DSM Media - help! Have I fallen for their scam again?

Hi

Has anyone heared of DSM-media? They get businesses to advertise in local resteraunt menu guides?

They have recently been to see us and taken an order from us for adverts in a local resteraunt menus. We were cold called and the advisor said we were under no obligation, did not have to decide before the rep had left and would have no deposit to part with imediately.

However when the rep did arrive he pushed us to take a deposit and said they would be asking for full payment at publication (2 months, so about now Dec 07). He said he was not coming back to the area and had to fill the last space, yet he had 1 more to see so this was our chance to grab it before they did. All the usual tricks to pressurise us into buying there and then.

My husband and I repeatedly informed the rep that we did not have such funds in the bank and we were told we were not under obligation to decide there and then. Yet this fell on deaf ears.

My husband reluctantly completed a cheque as the rep didnt appear to be in a hurry to leave and was pushing for business offering free meal vouchers and discounts. The only way we could get rid was to hand over the deposit cheque. Where imediately the rep clammed up, signed a copy of the contract agreement and wrapped up the deal leaving sharply.

As we have had a similar scam happen to us about 5 years ago allarm bells were ringing from the off, especially when I discovered they had a lancashire address - I have noted most scams do!

So I told my husband to cancel the cheque with imediate effect, he telephoned the bank and they did this as he spoke. He also called into our local branch to make sure they knew. Which they did.

I sent an email and a paper copy to the company and my husband called the company after he had cancelled the cheque to inform them we had just looked at our business account and due to financial difficulties we had retracted our agreement and cancelled the cheque.

However we received a phonecall from the rep himself half an hour later to say that the contract was legally binding so we would have to pay. Plus he said that the Direct Debit instructions had already been set up with our bank. We didnt give any account details to set up a direct debit, yet our accound does have a direct debit now on it. Which I have cancelled and informed the bank, (who coincidentally are currently chargng me £30 a month for its return unpaid).

We have not had any 'cooling off period' and how someone can bank and cash a cheque within 10 minutes of leaving our appointment when the bank is 30 minutes away, or set up a direct debit with no authority I do not understand.

However I do recall the last time we did this we stumped up the money after many demands and nasty phonecalls. I even reported them to trading standards but companies house said they had no bad report on them. Nor did we get our brochure, advert or meal vouchers needless to add!

I have a suspicion its a simlar scam. After them threatening us for payment and saying they will help us out by giving us 1 year instead of the 2 they require, plus the fact they keep pushing for advert aproval, of which I have returned already.
I am also concerned as the full charge for the 1 year would have been £250 yet they keep trying to take (via direct debit) £230 a month (maybe thats cos they keep applying and it keeps bouncing rather than them actually chargng £230 each month??).

What can we do if we refuse to pay will they go away or will we get a demand from debt collectors?