An 81-year-old Shipley woman suffering from senile dementia has been persuaded to change her gas supplier by a doorstep salesman.

The Scottish Power rep called at her home on December 23 and talked the woman into signing a contract to transfer from British Gas.

A Scottish Power spokesman promised to investigate and said if the sales representative was at fault, he would be sacked.

The woman's furious daughter, Susan Wheeler, said: "The rep must have known my mum wouldn't understand what he was talking about and he has got her to sign these papers - it's disgusting. Her neighbour says he told the rep not to go to my mother because she has senile dementia, and he also told him not to go to the lady further on because she is 90.

"But he ignored him and went to both - and got them both to sign a contract.

"My mum told her neighbour she hadn't signed anything but then on January 8 she passed me this letter from Scottish Power saying they had received her application form and they were arranging the transfer.

"I phoned Scottish Power and was told the contract had been signed and because we didn't cancel within 14 days it stands.

"They have said she will have to stay with them for 28 days and then I will have to arrange for British Gas to change her back."

Rights and Wrongs highlighted a similar case in August last year when a deaf 90-year-old from the Low Moor area of Bradford was persuaded to sign a contract to transfer to Scottish Power. At the time a company spokesman said: "We are fairly keen to make sure it doesn't happen again."

A spokesman said a full internal inquiry would be launched into the latest incident.

"It will be thoroughly investigated and we will come back to you with the result," she told Rights and Wrongs. The representatives who visit homes are part of an outside sales team employed by Scottish Power who fully train them on how to sell and how to behave.

"If it is the fault of a rep or sales team, they will be sacked."

Couple in holiday refund dispute

Pensioners Brian and Mavis Uttley have been trying for three months to get a refund from a travel company after their holiday was cut short.

The Howarth couple booked a two-week holiday in Alicante from September 10 through Middlesex-based travel agents Gem Stone.

But seven days after arriving there, their daughter phoned to say Mr Uttley's elderly mother was seriously ill and he was needed at home.

He phoned Gem Stone but claims he was told there was no local tour operator rep to help them.

He claims he was given no insurance policy or insurance emergency number before he left Britain and he had to pay for a flight back himself.

Mr Uttley, 65, had also hired a car for the holiday which he had to take back early.

Since their return they have been trying to get a refund on part of the £225 they paid for the car and for their holiday. "I feel we have been treated badly," he said.

But Gem Stone sales manager Matthew Somers said Mr Uttley was told when he phoned from Spain that he should go through the insurance company but he decided not to, saying he just wanted to get home.

"If something unjust has been done here, we will do something about it, but from what we have seen I think we have acted properly," he said.

"I am more than happy if Mr Uttley would like to speak to me or write to me to do what I can."

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