What to do about unfair charges?

clairescanvas

my partner has his own business and got a call about 6months back from a company called Premier Media who wanted to offer some services to help advertise my partner. As he was at work and never likes to do anything over the phone asked them to send some information through regarding what they can offer.

What he recieved was a example of an ad advertising another company called with the same name as my partners and claiming this was my partners company. He called Prem media and explained the mistaken identity and asked again if they could send some information.

They asked if he would like an example of what his ad would like to which he agreed. But he in no way agreed to do business with them, for starters he had no idea how they advertised or who they were.

The next thing we recieved from them some months later was a bill for £235, there was no information of the company as asked for and there was no example of ad that they had offered for free.

we have now recieved another letter with charges adding to what they orginally aked for as we had not made a first payment.

They are demanding the money and threatening to take us to court over it.

what can we do? who can we contact?

we refuse to pay for something never wanted and we still do not know exactly what we are suppose to be paying for.

andan

I don't know much about these things but just wanted to post to say i agree with you about not paying them. Surely they wouldn't really have a case as wouldn't they need him to sign something and to see the work that was 'produced'. It sounds to me like they are just trying to scare you into paying, especially as some people would just pay up.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who knows a lot more.

GeorgeUK

Contact trading standards.

When they call again, inform them that you are contacting trading standards, that there was never any agreement with you and that any telephone recording of any agreement they claim to have should be forwarded to you.

Edit: This may be of interest too.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=885883

tyllwyd

I've heard of scams along these lines before

This sounds like the same company
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/06/hounded-by-premier-media-uk.html

Does this help at all?
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/90D760124C79100080256E8A005431B8

clairescanvas

Thanks for all your help, will def be in contact with trading standards.

The funniest thing is my partner does not even know what the bill is for we assume they advertise but have no idea how or where as he asked them to send the information through the post. They have never informed us what they are charging us for.

clairescanvas

tyllwyd wrote: »

I've heard of scams along these lines before

This sounds like the same company
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/06/hounded-by-premier-media-uk.html

Does this help at all?
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/90D760124C79100080256E8A005431B8

Thank you ma just looking at the link now.

clairescanvas

Looks like Premier Media are a company to stay clear of.

Ive written a letter demanding they cancel my account and made it clear that i never agreed to do business with them if they refuse to cancel i will contact trading standards. Although im still a little worried ill have some one knocking at my door demanding money.