Penza, 11 July 2014. PenzaNews. Yuri Ilyin, Deputy Minister for Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Penza region, has criticized the methods of unscrupulous companies who force the residents of the region to sign up for services related to the installation and maintenance of utility meters.

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According to him, the companies distributing leaflets use simple words and gentle suggestions to force people to sign contracts.

As an example, he cited an ad printed on a small sheet of paper, which reads: “Dear residents! In accordance with federal law No. 261 of November 23, 2009 “On Energy Saving,” gas utility meters will be installed in your apartment building. Work on the installation is conducted by “GazTehService,” LLC (SRO General License #0633.02-2013-0278190107-C-184). You need to apply by phone 988-440.”

Yuri Ilyin expressed his outrage over the wording which creates the false belief that this contractor is obligatory, while there are several other alternatives available.

“And there are fears that it will have some impact. Remember about the freedom of choice. It is you who will choose the contractor for meter installation. No policy guidance have been made as to this matter,” the deputy minister said.

He also added that he received another notice from a company calling itself “The United Water Utility Meter Installation Urban Service.”

“This is ridiculous. No sign of awareness of existing legislation. A company with an incredibly pompous name offers us an unprecedented bonus of sealing the utility meter for free. Thank God, they do not promise free commissioning, guaranteed by the resolution #354. The terms of meter installation (during July) are also strange, and the paragraph about “Ministry of Regional Development” which published some “amendments to the acts,” is the final touch to this picture of a completely dense ad,” the official noted.

According to Yuri Ilyin, “they are fighting for the consumer by any means, but if you have no knowledge, imagination or experience, you should not impose your services on the customers in such an aggressive manner.”

“And I would like to remind those who own flats that the installation of individual meters is your own business and you can choose the contractor on your own, and no one has the right to force you to sign a contract with one particular company,” the Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Penza region wrote in his LiveJournal.