Limestone Associates - automatic renewal of advertising

Hello, Can people please give me some advice. My husband started a small photography business a year ago. We were approched a to advertise in a local brochure. The salesman said it was a two year deal payable in instalment by DD.

We duly paid, but have now found that in the small print it says that the contract renews automatically at year one for another 2 years (so basically we have another 3 years of advertising). The tick box for this service was not filled in by us, and neither was this explained at the time of sign up.

We do not want to sign up for another 2 years, and had made it clear last year over the phone and by email that we would not wish to advertise in this brouchure again.

Limestone Associates have now said that as the cancellation of contract was not by recorded delivery they refuse the cancellation and we are now tied into the contract. In the very small print it says that all cancellation must be by recorded delivery.

I think we are stuck with the deal, but is it 'legal' to only accept notice if sent by recorded delivery? surely as long as the communication is effective (we discussed the matter over the phone and have had response emails) the cancellation notice is duly served.

What do you think?

Comments

  • paddyrg
    paddyrg Posts: 13,543 Forumite
    If they received the cancellation and this is not in question, then it sounds like they're really taking the Mickey Bliss. Is it a reasonable term to try to enforce? I don't think so (although not a lawyer), so would be inclined to invite them to sue you for the money and see what a judge says about them relying on the recorded delivery clause.

    FWIW most of these pamphlet publisher companies seem to be a bunch of sharks who rarely deliver on their promises and who are natural bullies and break the laws on payments regularly - they're unlikely to want to reveal their methods in open court.
  • pinetree
    pinetree Posts: 239 Forumite
    Hi yes there are a lot of these people around selling advertising space in brochures, a recent one was an advert in a public services brochure, could you not cancel the dd, they may not want to take it further ;) hope you get it sorted.
  • PlutoinCapricorn
    PlutoinCapricorn Posts: 4,598
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
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    edited 11 July 2012 at 6:29PM
    The general advice on MSE is to NEVER buy anything from a cold caller.

    There have been many cases such as yours reported on here, and the advice is not to give them any (more) money and ignore their threats.

    Googling "Limestone Associates"+"scam" produces information such as this:

    http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=259367
    Who having known the diamond will concern himself with glass?

    Rudyard Kipling


  • They sound like a right bunch of crooks.
    We should have guessed as the the threats are coming from their litigation manager. Most normal companies dont need such a job role.

    Thanks for your thoughts and advice.
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