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"Safebuy" & Similar acreditation

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smellyskelly

Anyone have opinions or evidence as to the ACTUAL impact that SAFEBUY or Similar acreditations have on Convertions?

Is it a should do or absolutly must? I am also told the PR will benifit too?!?!

We are in the process of trying to improve conversions on our site.

Appreciate any experiences or feedback.

Thanks, Scott
 
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I used SAFEBUY for 3 years - I polled my customers to ask about their views of it - 87% of them didn't notice the HUGE 'SAFEBUY ACCREDITED' logo - the remainder said that they didn't take any notice of it, it didnt affect them, so when I cancelled with Safebuy, this is what I told them - well!

According to them I am wrong, and so are my customers, so there! Everybody notices, everybody buys from Safebuy approved/accredited etc....

I haven't seen a downward change in sales since I removed the logo from the website 2 - 3 years ago......

Other people may be able to prove/demonstrat otherwise, but that MY experience and to be honest the annual fee is better in MY bank than theirs for all the good it did us!
 
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We had the exact same experience as KateCB above at around the same time..... with pretty much the same response....and the same onwards result.... customers decide if they trust you based on far more than a logo that you have purchased or rented which is pretty much what you are doing.
 
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Page said:
Will they know what it means?
Click to expand...

Interesting question... if they are using modern browsers where it is really quite prominent then I think that even if they don't know exactly what it means, the fact that it happens when they browse their online banking, other big name sites and your site is immediately portraying an image that your site is part of a higher calibre of site.

I suspect it would do more to reassure users £ for £ than a ISIS or SafeBuy logo, which was why I mentioned it.
 
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Am i right in thinking it is very new?

if so then give it 6 months and people should start being aware i think.
 
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no, it's not particularly new....in fairness it's not old either but its been around for at least a year (I think), possibly longer.
 
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Thanks, I was just toying with the idea of signing up! Think I'll stick to cultivating word of mouth as a basis for customer trust.
 
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A word of caution for any business thinking about joining SafeBuy. I was a member for a year and used their logo/privacy policy text on the site.

In June 2010, I dedcided to take down the old site that was a member and re-launch under a new domain. I overlooked that fact that new site carried a reference to SafeBuy under the privacy policy.

Fast forward 18 months and I have just received this email...

"We have not received payment of your SafeBuy membership fee of £283.20 for 2010 to 2012.

Through routine checks it has come to our attention that you are continuing to use the SafeBuy Trustmark (the SafeBuy “Hands” mark) in contravention of our Terms and Conditions.

Should you wish to continue to use the SafeBuy Trustmark and associated services you must pay for the unpaid years of use and for the coming year. Alternatively you can pay for the unpaid year(s) and remove our Trustmark from you website.

It is a legal requirement that you pay for its use and in the event that we have to pursue you through the Small Claims Court we will be claiming interest on the amount and any associated legal or court fees. At the same time we will be advising Trading Standards of its misuse.
If we have not received payment in full for this account, as attached, within seven days of today's date, it will automatically be sent to our debt recovery agency, Goldman Vicenti Limited for collection.

If your account is passed for collection, costs, interest and administration fees will be added to your account, due to your account being in default. You can pay by card on 0844 544 1711.

We do look forward to resolving this matter amicably and hope that you will continue to use SafeBuy on a “paid-for” subscription basis."
 
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edmondscommerce said:
Interesting question... if they are using modern browsers where it is really quite prominent then I think that even if they don't know exactly what it means, the fact that it happens when they browse their online banking, other big name sites and your site is immediately portraying an image that your site is part of a higher calibre of site.

I suspect it would do more to reassure users £ for £ than a ISIS or SafeBuy logo, which was why I mentioned it.
Click to expand...

Thinking the same thing. I guess the green bar is worth the extra £160 over our standard SSL.
 
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Interesting...we have received the same from Safebuy, where we stopped paying for membership June 2010 and had removed the logo from our ecommerce website but because we had inadvertently left the T's and C's and privacy policy embedded in the shop site that came free with 123-reg initially, they are saying we owe them 2 years worth of membership.

