word of a random caller and sign up for a new provider over the phone. I did agree to take the companies website address and take a look in my own time.

At this point, the supervisor turned furious, accusing me of being sceptical, threatening to transfer my details to NPower anyway (therefore breaking the law) and constantly repeating the fact he would call me back, despite being told that I didn’t want to speak to him again. He even accused me of not knowing how to use a computer as I hadn’t compared prices online before.

To make matters worse, he didn’t even offer to upgrade my internet service providings or give me free ring-dings (OK, that last bit was another Fonejacker reference)

I may well go ahead and look to NPower, but after tonight’s telephone call, will NOT be using the company who called. I will approach NPower direct or use an alternative comparison service.

Never again will I trust a sales call.