Market research on Irish consumers' experiences with doorstep traders and direct selling - August 2011

1. National Consumer Agency Market Research Findings: Consumer Experiences with Direct Selling August 20 11 Market Research Conducted by

3. Key Findings

4. Key Findings Direct Selling Door-to-Door Selling Telephone Sales Experienced in the past 12 months % of all consumers 41% 24% Most commonly contacted by Energy suppliers 79% received calls – of this 30% signed up Telecommunications 76% received calls – of this 12% signed up 2nd most common Telecommunications 43% received calls – of this 18% signed up Energy suppliers 40% received calls – of this 10% signed up Of those who signed up - informed of right to cancel purchase 57% 42% Of those who signed up - felt pressurised into signing up 21% 20%

5. Section 1: Door-to-Door Selling

7. Categories of Product/Service Sold and Incidence of Switching/Signing up * All others 1% or less * Caution small base % (Base: All who experienced door-to-door selling in past 12 months - 405) % Purchase/Switched * * * * * Energy suppliers Telecommunications TV Service Home Improvements, Gardening etc. Catalogue sales Monitored home security system Others*

8. Information Provided at the Door % (Base: All who experienced door-to-door selling in past 12 months - 405) Strongly Agree (5) 57% 21% % Felt Pressurised into Signing up/Taking out Product/Service % Agree (4) Neither/ Nor (3) Strongly Disagree (1) Disagree (2) 2.6 3.5 Mean Score: Offer was Fully Explained Before Signing Up % 47% Was informed of my right to cancel any purchase Received written information on product/service before signing up

10. Section 2: Telephone Sales

12. Categories of Product/Service Sold over the Phone and Incidence of Switching/Signing up * All others 1% or less * Caution small base % (Base: All who experienced direct phone selling in past 12 months - 242) % Purchase/Switched * * * * * * Telecommunications Energy suppliers TV Service Home Improvements, Gardening etc. Monitored home security system Catalogue sales Others*

13. Information Provided Over the Phone % (Base: All who experienced direct phone selling in past 12 months - 242) Strongly Agree (5) 43% 20% % Felt Pressurised into Signing up/Taking out Product/Service % Agree (4) Neither/ Nor (3) Strongly Disagree (1) Disagree (2) 2.7 3.3 Mean Score: Offer was Fully Explained Before Signing Up 41% Was informed of my right to cancel any purchase

14. Research Background and Methodology

16. Profile of Sample – I (Base: All aged 15-74 – 1,000) Male Female % % % % 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ Dublin Rest of Leinster Munster Conn/ Ulster ABC1 F50+ C2DE F50- MAIN GROCERY SHOPPER Yes No