Own a very small IT business which was set up following a long and totally disabling illness. I had to give up teaching and lecturing and set up the business which is run on a very part time basis as energy levels allow. I have returned to teaching on a part time basis.
A salesman persistently called by phone. Eventually I agreed to meet him at my home.
The salesman offered advertising on a post box in our local branch of Sainsbury's.
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 failed to produce a single customer.
The salesman, on his way to the door, turned round and then misrepresented and/or deliberately lied on several important details, offering a far more attractive deal with much lower costs including the right to cancel at any time and have a full refund on all monies paid (except for initial deposit of £157.58 for artwork etc) if no customers came forward. This is roughly what I would have spent advertising locally and thought it was a reasonably good deal. I again asked him to confirm that I could cancel if there were no customers and he again confirmed that. That lessened the risk considerably. I signed up.
No copy of the "agreement" was left with me.
Artwork arrived after several weeks. It was of extremely poor quality. I had to design my own artwork which was sent to WRT. A copy of my original design was then posted back to me for approval.
The salesman said that the advertising campaign was imminent
The post box advertising started months after the suggested time scale set out by the salesman. It commenced just before Christmas.
Not a single customer responded even during the busy Christmas period.
I wrote a letter of cancellation which I was told I was entitled to do by the salesman. My first letter was ignored. Later I had a phone call demanding money. I explained the situation and was told to email Customer Services. I emailed them a copy of my letter
Other people state 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.
Customer Services and Accounts at WRT Group plc sent a letter demanding the rest of the entire sum (over £500) and said that I could not cancel.
A further demand for payment later arrived threatening legal action and the hiring of a debt recovery company.
I again wrote to Customer Services repeating the information I had already given them and outlining the problems I had experienced with WRT. I warned them that I would expose them and would contact Sainsbury's (who seem to endorse this particular company - but for how much longer if they treat their customers like this?), Watchdog and others.
As their correspondence indicates they are still insisting on payment of the full amount I will contact the managing directors of Sainsbury, Tesco and all other companies they deal with to let them know how this company treats their advertisers. I will also contact the OFT, Trading Standards, Which? Magazine 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 on writing letters etc.
A more detailed letter arrived stating that an investigation had taken place, that the salesman denied making such claims, that the artwork was satisfactory (as I had approved my own copy), that the timescale was within reason (even by their calculations it was many months), that I am locked into a full two year contract with them and there is no facility whatsoever to cancel, despite what their salesman promised and 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.
It would appear that others have experienced similar problems to me. Just look at comments made on the Internet about this company.
I urge NOBODY to even consider dealing with these LIARS and CROOKS.
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