Help yellow pages advert wrong

nell35

To cut a long story short yellow pages have printed my 15mm advert with the wrong website address. The name and number are correct.

I telephoned them to make them aware and at first they wouldn't budge, but eventually admitted their mistake after putting me on hold numerous times.

This advert cost over £100 and the only thing that is write is my name and telephone number which I could of had in a free entry - (albeit smaller type.) They have offered a 20% reduction which I have refused on the grounds that the reason I opted for the bigger advert was so that I could get my wesite onto it.

My argument is that most people will check out a website if there is one before phoning for details and this one is completely wrong.

Does anyone have an idea what I should accept as a resonalble offer?

Thanks

Mark_Hewitt

Personally I would push for a full refund. After all you are paying for your advert to be how you asked it to be. Getting any part of that wrong IMO is breach of contract and you're entitled to all your money back.

Out of interest, how did they get your website name wrong, is it possible to set up a redirect so people visiting the wrong address will get directed to the correct one?

Valli

A free entry in the next edition?

TBH if people are using Yellow Pages to search for a company it's to look for a phone number...

Did they not send you a copy of your ad to check if it was right before they published?

aliasojo

nell35 wrote: »

My argument is that most people will check out a website if there is one before phoning for details and this one is completely wrong.

I completely agree.

Given that the inormation that is correct could have been listed for free, I dont see how anything other than a full refund could be acceptable.

Personally I'd be fighting this one.

nell35

Thanks for your quick replies.

Quickly started this thread as I was so angry at the way I was spoken down to, and afterwards thought I was just being picky for wanting a full refund.

I've since spoken to Trading standards who laughed when I explained when the Customer service agent said I should be happy that my name and number are correct!!!!!!

No I didn't get any proof and the CS agreed that they had no paperwork for it either so they had to agree that it was their mistake that the website was totally different to last years(he looked up last years one!!)

He kept saying that I was paying for the space - when I replied that so if I bought the space and you printed utter c**p then I would still have to pay for it!! He replied we never make mistakes!!

Ivory_Tinkler

So if you are paying for space does that mean that you could technically pay for any empty box containing "space?" Go for a full refund, as you say, you could have had a free entry with just your name and phone number. Mention to them that you have contacted Trading Standards and see if they will budge but they really should be giving you a full refund. If they offer you space next year instead, tell them you want a full refund so you can use the money on some other form of advertising.

Tozer

Yep, agree with the consensus. Go for a full refund.

Just a thought, but could you put the money saved towards another website (as printed in Yellow Pages) which then redirects to your own?

nell35

Tozer wrote: »

Just a thought, but could you put the money saved towards another website (as printed in Yellow Pages) which then redirects to your own?

Great Idea - didn't actually think of that (don't mean that to be sarcastic - really didn't think of it )

Could use this in my arguement for the refund!!!!

bishopsgirl

Something similar happened to my husband a year or so ago and he got a full refund and the following year free. So keep on at them.

nell35

Didn't really get anywhere with this one and I've opened up a new business since last time I wrote, but hey presto good news................... New rep come into the shop today wnating me to advertise with Yellow Pages. At first I just laughed at him and his manager then I explained (albeit bluntly!:o) why under no circumstances was I never advertsing with them again.

Hes just phoned me to say that I can have the full advert costs credited to my account and a discount on any order placed!! I explained that at the moment I wasnt commiting to placing another advert, so he offered to put a cheque in the post!!:j

I know its been a while since this all happened but just wanted to let you guys know.

Valli

thanks for the update OP!