Hi Guys,

I run my own business and as a result am open to marketing phone calls.

I had a phone call last week saying that they were ready to send out the books for schools that I had sponsored. The books are information and advice about drugs etc. for primary schools. I don't have kids so don't know what age range that is.

?????

I told the girl I think you have the wrong number as I have no recollection of giving money away to anyone.

Anyway, apparently they rang me in January this year and I said yes. The invoice arrived the other day totalling £195,- which I haven't paid yet. Still no memory of any phone call in Jan.

Already, I'm getting phone messages (missed calls) saying the invoice is overdue.

Anyone heard of this company? Am I too suspicious? Maybe I should just pay up and chastise myself for being an idiot.

Personally, I don't think a book will stop kids from taking drugs - a good hiding probably would.

Child Safety Initiative is a Trading Name of New Age Marketing Ltd, Suite 105, International House, 82 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2ER.

jimbo

SCAM

This is a scam I'll find a link in a minute to some advice I was given about it 2secs

 Dont pay the invoice. Ask them to send you a copy of your purchase order (which they wont have) and tell them that without proof of order, no invoices will be cleared for payment.

Or, just tell them to F*** Off!

We were warned about it see link below.

http://info.cofe-worcester.org.uk/page.php?page=584

And found this on interweb

http://www.workplacelaw.net/forums/listComments/thread/Beware%2Bof%2BFake%2BInvoice%2BScam%252C%2Bwarns%2BASA/thread_id/753

or you could try the advice above lol

Flipping heck!!!!!!!

I almost nearly didn't write my post. I'd forgotten details like taking my name off the listing for future calls and 30 books!!!

Thanks guys, I'm going to ring my local police station tomorrow and let them know. I'll keep my phone in my pocket when on a job as they ring every day.

Shall I tell them I'm not paying when they call? Tell them I've contacted the Police?

I'm forever in your debt guys. Seriously.

jimbo

If I was you I would tell them that youv'e gone to the police and Trading Standards and then ask for her name and address....see if they ring you back after that!!!

Id just tell them that this is something i have not issued an order number for, therefore im not paying.  And ask them if they would like you to destroy the invoice or should i take it to my local police station for them to look at?

Id ask the police for a fax number so you can fax them a copy of the invoice.

Just glad you havent already paid it.

C7KWC:

Id just tell them that this is something i have not issued an order number for, therefore im not paying.  And ask them if they would like you to destroy the invoice or should i take it to my local police station for them to look at?

Id ask the police for a fax number so you can fax them a copy of the invoice.

Just glad you havent already paid it.

I nearly did today!!!!

I've just emailed Hampshire Constabulary and I'll ring Darwen CID tomorrow. They are listed in the 2nd link above.

I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

jimbo

Anonymous:

I've just emailed Hampshire Constabulary and I'll ring Darwen CID tomorrow. They are listed in the 2nd link above.

I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

jimbo

I'm anonymous !?

Where's me avatar and sig gone....

jimbo

j8mbo:

Anonymous:

I've just emailed Hampshire Constabulary and I'll ring Darwen CID tomorrow. They are listed in the 2nd link above.

I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

jimbo

I'm anonymous !?

Where's me avatar and sig gone....

jimbo

Jon.

lol

harveysduvet:

j8mbo:

Anonymous:

I've just emailed Hampshire Constabulary and I'll ring Darwen CID tomorrow. They are listed in the 2nd link above.

I'll let you know if I get anywhere.

jimbo

I'm anonymous !?

Where's me avatar and sig gone....

jimbo

I've got it for 'safe-keeping' - it'll cost you £195 to get it back.  Don't worry, I'll send you an invoice......

Jon.

Brilliant.

Hampshire Constabulary just called me at home. Gave me a crime number and everything! How cool is that?

They couldn't find any details of me on their system.

Jimbo's a good lad!

It's a good scam that could have worked as it sort of has the right credentials,in bigger companies with very busy accounts departments they may just get away with it.

Chris.

Imagewerx:

It's a good scam that could have worked as it sort of has the right credentials,in bigger companies with very busy accounts departments they may just get away with it.

Chris.

They might have got away with it, had it not been for us pesky kids.

 I had this very same call jimbo.

Mine was last year with them telling me i had agreed to pay for some books and are now ready to go to the school of my choice.

I also said i know nothing about it so can you provide me with some form of agreement from me and they said it was verbal on the phone several months prior, they also tried to make me feel guilty about refusing to accept that i ordered them and was denying the local kids

I told them to bugger off unless they can provide me with written confirmation, they then said oh we will have to look into it and get back to you, needless to say that was the last i heard from them

   Andy

 Happened to me also, i already knew about the scam so when they rang i just kept telling i didn't agree to anything 6 months ago. she kept going on and started getting angry with me every time i denied it. Her last attempt to try and convince me was that she said she has the phone called recorded from the time i agreed so i said let me hear it. She said she would phone back with it but never did.

 hi, i also have had this exact thing, i now have an invoice for £145 who did u call? the police? trading standards? did they come after u? im a little worried so a reply would b greatly apprciated

luke

i have had this as well feckin scammers i told the guy to eff off he didnt like it much but he didnt phone me back. Also tried it on about 7 months later just hung up on em. When they call you just make sure you dont say yes to anything as they record it and claim they have a verbal agreement.

scirocco_luke:

 hi, i also have had this exact thing, i now have an invoice for £145 who did u call? the police? trading standards? did they come after u? im a little worried so a reply would b greatly apprciated

luke

As you know I've already contacted Hampshire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police who told me not to pay up. I had a call from Victim Support but told them I was ok.

