MGI Recreational Services SCAM

flipperni

My Daughters boyfriend had a call from these scammers. They phoned him and asked him to buy a magazine about cancer for a pound. He gave them his bank details but no magazine arrived.

He checked his bank statement this month and they have taken £79.99 from his account. They refuse to refund as they said he should have phoned them to cancel an agreement he wasn't aware he had entered into. Trying to get a refund at the minute from his bank but it is not looking good. He has canceled his bank card so they cannot take any more money. They use another scam where they promise petrol vouchers.

This is the phone number they used 08445671020.

Has anyone else ran into these guys.

Coopdivi

This is an out-and-out scam which has been covered elsewhere on MSE, in this case with non-existent petrol vouchers:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4142603

Elsewhere on the internet other people have been scammed in the same way as your daughter's boyfriend.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-2420699/TONY-HETHERINGTON-Why-I-hate-new-magazine-called-Me-Like.html
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/02920364220

The website for Sapphire magazine was registered by MeFinance Ltd. who have since changed their name to Promotional Media Services Ltd.

http://whois.domaintools.com/meclub.co.uk
https://www.duedil.com/company/06596260/promotional-media-services-ltd

flipperni

Thanks Coopdivi makes interesting reading. Shocking that some banks wont stop payments to these people even when they have been told its a scam.

Scrooge1977

In March 2014 I was one of the few that almost fell for the £1 magazine scam following the promise of petrol vouchers. I was lucky in that when I cancelled straight away, I wasn't charged the £79 and several months later I actually received 2 cheques for £10 each! I almost fell off my chair.

This month (July 2014) I received a call from a company calling themselves Motorpal.

The pleasant-sounding girl explained a car maintenance plan with a £7.99 monthly fee which gave discounts on all car-related work - service, MOT, tyres, repairs.

I asked her specifically before she continued that if she wanted payment upfront, I wasn't interested. She said there was no payment, she would just send me some info in the post. I agreed because I was vaguely interested.

When a letter and leaflet arrived a day later, I saw that it stated a billing date at the top and seemed to suggest that I had joined the scheme.

The literature was poor quality and their operations seemed very vague. The website was also very basic looking. It didn't even have any pictures of cars on it(!). I imagine it would give most people zero confidence in using them as they don't mention anyone or any thing from the motoring industry that you would recognise. There was also some nonsense about them negotiating prices with garages on servicing. What garage does that?

On the back, the faded fine print mentioned payment would be taken from my Sapphire or Me Club account payment details (which I cancelled in March!).

I got on the phone to them and spoke to a 'Gareth Furse' (probably an alias judging by what I've found on the net since about this company) and cancelled, again!

I called my credit card company immediately and explained the situation. They put a block on any payment attempts by MGI as I had not agreed to anything with them and they stated initially that I would not pay anything, but advised that there was the possibility of them using a different company to take the payment. I will have to monitor this and then raise a dispute if it happens.

I wish someone would take a trip to their head office.....

tykesi

There was also some nonsense about them negotiating prices with garages on servicing. What garage does that?

Most of them!

BeasleyCF

There is more on facebook from an actual Sapphire Magazine, an on-line site for lesbians!

We got as far as getting the vouchers, but after reading what happens if you send them off, we won't be having any more to do with this company, we also spoke to a Gareth Furze.

We have asked our bank to stop further payments and asked Sapphire to cancel for what it's worth.

Mr Wayne Phillips is Co Dir of Promotional Media Services Ltd (was ME International), Ps Group (South Wales) Ltd, Partnership Marketing Solutions Ltd, Precision Affinity Specialists Ltd.

I would encourage all who get any of these calls, do not give your bank details, but report to Action Fraud (part of City of London).

Coopdivi

Sapphire Magazine, who have absolutely no connection with this scam whatsoever, have put a warning on their website.

http://www.sapphire-magazine.com/connections/about-sapphire-magazine

Heathrowsteve

I was also stung by Motorpal but eventually got the money back. My bank were willing to replace the payment as they treated it as fraud and would cover the £79.99 on return of a disclaimer which I did. At the same time I wrote to Motorpal/Sapphire with copies of the e-mails and letters I had previously sent them together with a letter prepared by a paralegal friend of mine with the threat of legal action. MGI returned the money to my account within a week. Similar information was sent to Barclays bank and when I spoke to them to say that I had been refunded they said they had numerous claims from other customers and were investigating MGI and their antics. Hopefully they won't be trading for very long or may even be being wound down at this very moment. I hope most of you have managed to claim your money back. The later it's left of course, the harder it will be to do so. I'm posting heaps of warnings all over the place about MGI but no doubt similar scams will rise from the ashes of Sapphire/Motorpal at some point.

david1943

Had a phone call from these idiots on night of 23/2/15 and paid £1.00 postage for pack. pack received 27/2/15 and returned with a cancellation on 1/3/15 , on 10/3/15 they took £59.99, the site shows £49.99 and when I called them was told outside 14 day period but was 16 days from 23/2/15

How do I get my money back without resorting to small claims court?

wealdroam

david1943 wrote: »

Had a phone call from these idiots on night of 23/2/15 and paid £1.00 postage for pack. pack received 27/2/15 and returned with a cancellation on 1/3/15 , on 10/3/15 they took £59.99, the site shows £49.99 and when I called them was told outside 14 day period but was 16 days from 23/2/15

How do I get my money back without resorting to small claims court?

Speak to your card issuer about a chargeback.

Have a read of MSE's Chargeback article first.

Keep all emails, especially the one showing that you cancelled within the 14 days.

reeso16b

This SCAM is still going I have had three phone calls off them since Wed 13TH they are using a different phone number now it is a Cardiff no 02920364211 called Me Finance/Sapphire magazine STAY WELL AWAY FROM THEM.