A "lie detector" test to help consumers uncover "dishonest selling" by energy companies is being launched by a consumer watchdog.

Energywatch Scotland said the test would "help consumers spot the most common tricks used to get them to switch supplier on the doorstep, over the phone or in the street".

The independent body, which monitors gas and electricity suppliers, has voiced concern in recent years about the incidence of "dishonest selling".

It has called for consumers to be given automatic compensation by companies which are found to be guilty of "mis-selling".

Energywatch wants power firms to be fined

The new move comes days after Scottish Labour Party MSP Duncan McNeil called on the Scottish Parliament to condemn the "high-pressure selling tactics employed by representatives of certain utility companies."

The new Energywatch Scotland information sheet, "Compare" has been designed to keep consumers better informed in their dealings with sales agents.

The sheet, which is also available online, contains a list of worst performing companies determined by the number of complaints received against them.

The watchdog said the most "innovative" part of the information sheet was a list of 10 sales pitches which it claimed would act as a "lie detector test".

'Dotted line'

It said if any sales agent's approach was listed on the sheet then "alarm bells should start ringing" with consumers.

John Hanlon, chair of Energywatch's Scottish committee, said: "There's no doubt that some energy sales agents will go to extreme lengths to get consumers to switch supplier.

"They catch them off guard, lie or hound them into signing and if that fails some even resort to forgery to get a signature on the dotted line.

"Companies should be using complaints to help them design a better service for consumers.

"But, if the industry cannot clean up its act, then complaints are essential if we are to take action against the worst offenders."