UK Corporate Portal Scam

AndyD_OHD

I've had this sort of thing come through to myself almost on an annual basis for hosting, doman renewal, etc. but am well aware of these sort of scams. And of course never reply to them. Thanks everyone for the advise, I'll pass on those valuable nuggets to my friend. But it is easy to see how someone unfamiliar with this sort of thing can be easily guided into taking action, even though it was the wrong action to take.

Jon_Goodwin

This scam has turned up again. It looks like an document requesting yur VAT number for an internet address. On further inspection, in the small print is an amount of £797 which you have to agree to. It is actually written 797GBP. I presume that this wont be dealt with as it is German based.
Just be Aware

Lady_Jane_C

Hi, I know this forum is over 2 years old but I have googled UK Corporate Portal 2013 and I too am a victim of this so called scam. I realised my mistake after faxing the sheet to a London fax number. It is my own stupid fault, but I like many others, thought the letter had come from the HMRC VAT (same type face, envelope and had our company's details) and was obligatory. It was only on closer inspection that I realised it was not and that it was a letter charging me for up to 4 years in the so called UK Corporate Portal. I sent another fax 2 days later cancelling my so called "ad", I thought no more about it but this month have received a bill from them for £2391.00 from a debt collector in Prague (which does have a website) and if I do not pay, they will take me to a European High Court. I do not know what to do? I have spoken to Action Fraud who cannot help and the debt collector (Iain Roberts, Legal Advisor, Credit Collection Factoring, Prague) says I should have written and posted my cancellation. I cannot prove my fax was sent on 15th May as my fax machine does not provide confirmation. Any ideas please. Apparently if I do not pay by Friday, 19th May, they will hand it over to the European High Court. Thanks.

unholyangel

Lady_Jane_C wrote: »

Hi, I know this forum is over 2 years old but I have googled UK Corporate Portal 2013 and I too am a victim of this so called scam. I realised my mistake after faxing the sheet to a London fax number. It is my own stupid fault, but I like many others, thought the letter had come from the HMRC VAT (same type face, envelope and had our company's details) and was obligatory. It was only on closer inspection that I realised it was not and that it was a letter charging me for up to 4 years in the so called UK Corporate Portal. I sent another fax 2 days later cancelling my so called "ad", I thought no more about it but this month have received a bill from them for £2391.00 from a debt collector in Prague (which does have a website) and if I do not pay, they will take me to a European High Court. I do not know what to do? I have spoken to Action Fraud who cannot help and the debt collector (Iain Roberts, Legal Advisor, Credit Collection Factoring, Prague) says I should have written and posted my cancellation. I cannot prove my fax was sent on 15th May as my fax machine does not provide confirmation. Any ideas please. Apparently if I do not pay by Friday, 19th May, they will hand it over to the European High Court. Thanks.

Does your phone bill not detail what number a fax was sent to and on which date?

Lady_Jane_C

It was over 4 years ago and I work from home, not at our unit, so don't keep phone bills as don't claim on them. This legal advisor has stated I should have posted the cancellation, not faxed it. I have not anything from them for 4 years and assumed it was "dead and buried" as it was on the internet that it was a scam. I don't know if they can take me to the European High Court. A lot of people are saying ignore it, but don't want to end up with a hefty legal bill. They also managed to get hold of my email address.

bingo_bango

I suspect that the Czech high court doesn't deal with trivial amounts so that part sounds like bluster to me.

This 'business listing' is a well known scam as has already been pointed out above. There are many companies running it, but all use the same modus operandi.

Ignore the letters, and get on with running your business. There will be no court date or anything else, just increasingly desperate demands for money.

I wouldn't bother contacting them again and would just ignore any further requests from them.

Edit to add info:

UK Business Forums has a long thread on this as well, including the recent 'debt collection' letters. Second opinions galore on there - all of which are IGNORE!!!

Lady_Jane_C

Thanks for your advice. Everyone is telling me to ignore so I will. Appreciate your help.

macman

There is no such thing as the European High Court. Ignore it, it'a a scam. This has been going on for at least 20 years, usually under the guise of a business listing in a directory that was never even published.

Lady_Jane_C

Thanks. Very a lot better about it today as everyone said ignore - thanks for taking time to post.

PeterB64

I signed it too! was in a rush, just thought it was an official confirmation of details thing and have now received a chase from a 'Colin Smith' of the Prague Collection Agency! Just wondered if Lady Jane C received anything further since May?