Name and Shame UK
We expose the dirty deedsters
Are major retailers aware of these dubious advertising practises?
Our correspondent writes ...
Following a long and totally disabling illness I had to give up teaching and lecturing so I set up a very small IT business which is run on a part time basis as energy levels allow.
A salesman from WRT Group plc - also known as Service Point - telephoned persistently and I eventually agreed to meet him at my home. He was offering advertising space on a post box in our local branch of Sainsbury's.
Having heard him out, I declined the offer due to the very high cost. I explained that I could not possibly risk such a large sum of money as advertising in our local newspapers had failed to produce a single customer.
On his way to the door, the salesman turned round and misrepresented (and/or deliberately lied about) several important details. He was now offering a far more attractive deal with much lower costs, including the right to cancel at any time. He said I could have a full refund of all monies paid (except for initial deposit of £157.58 for artwork etc) if no customers came forward. This amount is roughly what I would have spent advertising locally and I thought it was a reasonably good deal. I again asked him to confirm that I could cancel if there were no customers and he once again confirmed the arrangement. That lessened the risk considerably so I signed up and he left. No copy of the "agreement" was left with me.
The artwork arrived after several weeks and it was of extremely poor quality. I decided to design my own artwork which I then sent to WRT. Unbelievably, WRT posted a copy of my own design back to me for approval. At that point, the salesman said the advertising campaign was imminent but they first appeared on the post box months after the suggested timescale he had set out.
The campaign commenced just before Christmas but not a single customer responded - not even during the busy Christmas period - so I wrote a letter of cancellation which I was told I was entitled to do by the salesman.
My first letter was ignored and I later had a phone call demanding money. I explained the situation and was told to email Customer Services. I sent them a copy of my letter.
Other people have since told me that all Customer Services are interested in is prohibiting people from cancelling their contracts and threatening them with legal action. "Don't touch them with a bargepole" is how one of their customers put it.
Eventually, Customer Services and the accounts department at WRT Group plc sent me a letter demanding the balance of the total sum (over £500) and said that I could not cancel. Then a further demand for payment arrived threatening legal action and warning they would use the services of a debt recovery company.
I again wrote to Customer Services repeating the information I had already given them and outlined the problems I had experienced with WRT. I warned them that I would expose them to Watchdog and others and would contact Sainsbury's. Strangely, Sainsbury's seem to endorse this particular company - but for how much longer, I wonder, if they treat customers like this?
As WRT are still insisting on payment of the full amount I plan to contact the managing directors of Sainsbury, Tesco and all the other companies they deal with to let them know how this company treats its customers. I will also contact the OFT, Trading Standards, Which? Magazine and I am seriously considering taking legal action against these sharks. I will demand full repayment on everything plus compensation payments for harassment and the time spent writing letters etc.
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Finally, a more detailed letter arrived stating that an investigation had taken place, that the salesman denied making such claims, that the artwork was satisfactory (don't forget I had approved my own copy), that the timescale was within reason (even by their calculations it was many months late), that I am locked into a full two year contract with them and that there is no facility whatsoever to cancel, despite what their salesman promised. They still insist that I owe them the full amount.
I think their attitude is indecent, dishonest, outrageous, greedy and probably illegal and will be taking legal advice in this matter. I am not on my own. It would appear that others have also experienced similar problems. Just look at comments made on the Internet about this company.
Take my advice - do not even consider dealing with these LIARS and CROOKS.
J Hillman, Gravesend
Editorial comment:
The WRT Group - based in Kirkham, Lancashire - appear to have started life as printers producing Neighbourhood Watch leaflets for various police forces. Like several other print companies, they later expanded into web design and advertising/promotion.
In my "other" life, I came across many high-profile telesales companies and they all had several things in common. They made extravagant claims about the success of their services, they used devious sales tactics, they charged extortionate prices, and most seemed to be based in Lancashire. That's not said as a Yorkshireman trying to perpetuate the War of the Roses but simply as a matter of fact.
In this case, there are many similarities with cases I have investigated in the past. But the most alarming factor is that WRT use the facilities of major companies like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Debenhams, Focus, Wickes, Homebase, W H Smith's and retail shopping centres to sell a service that apparently produces little or no benefit for the paying client. In other words, they are taking money under false pretences using salesmen who have no qualms about lying to procure the business. So the question that arises is ... do these major retailers know how their "partners" work? Do they even care?
If you have had a similar experience, please let us know.
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