thank you, yes I have registered with TPS and done so for a lot of people now. Its rare to have these sorts of scams in Jersey, where I am based, so I will be highlighting it locally soon to help anyone else just starting out in business. How sad to have to sit there scanning the yellow pages to try and target new businesses? Naturally when they picked on my son it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck with outrage (but hey, I will still take the vitamins and think calming thoughts..). Penelope
AHA...there's your problem....... if you are in yellow pages...you are screwed.. they SELL your information on to these companies on a huge database !! people don't need to sit there scanning the pages!! i set up a phony business to prove it... all i did was make an enquiry into possibly placing an ad..using the name of a company that i made up, didn't place an ad (obviously) and 3 days later the calls started...up to 30 a day from assorted businesses trying to sell me their wares...i even got PENS sent to me with my fake companies name on them!! yellow pages denied they tell anyone...so i explained to them how i made up the name ..and they were the ONLY people to have heard that name.... suffice to say they were a touch on the backfoot. (6 months later i still get the odd letter and the odd call) not bad for a company that didn't even exist, and didn't even place an advert!! DONT GO NEAR YELLOW PAGES (there's a good place to advertise.... in my sig)
I had the same problem with OC Family (for profit, not a non-profit). They still send me mail once in a while, and I call and they say "sorry". I really am curious if they are going to one day send me to collections. The LA Times has a thing out here of calling you to subscribe and when you say no, they send the paper anyways and then bill you for it - figuring that in a lot of families the husband will figure the wife said yes or vice versa. I actually had to wait outside my house at 4am to get the delivery guy to stop and even then it started up again a few weeks later. Think of how much money we'd all be making if we just sold products to poeple who didn't ask for them.
If "raider" is still reading this post, please could you bring everyone up to date on the outcome of your problem with Barrington House? Thanks softus
Yes, a verbal agreement is as good as a written one, only it's harder to prove. Nevertheless, I don't remember how long, but in Europe there should be a length of time during which you can cancel any agreement to buy that was done from remote. Maybe a week. Did you chenge your mind in time? Still, they can't prove much without anything in writing, so you're in a good position as if they don't accept it you can deny everything IMO. I wouldn't give them anything, in particular before the cancellation of the order. And if you are in financial trouble, don't do it, if it's for charity you might be able to give 50 pounds later on once you've sorted your problems. All the best...
Earlier in this thread is the position a verbal agreement places someone in, courtesy of OWG, who knows the ropes in such situations. The information is spot on.
The trouble with a verbal agreement is that it can be difficult to prove - it can take county court action (in the UK), which in itself can cost thousands to bring an action, and even then, effectively has to weigh up one person's testimony against another. From a business point of view, you should always get written acceptance of contracted services where possible, or else set up payment so that consumer acceptance of said services is clearly a matter of volition. (That's just a general point aside from the original post circumstances)
The company that sold you the advertising are not a noce company, i worked for then about 10 years ago when they were based in ormskirk, now i belive them to be in liverpool. They pay a lump sum to the charity per year and try to make it sound like you sponsoring kids in your local area in exchange for advertising on a wall chart callender. They will tell you they have a local distribution network ready to go round local businesses offering the wall charts for charitable donations. Not very nice as scams go. Only a few are printed with the adverts just enough to offer out copies for proof and a couple af copies for each advertiser as a matter of good will. I would ask them for the number or contact details for the distribution network, also i would ask to see the proof that the wallcharts have been printed in the volume that they have specified, If this company has lied to get you to part with mony or they are trying to they are breaking the law, start recording your telephone conversations with them.
I understand that Barrington House are in administration - their website has been closed for some time. Readers should (perhaps?) be aware of a new company called Hamilton Forbes who may operate in the same way? time will tell.... Penelope