Community Publishing Is it a scam, can I get out of it?- Help Needed.

vixxyt

Hello everyone.
I was contacted 2 weeks ago today by Community Publishing who offered me advertising space in their crime and security journal, which was strongly hinted was related to the police. I stupidly agreed to advertise as I honestly thought it was a genuine publication being that it was related to the police.
I've since asked them 3 times to cancel my order and today was the invoice deadline, so I have received a phone call and emails asking me to pay up.
I don't believe this magazine exists and I certainly don't want to part with £200+ of my hard earned money.

I have contacted trading standards who have told me as a business I don't have the same rights as a consumer when it comes to backing out of contracts. However they did say I could withhold money if I felt the other party would not complete their side of the contract. And worst comes to worst the company would take me to court to prove that they were going to do as promised.
I have also phoned the police to find out what they know and been given a crime number! So they obviously aren't related to this mag.

At the time of the phonecall I did agree to wave my right to cancel as I was sure they were what they said they were. Can I back out? Is a 20 second calling telling me I was waiving my rights and did I still wish to go ahead legally binding?
They've since sent me the recording of that call, and it was just beeping, no talking. So I don't even know if they do have evidence of me agreeing.

I would really appreciate some help on this.
Thanks.

PlutoinCapricorn

Don't give them any money. Many other posters come on MSE after they have paid because there is no sign of the advertisement.

This is a very common scam: just Google "police diary"+"scam".

paddyrg

Run a mile - once they know you're an easy mark you'll get 'NHS posters' and a zillion spurious local press ads too.

Just beeping, no talking doesn't sound like that call to me. You can tell them to sue you for it, and see if they bother showing their shady practices in court - they may not want to risk a judgement against them.

phill99

I regularly get calls for 'police' diaries, 'fire service calanders', 'school directories' etc etc. They are all a con, don't pay your money and let them take you to court if they wish.

They are al a con.

oldtoolie

You may be in for a long period of harassment. Don't talk, don't argue, just put the phone down. Ignore them and eventually they will go away.

podperson

Am assuming they don't have any payment details for you so there's not really anything they can do. I got these guys years ago when I'd just set up, they caught me on the mobile when I was out and about and I said that provisionally I would be interested. Got back to the office, researched it a bit and thought it looked like a scam so didn't bother. They did get quite persistant with calls and emails but I just ended up saying 'I am no longer interested' and hanging up on them every time they called. Did the trick eventually.
They are not going to take you to court as then they would have to show what 'service' they were going to offer you for your money. Also asking you to 'waive your rights' over the phone is neither legal or binding.

Premier_2

podperson wrote: »

...Also asking you to 'waive your rights' over the phone is neither legal or binding.

Can I enquire as to what rights were allegedly waived?
This appears to be a B2B transaction

petsitter_2

I am going through the same thing at the moment. Have contacted Trading Standards Office and sent them a Goods & Services letter as the ad copy they sent me was awful and was never amended despite me sending them copy, (this was before I realized it was a scam).

They have been quite aggressively demanding money and it has been intimidating but everyone who has encountered this shower says the same thing which is don't pay and eventually they will go away.

Not at all pleasant a the moment I don't understand why these characters are getting away with it.

podperson

Premier wrote: »

Can I enquire as to what rights were allegedly waived?
This appears to be a B2B transaction

The SOGSA does cover B2B transactions, so does the Unfair Contract Terms Act.

Slinky

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=254033&highlight=crime

happybeeODG

I have just been contacted by Community Publishing regarding advertising for my new business. It was incredible how convincing the salesman was on the phone - I was duped by the supposed links to the police. It seemed legitimate. I had said I was interested. I then received three emails with limited information and a draft advert and their bank details and payment details. There was nothing about the actual publication which made me very suspicious and a disclaimer saying other companies pretending to be us may contact you. It just set alarm bells ringing. I responded to all three emails with a 'I am no longer interested' but they were persistent. Calls and emails saying I have a contract with them and production had already started.

I am definitely not paying.