Hospital / NHS Directory - Could it be a scam???
Hospital / NHS Directory - Could it be a scam???
Author
Discussion

groomi

Original Poster:

9,330 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Hi All,
I've just been called by a company claiming to be producing a hospital directory / yearbook which is essentially a large report about the importance of the internal environment of hospitals & clinics. I have been asked if I would like to advertise in this, which if it is genuine I certainly would as the sales persons spiel descibed really usefull distribution.... including the hospital i am currently working at!

Just really nervous about it being a possible scam. I've been searching the iternet but can't find anything about it (genuine or otherwise) so I don't know what to do. Any advice?

Cheers,

Iain

PetrolTed

34,461 posts

325 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Ask them for more details...?

D-Angle

4,468 posts

264 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Sounds familiar, I think this lot phoned us up as well. Don't bother with them, there are loads of these directory people trying to sell space in them, but no-one uses them. Do you when you need a supplier? I guarantee none of them are worth pursuing, and if you've had one you'll probably more in the near future. They usually pounce after you join the local chamber of commerce.

groomi

Original Poster:

9,330 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
I told them I was in the street and had nowhere to write anything down so asked them to email or fax me more information... after a long conversation they avoided giving any information out and said they would call me an hour later when I would be at my desk.

From that angle it looks dodgy but i can't find anything describin git on any of the normal scam sites.

Nightmare

5,277 posts

306 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
groomi...if its in the healthcare sector I wil be able to find out the truth of this form you if you like....either email me teh deailts or stick em on ehre and I shall let you know whether they're above board or not.....not annoplanner is it?!

groomi

Original Poster:

9,330 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Thanks Nightmare,
After a lot more searching around I believe the official title to be 'publicprivatefinance yearbook 2004'.

Having downloaded their .pdf media pack it does look genuine and if it was a scam at least I'd have some material to go along the trades and discriptions act line.

Would be really interested if you could confirm it as genuine or not though?

Cheers.

Davel

8,982 posts

280 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Did they produce one last year and, if so, ask for a copy to evaluate it.

Could they give you a copy advert, from last time, that you can ring and check out?

groomi

Original Poster:

9,330 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
OK, I got someone else to keep answering my phone saying that I was in a meeting. Eventually they left a number for me to call them back on (Good sign).

So I called them back and said I'm sitting at my desk now so I can make a note of everything, can you tell me the name of the comany and the publication please?

The company is Medical Information Systems Ltd. and the publication is the NHS Yearbook.

I have checked them out with Companies House and they are indeed a genuine company and the publication is also genuine. Infact, the company run the whole NHS online thingy.... so not a scam then.

Apologies to any budding detectives out there eager to expose another scam

Davel

8,982 posts

280 months

Wednesday 28th July 2004
quotequote all
Still get a copy to look at and maybe phone a previous advertiser.

Nightmare

5,277 posts

306 months

Thursday 29th July 2004
quotequote all
NHS Yearbook definitely not a scam....oh well! Could have been fun!

grm500

158 posts

283 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
Probably not a scam in that the company exists, the product appears to exist and you will certainly see a copy of it. The question's are: how many others will?

Do you already advertise, if so why - for image? To generate enquiries?

How much do they want to charge you for what circulation (cost/000)How does this compare to other media?

I have good experience of this type of thing (from the publisher's end) and know how these publications work. email me if you want to discuss further by phone

g

>> Edited by grm500 on Thursday 5th August 15:33

steviebee

14,738 posts

277 months

Thursday 12th August 2004
quotequote all
Other similar publications include Fire Service, Police, CAB, publication and the like.

Generaly, they are not scams or cons.

Publishers offer to produce a book which they say will be sold and money raised will be donated. It will cost northing so the organisations have nothing to loose.

But you will stand a better chance of winning more sales by standing on a corner with a sign saying "buy my product/service" than you would advertising in these publications.

Same goes for holdiay planners/wall charts.