I was here at my job, got some mail addressed to us. It was mostly like a postcard but not quite, it had our stores information and seemed to be asking me to confirm it. I filled the thing out with our address and numbers, etc. To me it looked like it was for the Yellow Pages and was asking us to confirm our data for an upcoming issue. Anyways I faxed it to the place the number said to, and I figured that was it.
Now I find out even though it didn't mention price or anything they want like 300 bucks and I think they've already posted the entry in their directory. I can't really say I know what to make of it, the thing looked pretty damn free to me and didn't say anything about price. I was just now called up by the guys, they wanted to speak to the owner, I was like umm there is no owner. They are gonna call back tommorrow to speak with my co-worker who said he'll tell them something.
I feel like I should probably pay the 300 dollars since I filled the card out, but then why'd they post it before they actually got paid? It doesn't make any sense to me. Anyhow I had thought it was like an automated thing, that it was just asking me to confirm our info. I figured FedEx had arranged it....
Should I pay it if they bother us/me or say no? I swear it looked like a mailing where all they wanted was confirmation, nothing about ordering nothin.
Since you faxed it, do you still have the original to review? I hope so. If there is no mention of financial obligation then they need to remove the entry and leave you alone.
Normally any mention of obligation will be right next to where you sign something. Whenever I get a thick letter full of splashy color photos, gushing about the benefits I'll get for FREE, I don't bother to read all that stuff. I skip to the part where they want a signature and there in tiny print legalese I'll find the real story. But, I don't know what the laws might be in the UK
It was probably engineered to look like it was just a yellow pages listing. Then once they have your info, they hassle you for money. I don't believe you are morally obligated to pay, since you were not aware of what you were getting into by faxing the thing. However, legally... it probably depends on what exactly is stated on the sheet you faxed.
It sounds to me like a con... but they could still be legally "safe". I would think, however, that they probably don't actually have the money to go "after" you... They'll probably call a few times, all hot and flustered, in an attempt to collect money from you... but in reality, I would think, if you stand your ground, they will realize that they're wasting their time and its not really worth the $300 to push you for it any longer.
But, like the others, I have no legal knowledge, though I have on occasion ran into a few too many scumbags and see their dumb attempts a mile away. I learned, of course, the hard way.
Since you faxed it, do you still have the original to review? I hope so. If there is no mention of financial obligation then they need to remove the entry and leave you alone.
This is the bottom line. Read what you signed. Capitalist scumbags will try to scam you, and intimidate you, and put pressure on you, but you don't have to go along UNLESS you signed an agreement to do so. What's that old saying? There's a sucker born every day. Plenty of dirtbags make their money this way, just through intimidation. Read the fine print.
There have been many scams like this one. I don't think you would have to pay anything if they didn't mention money in the first place. They also say the listing is now in the yellow pages but they could be just making up a fake tale.
sderenzi, DO NOT PAY this. It's a con. The same thing happened at our work place, (not to me, personally) and when the card was sent, they tried to bill us. My boss notified the Australian Federal Police, and the perpetrators were caught. A lot of businesses pay these sorts of scams thinking it is just one of many bills, but unless it clearly stated on the card that you were buying a service, you are not liable to pay for it.
Alison
I was here at my job, got some mail addressed to us. It was mostly like a postcard but not quite, it had our stores information and seemed to be asking me to confirm it. I filled the thing out with our address and numbers, etc. To me it looked like it was for the Yellow Pages and was asking us to confirm our data for an upcoming issue. Anyways I faxed it to the place the number said to, and I figured that was it.
Now I find out even though it didn't mention price or anything they want like 300 bucks and I think they've already posted the entry in their directory. I can't really say I know what to make of it, the thing looked pretty damn free to me and didn't say anything about price. I was just now called up by the guys, they wanted to speak to the owner, I was like umm there is no owner. They are gonna call back tommorrow to speak with my co-worker who said he'll tell them something.
I feel like I should probably pay the 300 dollars since I filled the card out, but then why'd they post it before they actually got paid? It doesn't make any sense to me. Anyhow I had thought it was like an automated thing, that it was just asking me to confirm our info. I figured FedEx had arranged it....
Should I pay it if they bother us/me or say no? I swear it looked like a mailing where all they wanted was confirmation, nothing about ordering nothin.
