Poor business practice or scam?

[Newchodge]

Like many people I want to get my oven deep-cleaned before Christmas. I have been looking for local suppliers online when a facebook popup appeared. National oven cleaning service, fill in details for a quote. So I filled in the basic details, got a reasonable quote and agreed a date, at which point a 50% deposit was requested. There was nothing on the page I was on giving their company name, address, phone or any other contact details and I could not get from the interest form back to the original page. So I declined to give my bank details and disconnected.

A few hours later I got a phone call from a lovely lady to complete the booking. She wanted a 50% deposit, so I asked for an email giving full company details first. She went quiet then said she could not do that but I had her (mobile) phone number and I could ring her back if I had concerns. As that didn't allay my concerns I declined the appointment.

Was this a poorly designed website intended to link independent oven cleaners with potential clients or was it a scam?

 

[ctrlbrk]

was it a scam?

My money is on scam.

I see plenty of scams on FB.


Chances are your details are now in another database targeting people with more scams.

 

[WaveJumper]

I think the little voice in the back of my head would be saying walk away scam

 

[DontAsk]

I think it's a bit a of a grey area with services but anyone selling online must provide a full geographic address (i.e. not a PO Box).

I would avoid, and flag the phone number a s a scam.

You could also check the number on line on sites like who calls me.

 

[tony84]

I doubt it will be a scam.
It will likely be a lead generation site that sells the leads to local people doing the job.

Put that persons number in to google and you will probably find their own ads offering the same service under their own name.

If they have an online payment system, I cant imagine a fraudster going to that extend for whatever the deposit is? £50 maybe? How many of those are they going to get in a week or 2 before their site gets pulled for fraud?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Sometimes it's a fine line between the 2 - it's entirely possible that they intend to do the job - possibly to a very high standard, but they are undoubtedly - at best - sloppy where business is concerned.

But your actions were exactly right - no verification, go elsewhere...

 

[DontAsk]

It will likely be a lead generation site that sells the leads to local people doing the job.

Still a good enough reason to avoid IMHO.

 

[Newchodge]

I doubt it will be a scam.
It will likely be a lead generation site that sells the leads to local people doing the job.

Put that persons number in to google and you will probably find their own ads offering the same service under their own name.

If they have an online payment system, I cant imagine a fraudster going to that extend for whatever the deposit is? £50 maybe? How many of those are they going to get in a week or 2 before their site gets pulled for fraud?

How many bank account details will they have collected?

 

[StrategyDoctor]

Like many people I want to get my oven deep-cleaned before Christmas. I have been looking for local suppliers online when a facebook popup appeared. National oven cleaning service, fill in details for a quote. So I filled in the basic details, got a reasonable quote and agreed a date, at which point a 50% deposit was requested. There was nothing on the page I was on giving their company name, address, phone or any other contact details and I could not get from the interest form back to the original page. So I declined to give my bank details and disconnected.

A few hours later I got a phone call from a lovely lady to complete the booking. She wanted a 50% deposit, so I asked for an email giving full company details first. She went quiet then said she could not do that but I had her (mobile) phone number and I could ring her back if I had concerns. As that didn't allay my concerns I declined the appointment.

Was this a poorly designed website intended to link independent oven cleaners with potential clients or was it a scam?

It’s hard to say if it was a scam, but the lack of a company name, address or terms before asking for a 50% deposit is a clear red flag. Most reputable oven-cleaning services take payment on the day, not upfront, and they’re always happy to send a confirmation email with their full details. The hesitation when you asked for basic information suggests it wasn’t worth the risk. You did the right thing walking away.

 

[tony84]

How many bank account details will they have collected?

Probably not that many.

How many people are looking for oven cleaning? Lets say they collect 10 a week, it would only be 3-4 weeks tops before it was reported for fraud.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Like many people I want to get my oven deep-cleaned before Christmas.

I'm still wondering why people get their ovens cleaned before rather than after Christmas?

 

[ThatDevAaron]

no harm in walking away, potentially a lot of harm continuing.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

It will teach you to clean your own oven in future

 

[ThatDevAaron]

It will teach you to clean your own oven in future

lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

that was such a dig im deadddddddddddd

 

[tony84]

I'm still wondering why people get their ovens cleaned before rather than after Christmas?

Its 11 months after christmas?