I have tried to contact them on the number they leave but it's always engaged and the website doesn't work - confirmed by the Police.

I have had 2 invoices to date and a threatening letter that they have a verbal agreement. They ring everyday and leave a message.

The Police have told me to contact Trading Standards and Company House, which I am doing tonight.

Don't allow yourself to be frightened by them.

jimbo

 Lol we used to get this kinda fluff (replace with bad work ;-p)  from some "company".  Always indians saying blah about getting a free phone and just need our credit card number.

My dad waasnt home when ianswered and told them that then they wanted mine credit card lol just told em to fook off.

 I'm assuming the actual scam is the money goes into their pockets rather than the child safety initiative fund? Or is it the books don't get printed?

any news on this topic as i'm getting the same hassle at the moment from the said company in question!!

They ring up everyday now - i ignore the calls then delete voicemails they leave me!!

They are now saying they are going to put extra charges on the bill - has the O.P finally got rid of them???

Cheers

Craig

 I get these peroidically,just tell them you won't be paying especially without a signed purchase agreement.

Another scam to look out for is the European City Guide .

They ask you to sign to confirm your details for a"Free" listing but in the small print (and I mean small)

you have signed up for three years and a huge fee per year

Contact your local council

Theres been a lot of that going on around where i live

Hafizur

Contact the police by email if you haven't done so already.

Add the links above in the email so the Police can see the scam. Hampshire CID and Greater Manchester Police rang me and told me not to pay any money.

If you answer the phone to them tell them you've contacted the police and you're not paying until told to by a police officer.

They don't ring me anymore.

 Received a similar call earlier this year and then one about a week ago saying books ready and invoice on the way. It arrived this week for £195 with a promise of 30 copies going to local schools and some to myself.

I have cantacted Trading Standards in Manchester and asked for there comments and given the address and phone number so will await the reply. I will also contact GMP for there advise.

Happened to my parents too, and that one in Manchester persisted. Dad sent them a letter recorded delivery but it never arrived. I think in the end he just told them to do one and they eventually gave in.

I think they may have got hit with the European City Guide one or similar. I think that was a company in Nottingham.

I reckon we need to find a genius way to get back at these people. Phone numbers never get answered. I tried calling the Manchester one but it just rang and rang. As for the letter, nobody ever signed for it I think. Will ask my Dad what happened.

 According to companies house New Age Marketing are likely to be removed as they failed to provide the necessary paper work. Child Safety called this morning to offer to reduce the payment to £125 from £195 if I paid over the phone and this was due to the postal dispute. I told them my suspicions about the company and they promised to send me copies of the publication. I have informed Trading Standards and GM Police, so lets see what happens.

I had a call from these guys today. They were insisting I agreed to sponsor a book for my local school back in march. They payment guy phoned me back starting his schpeil with "We record all of our calls for training reasons" So I asked him to provide the call recording of my agreement back in March. Which he assured me he could and he'd send it out with the invoice. As soon as I asked for him to do it before sending out the invoice he said "Not to worry, thanks for your time" and hung up.

I'm sure they'll phone back though.

 I get call like this all the time - they usually start by saying "I'm phoning on behalf of the Metropolitan Police/London Fire Brigade/Ambulance service etc etc " at which point I say "STOP - Are you a marketing, publishing or advertising company?" When they say "yer, but, no, but..." I tell them they aren't actually from the Metropolitan Police/London Fire Brigade/Ambulance service etc etc and to P155 off! They don't phone back.

Here's what happened to me...

Ring - Ring.

Rusty - "Hello!"

Female voice - "Hello Sir. May I speak with the business owner please?"

"Yes, speaking." says Rusty slowly.

"Hello again. I'm calling from [cleverly muffled company name], remember we spoke about 3 months ago about your website?"

"I remember perfectly not speaking to you!"

"Oh, you were very busy at the time and agreed to take out a contract with us to manage your company website for you."

"Oh I remember not speaking to you, and I absolutely remember not agreeing to anything."

"Well, you asked us to call you back."

"Like buggery did I! I know I didn't speak to you 3 months ago, because I'd have told you then just what I'm telling you now. P*** Off! I know your tricks, and they don't work."

"Do you have a website then?"

"Yes, I have a website."

"And do you have Google Adwords?"

"No, I don't suppose I do."

"Well you're missing out then."

"Yes, I suppose I must be. But fact remains that I never spoke to you, and I never agreed to anything, and I don't want whatever it is you're selling. so Feck Off!"

in the background... [laughing] "This gentleman's just told me to" click.......

And Rusty thinks "That another job well done.".