We are now at final demand stage and Goldman vicenti are not passing Safebuy our reasons for agreeing a partial payment. Not only that but from initial contact and invoice supplied by email on 6th February 2012 and passed to Goldman Vicenti by 15th February 2012 it seems to us is an unreasonable time to resolve the problem.

No contact at all for 2 years and then an invoice...not a happy bunny me....
 
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Just google these people & the debt collectors & found this site, here is our story so far;

We signed upto Safebuy in 2007 with their free service & cancelled a year later, as nothing was required from us to prove we're not crooks or ripping people off.
I couldn't see a valid reason for paying them for something anyone with a website could obtain.
I removed the logo & link to their site, except one of our website pages that is not updated still had the logo although no link.

Several weeks ago we got an invoice from Safebuy for £400 + VAT for use of their shaking hands logo on the website even though no services are being provided & today they started calling the office & being very rude & not allowing me to explain the mistake made.

Personally I would have issued a 14 day warning to remove the logo, rather than £480 bill for no services being provided by them.


We've had several abusive phone calls from them [01908 363466] where they've threatened to pass it over to their debt collectors.

My stance is there is not any outstanding debt, as the account was cancelled in 2008 & they cannot charge full membership just for us forgetting to remove a single logo.

I also told them that putting a logo on our website & paying £159pa did noting to improve sales & they've never checked any of our company details or checked that we're not just scamming all our buyers.


Yesterday I've received a letter from Goldman Vicenti [Manchester] Debt Collectors whom are adding 10% interest & £100 per letter to the debt.


My guess is that the company is struggling & they're chasing anything to claw in a few £000's
 
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According to their accounts at CH they've lost money in 2009 and 2010 so they're probably doing what they can to get back into the black.

I've never used such a service, but it's quite alarming to hear they don't even check out their "customers". Without any checks this is surely just a waste of money?
 
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SafeBuy has been acquired by a large online security organisation and the ongoing checks that they are performing (as they carry out for every member) are precisely why the high level of misuse is being uncovered. Sites that purport to be SafeBuy members, that are blatantly not, are being asked to remove the content from their sites or they will be pursued. Paying members are disadvantaged by this ongoing fraud. The owners and operators of many of these sites have been displaying SafeBuy Marks and content and trying to link to SafeBuy member services in the full knowledge that they are not paying and receiving benefit. Many have now been found out as a result of online policing.

Be aware that from the end of 2012 all online Trustmarks and Services have to demonstrate that they are worthy of inclusion in and meet the new ISO 10008 standard for eCommerce. For example the SafeBuy imitators will have to prove Mediation Services to regulated standards. You will also find that SafeBuy membership includes a number of other anti-fraud and security measures now. SafeBuy launches a series of new ISO accredited services later in 2012.
 
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SafeBuy UK said:
Sites that purport to be SafeBuy members, that are blatantly not, are being asked to remove the content from their sites or they will be pursued.
Click to expand...

This is not what's being reported here. Ex members are not being asked to remove content, but are instead being pursued for money due for leaving small references to safebuy in their T's & C's. There's a big difference.

If a site is still showing the logo and prominently claiming to be a member then fair enough, bring it to their attention and ask them to remove it. Give them chance first!
 
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SamStones said:
This is not what's being reported here. Ex members are not being asked to remove content, but are instead being pursued for money due for leaving small references to safebuy in their T's & C's. There's a big difference.

If a site is still showing the logo and prominently claiming to be a member then fair enough, bring it to their attention and ask them to remove it. Give them chance first!
Click to expand...

Indeed we were contacted recently by SafeBuy as our terms page referenced us as a SafeBuy member. Obviously we did not know about this and all the main logos etc. were removed when we cancelled. We removed the text almost instantly but they still want nearly £400!

So obviously pursuing regardless seems to be the case! Obviously SafeBuy are getting worried about the negative publicity hence their post on this site. I would never do business with a company that operates like this and very much regret ever being a member with them.
 
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gamma52 said:
So obviously pursuing regardless seems to be the case! Obviously SafeBuy are getting worried about the negative publicity hence their post on this site. I would never do business with a company that operates like this and very much regret ever being a member with them.
Click to expand...

So it would be correct to say they were NOT a "Safebuy" ? :p
 
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SamStones said:
So it would be correct to say they were NOT a "Safebuy" ? :p
Click to expand...

