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Tuesday 14th October 2008 Make us your HOME PAGE  What is RSS?
 
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ARTICLE SUMMARY

Small print costs companies dearly

AN international marketing company has squeezed thousands of pounds out of small traders by using legal strong-arm tactics after they rejected its services.

REF MARKETSAFE COM

12.08.08, 10:17pm

We have just successfully defended a claim against Marketsafe. Firstly make sure that you tell the judge thst you agreed to a trial subscription, Marketsafe cannot change the terms of a verbal contract.


Secondly they do not and have never produced according to our jugde transcripts of telephone calls, so make sure that you let the judge know you believed you were only trialling their software therefore no contract exists. The impression we got was the judge was really happy to award in our favour.

• Posted by: lfstephens • Report Comment

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STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE

06.04.08, 1:55pm

Many companys now use this tactic. They can often make more money from penalties and 0870 numbers than they do from their service. It's called lockin. They make you a super attractive deal for the first 6 months then it goes to the standard deal. They are playing the long game, knowing you will be stuck with them for years. One of the tactics is the automatic 12 monthly contrac renewal with a limited cancelation period. When you phone them to cancel, they detect your phone number route your call to their busiest and least english speaking call centre. This is very frustrating and takes ages. The agent then tells you that your contract has been successfully canceled, except it has not. Your direct debit may then skip a month so you assume it's worked. Then it starts back up again. If you call the bank and cancel the payments then you will be sent demands for payment. If you write to them then they will lose your letter, even when you send recorded delivery. This will drag on for months.

The bigger the company the more likely they are to do this. It's important to cancel Direct Debits at the bank, maybe record phonecalls, but tell them you are doing so, write to them recorded delivery and take down names and what was said. It does take months but you will win in the end.

The best thing is not to let someone have any leaverage over you in the first place.

• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment

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