printing scam advice

[Peter.maddocks]

Hi,
I run a small cleaning business in n. ireland and am looking for some advice on what to do about this. A few monthes ago I was approached by a printing company to advertise with them for another businesses food menu, to cut a long story sort I paid a deposit of money to secure my ad but was contacted last week by the owner of the other business to say he thinks it was a scam and the printing company have left there office with alot of unpaid bills and vanished leaving him, me and a few other businesses out of pocket. The printers website is no longer operational and there is no anwser on any of the contact numbers.
What can I do about this?

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Have you contacted The Trading Standards people? Or the PSNI ?

 

[Peter.maddocks]

No I wanted some advice on here first just to see what people think? I will give it a try and see what happens

 

[J Binder Design]

Hi there

Do you have a receipt of payment from them or any other record of payment as this will help with getting any money back.

Have you tried the Citizen's Advice Bureau, Companies House or a Credit/Debt Company to retrieve the cash back?

I have had this done to me before so I know how frustrating it is. I keep copies of everything and always give my clients a receipt of payments for projects I do for them.

If I don't know them directly or someone I know have used them before I try to get as much info about the company as poss (this is where Companies House helps) before I use them. Don't want to get burnt again.

If you and the other business both contact Citizen's Advice then you perhaps have a bigger case.

Debt company I used were very good - Contact Stuart Hayes - Credit, Debt and Legal (020 7405 2179/4120).

Good luck!!!! Keep everything crossed for you

Julie