Threats from advertising firm - has anyone else had this?

Lizbetty

My husband started up as self employed in May this year. He vaguely remembers having a call from (one of the many) advertising firms asking him to sponsor a magazine which goes to schools. He said no at the time, but suggested they contacted us n September around the time the publication was supposed to start and he would have a chat with them about it then. He told them we didn't have any marketing budget for that kind of then, being a new firm.

He came home pretty pale faced just now saying that they firm had telephoned him to say that the publication had been printed. Amongst other things, the chap on the phone said we would be receiving an invoice for £140.00 as the publication had been printed and he said my husband had agreed to sponsor it, which he knows he didn't say. The man on the phone became bery abusive and said 'I don't give a f-word what you think you said, you agreed and I'm sending you an invoice'. Then my husband told him he wouldn't listen to such abusive language and put the phone down.

I know this might sound crackers, I know really this chap is trying it on, but I wondered if anytone else had this kind of call? The chap sounded strong Liverpudlian, but I know they could be from anywhere. My husband doesn't know the company name and the number showed as private on his mobile.

I also know really that the bloke hasn't a leg to stand on as far as claiming the funds back. It's only unsettled me because my husband works from home, really.

If anyone has any advice or has had anything similar, I'd love to hear from you. My husband is still pretty churned up about it as he's worried he might have to pay it, but I've told him we won't have to as there's nothing to say we agreed to sponsor this publication.

I suppose we're just looking for some reassurance about it really...!

Tia, Lucy

the_optimist

Lucy,

this happens to most of us. Have a look at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=486971
and you should feel a lot better (or angrier, if you think too much about these people who phone)

Lizbetty

Thanks a lot for the reassurance. The other thread has certainly given us food for thought, and we now know what approach to take.

My husband is mostly annoyed because it made us feel vulnerable :mad: , til I read your post and the other thread - he had no intention of forking out, but you can see how some folk might do.

We'll just redirect the letter to Trading Standards. Thanks again for your help,

Lucy

lemontart

it is a scam report the number they call from to trading standards - I even had one claiming to be a police magazine