Indeed not a 'SafeBuy' for me nor many others it seems! Thankfully my solicitor has advised that they do not have a case; but with a busy business to run I can do without having to deal with companies like this.

On the positive side, being compelled to put my experience across, I have found this excellent forum!
 
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Despite claiming to be a Debt Collection Agency, Goldman Vicenti holds no Consumer Credit Licence!
 
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We found then to be a complete waste of money, you might as well knock a logo up yourself in Photoshop, absolutely no difference in sales when we stopped using then. I also discovered that they had our old address listed (6 years out of date, so not exactly checking websites).
 
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If Goldman Vicenti continue to chase you for alleged debts, report them to the Citizens Advice Consumer Advice service on 08454 040506. They will pass your complaint to Trading Standards who will then investigate Goldman Vicenti for not having a Consumer Credit Licence.

The consequences for the owner of Goldman Vicenti for offering debt collection services without a Consumer Credit licence are pretty dire - imprisonment and/or fine. And this is one area that Trading Standards/OFT are pretty hot on enforcing!
 
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SafeBuy UK said:
Sites that purport to be SafeBuy members, that are blatantly not, are being asked to remove the content from their sites or they will be pursued.
Click to expand...

Problem solved for all those being harassed by SafeBuy and their appointed 3rd party; the above quote from SafeBuy nullifies any attempt at bullying money from you as long as you are given the chance to, and subsequently in a reasonable amount of time remove any references to SafeBuy.

I used to champion the idea of accreditation through these types of schemes; the best of all was a Which! accreditation that vanished some years ago.

These days don't waste your money, and especially not with a company who appear to employ a similar approach to well known calendar charity scammers from the Wirral.
 
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After more calls to our office from Safebuy since my post, I have told them that any further harassment will see them & VG reported to Trading Standards & OFT.

The calls have since stopped

I also see on their website that the company has been taken over by Ecommerce Security Limited, which may also be the reason.
 
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The green address bar ssl certificates like Extended Validation SSL Certificates give a actual impact for your website and it gives highest available levels of authentication across any SSL certificate type.
 
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For any old Safebuy users who paid via direct debit, check your bank account as we had a unauthorised withdrawal yesterday. Safebuy responded and explained what had happened (rouge access to a data base - NOT what I would call safe). We now have the money back in our account but I would check to make sure you haven't been affected.
 
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For some interesting information about Goldman Vicenti and its former owner look on ripoffreport.com
 
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It's a bit of an old thread but I thought I'd add my tuppence-worth about Safebuy as I've recently been staggered by their hypocracy.

Like others here, I joined Safebuy but cancelled when I found them a complete waste of money. Communicating with them was impossible - they didn't answer the 'phone or reply to emails or letters. In fact, the only thing they did promptly was take their annual fee.

Some months ago I noticed that a new competitor in our market was using several 'trusted' logos - including that of Safebuy - to promote their e-commerce website. A quick investigation proved they were not members of any of the organisations whose logos they displayed. They were simply deceiving the buying public.

Safebuy were told about this and after many, many attempts at contacting them they finally took action - they signed up the website owner as an accredited member.

So there you have it. An organisation that purports to protect the buying public knowingly takes on a company that deliberately deceives the public. You can draw your own conclusions about the value of Safebuys claims and code of practice.
 
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It's a bit of an old thread but I thought I'd add my tuppence-worth about Safebuy as I've recently been staggered by their hypocracy.

Like others here, I joined Safebuy but cancelled when I found them a complete waste of money. Communicating with them was impossible - they didn't answer the 'phone or reply to emails or letters. In fact, the only thing they did promptly was take their annual fee.

Some months ago I noticed that a new competitor in our market was using several 'trusted' logos - including that of Safebuy - to promote their e-commerce website. A quick investigation proved they were not members of any of the organisations whose logos they displayed. They were simply deceiving the buying public.

Safebuy were told about this and after many, many attempts at contacting them they finally took action - they signed up the website owner as an accredited member.

So there you have it. An organisation that purports to protect the buying public knowingly takes on a company that deliberately deceives the public. You can draw your own conclusions about the value of Safebuys claims and code of practice.
 
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