POWER companies were in hot water in Enfield again this week over sharp practice that upset two households.

In one case, a gas salesman forged a pensioner's signature in order to switch his household's supply to the Norweb company.

The forgery happened when Osman Mehmet, 78, of Hedge Lane, Palmers Green, was abroad.

On his return, he received a letter congratulating him on joining Norweb with the phoney signature on a copy of the application form.

But Mr Mehmet had not even spoken to a salesperson from the company on his doorstep.

Daughter-in-law Gulistan Mehmet said: 'It is terrible. Someone actually forged my father-in-law's signature in order to get the commission.

'My in-laws are elderly and don't speak much English. They have been stressed out by this.'

A Norweb spokesman said a 'rogue agent' operating in Enfield has now been sacked.

He said the company wished to apologise to Mr and Mrs Mehmet, and they are to be reconnected to British Gas. He added that Norweb is a founder member of the Association of Energy Suppliers' code of practice.

In the second case, 79-year-old Gladys Burkinshaw's electricity supply was transferred to Yorkshire Electricity, despite her turning down the salesperson's offer.

She was on the firm's books for five months before she got a refund.

And even then the company threatened her with bailiffs over an outstanding £13.18.

Steve Gay, caretaker at the Holbrook Close flats where Mrs Burkinshaw lives, said: 'She is distressed. I want to warn people about what is happening.

'These salesmen get a commission if they sell electricity. I said the company should apologise but instead they sent a letter threatening her with the bailiffs.'

A Yorkshire Electricity spokeswoman said she wished to apologise for the upset.

She admitted Mrs Burkinshaw's power supply was 'erroneously' transferred to the company between January and May 1999.

Owing to differences in metre readings, letters asking for £13.18 were sent out. 'This amount has now been written off,' she said.