This is called 'distance selling'
IF EVER you are sold anything other than in a shop ( auctions apart ) it is called 'distance selling, even if it was a caller to your house.
It also applies to money lent to you by any organisation.
BY LAW everyone sold anything by distance selling has 30 days to 'cool off', if you are in the UK make a complaint to trading standards, they are very hot about this sort of thing.
I forgot to say that whether payment / fees are mentioned DOES NOT MATTER.
Sorry but I made a mistake, the cooling off period is 7 days .
Extract from Office of Fair Trading & DTI.
Distance Selling Regulations
If you sell goods or services to consumers by:
* the internet
* digital television
* mail order, including catalogue shopping
* phone
* fax
then you need to know about the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.
The key features of the regulations are:
* you must give consumers clear information including details of the goods or services offered, delivery arrangements and payment, the supplier's details and the consumer's cancellation right before they buy (known as prior information)
* you must also provide this information in writing
* the consumer has a cooling-off period of seven working days.
******************************************************************************** *******
another with more info.
Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000
The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 were brought in on the 31st October 2000 to implement the EC Distance Selling Directive in the UK.
The Regulations cover sales made at a distance between businesses and consumers, such as the following:
# Mail order, catalogue shopping
# Internet sales
# Digital TV sales
# Phone
# Fax
Right to Cancel - "Cooling Off Period"
The main part of the Regulations is the right for the customer to change their mind and cancel an order, (and any credit agreement taken out as part of the order) within 7 working days of making the order. This is known as a "Cooling Off Period". If you wish to cancel within the 7 working days you must inform the business in writing.
Goods
The 7 working days runs from when you receive the goods.
Services
The 7 working days runs from the day after you agreed to proceed with the contract.
Right to Cancel - Related Matters
The following matter relate to any cancellation:
If the business does not provide the customer with information relating to their right to cancel, the cancellation period of 7 working days does not apply, a longer period will apply.
The customer must take care of the goods and return them to the business, (you may have to pay for the costs of returning the goods) or make them available for collection.
If the customer has paid in advance the business must refund their money within 30 days.
If the customer has paid for the goods using a related credit agreement suggested and arranged by the business, (includes hire purchase "HP") this credit agreement will automatically be cancelled.
Business Information
The business selling the goods must provide the following information to the customer prior to the customer making a purchase:
# The full name of the business.
# The full postal address of the business if payment is required before receiving the goods.
# The total price of the goods including VAT (Value Added Tax).
# Where applicable the cost of delivery.
# Details of how payment should be made.
# Arrangements for delivery, which must be within 30 days of the order unless the order specifies otherwise.
# The customer's right to cancel the order and whether the customer is responsible for the cost of returning the goods.
# How long an offer or price remains valid.
If the contract is for a service provided over a period the minimum length of the contract must be specified. For example, a mobile phone contract with a minimum contract period of 12 months.
Excluded Services
The Regulations do not apply to the following services:
# Auctions
# Contracts for the sale of land
# Financial services
# Pay phones
# Vending machines
Excluded Goods & Services
Even if the business is not one of the above the right to cancel under the Regulations does not apply to the following goods or services:
Any service provided within the 7 day cooling-off period, once the actual service has commenced. However, before you make the contract you must be informed in writing that you do not have the right to cancel. If you are not informed in writing prior to the contract you will be entitled to use the cooling-off period.
# Any goods made to your personal specifications or personalised for you, for example engraved iPods.
# Good that cannot be returned due to their perishable nature, such as food and flowers.
# Audio or video recordings or software which has had its seal broken and has been opened.
# Magazines, Newspapers or Periodicals.
# Betting, gaming or lottery services.
There are scams going around with businesses sending office supplies to people and then charging them for it when they never order them. They get information about what that company uses for surveys etc.
I was told never to sign or accept any packages unless they had my name on them or had been told that they were expected and to sign for them. It is just a bad business practice to send unsolicited products and then bill people for them. Do these people expect repeat business from your company? They are scams.
So, have you told them that you're going to contact your state's attorney general over this matter? They'll shut up rather rapidly...
If it shows up in the mail, and you didn't order it, it's free.
Also, never, ever, answer your phone with "Yes?" - some telemarketing firms will record that, and say that you agreed to buy their service.
If it shows up in the mail, and you didn't order it, it's free.
If that happens & they want it back, you can tell them to send a prepaid label & for them to arrange pick up.