European City Guide - Ive been scammed, PH Opinions?
Discussion
I apparently signed a document binding me to a 1000 euro per year, three year contract, advertising my business in the "European City Guide" - A quick google of "European City Guide" brings up a number of sites, the first being:
http://www.stopecg.org/
I have no memory whatsoever of signing this document to advertise my business. I may have signed it had it offered a free entry, and would have forgotten about it within 5 minutes... But I CERTAINLY would have remembered signing, if the ad cost anything at all, even a fiver, as I am very much aware how entirely ineffectual 95% of advertising is, I turn all new offers of any advertising down unless they are small, or private local charities.
I have been in business 8 years, know how to get it, and where it comes from, and would never part with a penny for advertising which wasnt in line with the mediums I already use, and word of mouth etc. So Im assuming I did sign, presuming it was free due to their misleading document... is my best guess(!!) Im as much in the dark as any readers of this post are.
The site above claims that the documents I dont remember signing are very misleading, to the point that the company in question has been forced to closed down (misleading) but has started up again. Based in Spain, previously Barcelona, they started up again in Valencia.
Ive had three reminders, the third being the final one, and received a 4th (this time a demand) from their legal dept today.
Apparently they have not taken anyone to court before, so the above site says. Im still reading the site above (just got started) but wondered:
1) The company name on the invoice is not that of my trading Vat-Regd/Ltd company. The company name on the invoice is one of several "company names" I have in yell.com (all free one line entries, one per landline permitted).
2) They do not have my own personal name.
3) They have my house, but not flat number.
4) They do not reference (or seem to have) a web address for my business (web design)
Either way, the 4th letter from their legal debt states that Ive "clearly accepted the payment conditions" and that they will be "forced to take legal steps against your company" and that "you will be liable for the significant costs that this will incur"
As I have said, Ive only just started reading that ANTI-European-City-Guide web site link (above) properly, but it seems they probably target offshore companies - I'm going to do some more reading and find out more about them, but in the meantime, despite the fact that the web site above claims that they have never taken anyone to court, if they did (bearing the 4 points above that I made) would they have a case?
Equally (one of the resaons for my post) if I did not pay, could I be nabbed at customs next time I visit Spain for a Jolly? Im only assuming they dont have my real personal name as I didnt see it on the paperwork, and Im also assuming (being con artists) they probably wouldnt want to take anyone to court, they would want to avoid the attention it would bring on them, but again Im just speculating. As I wouldnt want to get nabbed in a country which had court orders against me which I may or may not ever hear about.
And dont be a Muppet (as I most probably was!) and sign anything from the European City Guide.
I couldn't find anything for European City Guide when searching PH - I'll leave this thread to serve anyone else searching for that key phrase in the future.
http://www.stopecg.org/
I have no memory whatsoever of signing this document to advertise my business. I may have signed it had it offered a free entry, and would have forgotten about it within 5 minutes... But I CERTAINLY would have remembered signing, if the ad cost anything at all, even a fiver, as I am very much aware how entirely ineffectual 95% of advertising is, I turn all new offers of any advertising down unless they are small, or private local charities.
I have been in business 8 years, know how to get it, and where it comes from, and would never part with a penny for advertising which wasnt in line with the mediums I already use, and word of mouth etc. So Im assuming I did sign, presuming it was free due to their misleading document... is my best guess(!!) Im as much in the dark as any readers of this post are.
The site above claims that the documents I dont remember signing are very misleading, to the point that the company in question has been forced to closed down (misleading) but has started up again. Based in Spain, previously Barcelona, they started up again in Valencia.
Ive had three reminders, the third being the final one, and received a 4th (this time a demand) from their legal dept today.
Apparently they have not taken anyone to court before, so the above site says. Im still reading the site above (just got started) but wondered:
1) The company name on the invoice is not that of my trading Vat-Regd/Ltd company. The company name on the invoice is one of several "company names" I have in yell.com (all free one line entries, one per landline permitted).
2) They do not have my own personal name.
3) They have my house, but not flat number.
4) They do not reference (or seem to have) a web address for my business (web design)
Either way, the 4th letter from their legal debt states that Ive "clearly accepted the payment conditions" and that they will be "forced to take legal steps against your company" and that "you will be liable for the significant costs that this will incur"
As I have said, Ive only just started reading that ANTI-European-City-Guide web site link (above) properly, but it seems they probably target offshore companies - I'm going to do some more reading and find out more about them, but in the meantime, despite the fact that the web site above claims that they have never taken anyone to court, if they did (bearing the 4 points above that I made) would they have a case?
Equally (one of the resaons for my post) if I did not pay, could I be nabbed at customs next time I visit Spain for a Jolly? Im only assuming they dont have my real personal name as I didnt see it on the paperwork, and Im also assuming (being con artists) they probably wouldnt want to take anyone to court, they would want to avoid the attention it would bring on them, but again Im just speculating. As I wouldnt want to get nabbed in a country which had court orders against me which I may or may not ever hear about.
And dont be a Muppet (as I most probably was!) and sign anything from the European City Guide.
