An energy firm has reportedly flown its reps to luxury Maldives resort for an all expenses paid trip as customers continue to face soaring energy bills.
Utility Warehouse agents have reportedly been treated to an eight-day trip to the idyllic holiday destination as a treat for signing up new customers.
According to one holidaymaker who met one of the reps in the Indian Ocean paradise island of Malé, some of staff on the trip reportedly handed out business cards,
The group are reportedly staying at the all-inclusive OBLU Xperience, where rooms can cost up to £594 a night.
Members of the group were also reportedly seen playing volleyball in the pool while their partners relaxed on sunbeds.
Utility Warehouse is built on word-of-mouth marketing which means its self-employed agents earn a commission from signing up households to broadband, mobile and insurance deals.
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A holidaymaker told The Sun: "It doesn’t sit right during a cost-of-living crisis. All are wearing purple wristbands and look like they’ve been having a whale of a time.
"They just chill on the beach or by the pool most of the day. They have also hired out part of the restaurant.”
Another holidaymaker reportedly said it "doesn't sit right during a cost of living crisis".
A Utility Warehouse (UW) spokesperson said: "More than 50,000 people across the UK from all backgrounds are UW Partners. Our Partners are self-employed and earn an income by referring our services to their friends and family.
"In doing so, we offer a meaningful way to help people earn their way out of the cost of living crisis. We also offer Partners ways to earn extra incentives such as holidays. We are proud of our hard working Partners and are transparent about the opportunities that come with it."
It comes as millions of Brits remain caught in a crippling cost of living crisis which has left them fearing using their heating.
Thousands of households whose fixed-rate energy contracts are about to expire from April are to face a major rise in their monthly bill.
The standing charge is a fixed amount that you pay on your energy bill every day, regardless of your usage.
It covers “non-energy” costs of both gas and electricity, such as the using and maintenance of the energy networks and the cost of carrying out meter readings.
This charge went up by around 80% last year, according to research by the charity the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
It will once again increase in April when the Government Energy Price Guarantee rises from £2,500 to £3,000.