Duped into claiming!

noodles82_2

I was contacted some time last year by a company called Consumer Advice UK from the Swansea area. They promised to get my bank charges back from the past 6 years, i knew this was possible as i had followed some onstructions from this website and successfully claimed back about £900 from HSBC...

However, there was a start up charge and not having much money anyway i was reluctant to pay, so they offered me 2 months to pay it off, and im a little ashamed at the amount and should have known better. £199.. shockin i know, but they said it was to pay the solicitors fees before they would do anything.

So the details came in the post that very week, they seemed legit, Ltd company and all the gubbins to go with it. I filled in the relevant paper work and sent it with no copies of bank statements as they could get them from the banks.

A few weeks later i had a called from a guy saying they were having problems getting my statements from the banks, so i collected all of my statements together and sent them off.. since then i havent heard anything.

Now here's the problem, i tried contacting them today and the number doesn't even ring, its been shut off/disconnected or whatever! So here i am looking on the internet for this company and i start to worry, they are on Companies House website but don't have a website of their own.

I see from a forum post elsewhere that they have closed, ALARM BELLS... What can i do? They have taken my money and my details, can i get this money back? Slightly worried...

Please advise...

natweststaffmember

How did you pay? Visa Debit or Credit card?

noodles82_2

Visa Debit card over phone, was back in Sept 09.

noodles82_2

I have found a website with their details on;

http:// davenportventures.com/consumeradviceuk.com/contactus.html

try the telephone number, its dead...

Common_Sense_2

Consumer Advice UK was a trading name of 7 marketing based in swansea. Their MOJ registration was suspended on 12/03/10. It apears that they have gone out of buisness.

Its a shame that people fall for these types of scams - at the end of teh day - you knew that you would be charged if you didn't control your money better.

DarkConvict

You won't be covered on a debit card to reclaim the money, although you could notify the bank i doubt they will help you.

Basically the company went bust before your service was completed.
Getting back bank charges is difficult due to the high court case that the OFT lost, also all reclaiming was put on hold due to the number of reclaims been asked for. The company probably closed up once the high court case decision was made.

Worth reading - http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/know-your-rights/companyinadm/

If, however, you have purchased the goods using a Visa debit card or a Mastercard debit card, it is worth contacting your bank to see if you are able to be reimbursed under a Charge Back Scheme. You will need to contact your bank within 120 days of realising that there is a problem.

Premier_2

No apparent mention on companies house database of 7 marketing limited having 'gone bust' e.g. in administration or liquidation. (but they may have ceased trading ... hopefully they have if they've lost the MOJ permission to carry on)

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/info

You could always try contacting the company via their registered office and request a refund of monies paid for services they are no longer authorised to provide.