Dodgy Online Companies

colsten

Blimey. Instead of following, or even only acknowledging, well-meant advice for how he could potentially get his money back, @BenjaminClarke chooses to attack people, shows abject ignorance about the coronavirus effects on international trade, and reminds everyone that it's not his responsibility to choose who he buys from. If I had any sympathy for his 'plight', it's evaporated after his latest posts.

I am out. 

John_

BenjaminClarke said:I can't be bothered to have to do research on a company before I buy from them. It shouldn't be down to consumers to regulate companies like this. Like I say, I shall just stick to Amazon from now on. Shame. 

Who should regulate a company of indeterminate origin using a web site hosted in a country with no equivalent consumer laws?

eskbanker

BenjaminClarke said:

I shall just stick to Amazon from now on.

FYI - despite the .co.uk address, they're an American company, not a UK one at all, so best get reporting them to Google too (and HMRC, and FBI, and BBC, and....)

digalumps

... and change your name to websheriff at the same time.

kaMelo

BenjaminClarke said:

kaMelo said:

BenjaminClarke said:

and I can't be bothered to have to do research on a company before I buy from them. 

Without wishing to be rude, that is exactly the kind of attitude that leaves you wide open for less than honest people/companies to exploit.  
Then when it all goes wrong people whine about getting scammed, how it's not their fault and expect their bank to bail them out. All because they couldn't be bothered.

Not meaning to sound rude but I couldn't care less what you think about my attitude. I am not asking for anybody else to regulate, I am simply saying that I won't be. Is that OK with you? 

Where have I said I expect my money back? Please point that out! All we have seen thus far is that members of this forum can't actually read and follow simply English. I don't expect my money back, I am asking about how I can complain about such a company? I am asking if there is anything one can do to complain? Please try to keep up... if you don't know the answer then just stay out of it. 

I was genuinely not wanting to sound rude, I guess it failed.
In terms of what can you do is dependant upon what you want to achieve. As you've clearly stated it's not about receiving your money back, there is not much else you can do other than leave them a virtual black eye by bad mouthing them on Trustpilot (Other review sites are available) There is no UK authority who has any impact on an Indian company.

Going forward no one is suggesting you regulate anything, it's not about that it's about protecting yourself.  There is nothing wrong with using a small company with their own website but as you've found out not everything is as it seems.
Having a ".co.uk" domain means nothing in itself, anyone in the world can register one of those.  Read a companies  "About Me" page on their website. do they have a UK address, UK landline phone no, registered on Companies House, UK VAT No.  UK returns address,  What does a search show on that company, (other than it's own website and trustpilot) and always look past page one on the results. Things like that. 

sheramber

Only limited companies are  on Companies House register.
Not all businesses are limited companies.

kaMelo

I appreciate that, not all companies are VAT registered either. It wasn't a tick box exercise as such but a list of things that may give you more confidence in a company, the more of them the better.
The basics being at least a UK address and phone number.

BenjaminClarke

born_again said:

BenjaminClarke said:

Where have I said I expect my money back? Please point that out! All we have seen thus far is that members of this forum can't actually read and follow simply English. I don't expect my money back, I am asking about how I can complain about such a company? I am asking if there is anything one can do to complain? Please try to keep up... if you don't know the answer then just stay out of it. 

A bit of advise.
The best way to hit (read complain) about this company. Is to go to your bank and ask for a chargeback for non receipt of goods. That way you get your money back ( I know you did not ask for it, but why should you suffer), the company LOSES it. Hit them where it hurts. In the pocket.
Just do not expect your bank to police the companies. That is not what we are there to do.
Assuming you have a Visa debit (mastercard will work the same) The more people that action chargebacks then the sooner Visa/Mastercard will revoke their right to take payments.

Other option is a log a complaint on Action Fraud website. If enough do it, then action maybe taken. Just do not hold your breath. As we are talking Met police & trading standards....

Thank you for this response. Most of the time on this forum you don't get any advice, just people judging your decisions. This is the kind of response that all forum members should take note from. 

I have reported them to Action Fraud and I have requested the chargeback from my bank. I have yet to hear anything back from either but I shall be patient. 

I notice on Trust Pilot that dozens more people have been scammed since I wrote my negative review. 

BenjaminClarke

colsten said:

Blimey. Instead of following, or even only acknowledging, well-meant advice for how he could potentially get his money back, @BenjaminClarke chooses to attack people, shows abject ignorance about the coronavirus effects on international trade, and reminds everyone that it's not his responsibility to choose who he buys from. If I had any sympathy for his 'plight', it's evaporated after his latest posts.

I am out. 

No, it shows that the advice most people think they're giving on this forum is actually pathetic judgements that don't help anybody. I see it all the time here. Someone comes on with an issue they're facing and all members do is say things like, "well you should have been more careful, shouldn't you?" As if that is going to help the situation! You think I care what you think? I don't. I am asking for advice in terms of where to complain to, it's quite simple and someone has pointed me in the right direction.

And for the tenth time, this company have been doing this since BEFORE cornavirus shut everything down. Have you even bothered to look at the Trust Pilot reviews? Now who is the ignorant one? You clearly don't even know what is going on yet feel qualified to judge people? Get a life! 

BenjaminClarke

sheramber said:

Only limited companies are  on Companies House register.
Not all businesses are limited companies.

This company is claiming to be a limited company based in the UK. It's fraud, please can you read all post before making daft comments? Thanks.