I couldn't find anything for European City Guide when searching PH - I'll leave this thread to serve anyone else searching for that key phrase in the future.
I've been receiving bogus invoices for telephone directories etc from numerous overseas companies for years, I just 'file' them with the other junk mail.
I think they rely on the odd company that may just pay up without question.
I seriously doubt they would (or could) do anything legally, just ignore all correspondance and if anyone calls tell'em to go ferk themselves.....
I think they rely on the odd company that may just pay up without question.
I seriously doubt they would (or could) do anything legally, just ignore all correspondance and if anyone calls tell'em to go ferk themselves.....
Edited by catso on Thursday 31st July 21:55
Either bin it or ask them to send you a copy of the signed contract.
It does sound like scaremongering to me but in the slim event that you do go to Court, you can say that you asked them for a copy and they had no evidence. If any half-baked debt collection agency starts threatening me over small disputed sums I just tie them up in knots with letters telling them that they have been misinformed by their client and as such are wasting their valuable time. They realise they're not going to get an easy kill and go away and bother the next one on the list.
NB Anyway Buster, this could be your next transient money-spinner after stock photos. Publish an imaginary directory
It does sound like scaremongering to me but in the slim event that you do go to Court, you can say that you asked them for a copy and they had no evidence. If any half-baked debt collection agency starts threatening me over small disputed sums I just tie them up in knots with letters telling them that they have been misinformed by their client and as such are wasting their valuable time. They realise they're not going to get an easy kill and go away and bother the next one on the list.
NB Anyway Buster, this could be your next transient money-spinner after stock photos. Publish an imaginary directory
Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 31st July 21:57
This scam has been going on for a few years.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
Simpo Two said:
NB Anyway Buster, this could be your next transient money-spinner after stock photos. Publish an imaginary directory
Sadly, the directory and business as a legal entity is very real. They are geographically rooted and stand firm, as a 'proper' company, and this appears to be what Id term a 'proper' con-job, not so much a scam.Righto, Ive done some more reading, it does seem that this is a well thought out scam run by a 'proper' company (as opposed to a fly by night) who take their multi-hundred-thousand euro fines on the chin, close down and start up again as legitimately as they can manage, adjusting and amending documentation and business protocol (various bits n bobs) whilst scaremongering those who feel frightened and alone into paying for misleading documents they probably did sign.
It seems the pressure will mount, possibly over a number of years, the interest and bills getting bigger and bigger, and even bigger still with yearly 1000 euro installments. Followed by more notices, more interest and threats, quick settlement payment options... and unless contracts are canceled in writing, the third year rolls on to the fourth, I get the impression that it wont end.
They even go as far as to list local courts in your area, telling you where you will be fighting your case, and more. I used the term 'proper' business lightly, merely to illustrate this scam is well thought out, has grown ground zero roots and possibly offices which you could walk into, and is walking a very fine line trying to play "scammer" and also "supplier" in the real world, VS being of the Nigerian 419 type scam type... fly-by-night variety.
The only thing that they have done wrong, and I hate not being able to remember, is enticing me into signing something (which I may have done) which appeared to be free, but was not. This is how they operate.
Rather than respond, Im contemplating just ignoring every correspondence I receive, even as the bills do rise into the thousands. Watch and see what happens.
The European City guide...
condor said:
This scam has been going on for a few years.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
I'll repeat.You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
condor said:
condor said:
This scam has been going on for a few years.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
I'll repeat.You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
Shame on me yes.
Its the 'best' scam Ive ever been exposed to
Buster Bakdorzin said:
condor said:
condor said:
This scam has been going on for a few years.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
I'll repeat.You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
Shame on me yes.
Its the 'best' scam Ive ever been exposed to
condor said:
This scam has been going on for a few years.
You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
"a few years..."...I'll say! I'm old enought to remember the identical format scam being run for international Telex and cable address directories forty years ago.You're sent a computer-generated letter asking you to confirm your details as being correct as they're to appear in the European city guide directory.
It's only in the small print that it says that you returning the confirmation of details means you accept paying £1000 odd for the privilege of being an entry in their directory.
Only the texchnology has changed.
Have you been to their web site?
http://www.eurocityguide.com
I'd guess you dont have much to worry about
http://www.eurocityguide.com
I'd guess you dont have much to worry about
h0b0 said:
Have you been to their web site?
http://www.eurocityguide.com
I'd guess you dont have much to worry about
www.european...com too.http://www.eurocityguide.com
I'd guess you dont have much to worry about
Hey, did anyone see the muppets the other night?
I get one of these a month , phone calls .
I now just tell them straight away to fukk right off , seriously, exact words , I used to spend ages trying to convince them it was not us.
One guy started telling me they recorded calls etc etc and would have the confirmation order there , thats when I realised there was just one way of getting shot of them .
I now just tell them straight away to fukk right off , seriously, exact words , I used to spend ages trying to convince them it was not us.
One guy started telling me they recorded calls etc etc and would have the confirmation order there , thats when I realised there was just one way of getting shot of them .
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff