empty promises from sales men

[APTBLINDS]

I if any one can give me some advice on a marketing company that I paid to do some marketing for me.
in November 2006 a sales man came round to my house and sold me advertising for 1 year for £1000 - The contract was for a LARGE plasma screen to me installed in an estate agents shop window and a screen inside the shop to be installed January 2007, our advert to be played on a loop. 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
To be linked up to the estate agents website
A magazine to be delivered to the whole of the area quarterly

Firstly only one small screen was installed inside the shop out of view of customers, played only on opening times. This was installed August 07

No web site links have been installed

The magazine was delivered to a hand full of people in June 07 the second edition has not even been printed yet.

we have paid in full (4 * £250 by DD) and the marketing agency have passed the blame to the estate agents (even though the estate agents have not got any financial outlay or income from this ) for why the screen is not positioned where it said it would be or the magazines not being delivered.

The marketing agency is just lying through their teeth and because the estate agent has no financial interest apart from the free advertising of their homes for sale, are not bothered

Any advice would be great

I have liaised with the other advertisers who all say the same - we know sales men tell the little white lie - but these were big ones to real us in.
Trading standards are also involved, and said we are not alone in what they have done.

Cheers

Adrian
APT Blinds

 

[Antonia @limeone.com]

The answer to this will depend on the contract itself and whether any of the marketing promises actually made their way into the contract. Have you presented the lack of activity in writing to the advertising company yet? If not then do so special delivery so you can start preparing a case should it be necessary.

 

[APTBLINDS]

Hi Antonia
Thanks for your reply
I have phoned the company several times followed by faxed & posted letters to the company. Their reply is that they have fulfilled their contract and it is like hitting your head against a brick wall. They pass the blame to the estate agents.

Trading standards have got my contract atm and i know the company is being investigated and a warrent was granted to search their premises by TS. I know that they would not go in with a warrent to search a premises just on my complaint so something big must be going on.

Out of 5 of us advertisied in the magazine two and myself all said we have been mis-sold and want to persue the matter. the other said that they have not got the time to persue a measrly £5000 what they paid but said they have been mis sold (they are solisitors and we are definetely not in their league!!!) The other i have not contacted.

From what i can remember the contract is a bob standard contract what you get on a sales receipts i.e payments to be made etc the front just had the price and how tand when to pay

The funny thing was is that my misses didnt trust the bloke one bit and we had an arguement on signing - one of the other advertisers said the same - his daughter had a go at him

cheers
Adrian
APT Blinds

 

[Antonia @limeone.com]

If Trading standards prosecute then this gives you a lot more to pursue and also evidence for a civil claim possibly to include the directors of the company. It sounds much more serious than mis-selling and you need to wait for the outcome of the investigation.

 

[Cred-X]

The funny thing was is that my misses didnt trust the bloke one bit

I'm convinced that they have a sixth sense about these things.

 

[APTBLINDS]

My misses wont let me live it down

i've also posted a article on marketing forum for others to beware of this company. Only been member for a short while and this site has proved to give some valuble info so cheers everyone. ( found the link "yell.com or yell.conned which i thought it was my fault yell didnt work but its not

So hope i can let others know not to sign up with this company

"knowledge is power"