World Business Guide is using misleading marketing trick
June 3, 2009 40 Comments
Today, MX Lab received an email regarding the “World BusinessGuide” directory. At first there seems nothing wrong with the mailing but when looking further there are some points that need your attention.
The messages is from “World Business Register” with different email addresses in use:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
The subject is “Business Registration 2009/2010″. The body of the email:
Ladies and Gentlemen.
In order to have your company inserted in the registry of World Businesses
for 2009/2010 edition, please print, complete and submit the enclosed
form (PDF file) to the following address:WORLD BUSINESS GUIDE
P.O. Box 2021
3500 GA Utrecht
The Netherlandsemail: [email protected]
FAX: +31 20 524 8107Updating is free of charge!
If you are not the intended recipient, please submit an email to
[email protected]
Your request shall be dealt with accordingly.
Attached is a PDF document that needs to be printed, filled in and sent to an PO Box address in The Netherlands.
When reading the PDF document carefully you can find the following:
I WILL HAVE AN INSERTION INTO ITS DATA BASE FOR THREE YEARS. THE PRICE PER YEAR IS EURO 995.
While the email itself states “Updating is free of charge!” you will have to pay € 995 each year with a minimum 3 year period by signing the document. This is quite misleading if you ask me.
A few more observations that should warn you about a possible scam:
- the email is sent from easyhomecorporation.com while there is no web site on this place so the registration of this domain is purely for spoofine the real origin.
- and more important, the document needs to be sent to a PO Box in The Netherlands while the company is International Directories Group Ltd located in Spain according to the document.
In the past we have received similar letters by regular post here in Belgium and some organisations like Unizo have instructions (in Dutch) on how to report the illegal and deceptive practices to the authorities.
If you have received such a email, or regular mail, don’t sign the document, sent it to the trash or report to your local authorities.
[Update March, 9th 2010] MX Lab received a new registration PDF from the World Business Directory. Read the article.
I already received the invoice, because i signed and stamped the order…help me :-(
I have received the invoice, warnings, notices and now a letter from Waldberg & Hirsch, debt collectors in Holland. I wrote as soon as I got the invoice to terminate and ask what was going on and have never received a reply.
Do I now instruct solicitors? Please help.
Catherine
I also received such email. Since they put ‘updating free’, we have sent information along with signature & company stamp. They are claiming money and also threatening us for legal action. I am very sad and worry about this. If my management comes to know this error, they will sack me. EU business directory doing ‘Internation business fraud’. Please all send to very hard emails to [email protected] She is cheater
Regards
Honest Raj
Dear friends
I have received about 30 emails to ask for money without any service from them.
I have reply their email as below:
To Ms Dana P.
Right now, stop your idiot thought, and crazy intention to earn money by that dirty way.
Read here:
http://stopecg.org/world_business_guide.htm
http://blog.mxlab.eu/2009/06/03/world-business-guide-is-using-misleading-marketing-trick/
And many more about you on internet.
Live honestly, do not live false.
Live as human, do not live as animal.
Hope you will be better after reading these words, to know more about what you did, and what people thinking about you.
Are you OK? Are you understand yourself now?
Send them a letter of cancellation using the same process with the attached form, explain you are cancelling due to an illegal and deceptive practice used to sign the form as they have deliberately used capital letters (which is a known fact) and non-readible font to trick you into signing the form. Send them this asap!!! Then if they try to chase you up for the amount request that they take you to court, you will win!
I received “World BusinessGuide” email today (in Finland). It´s really hard to read “Order” part of it. Many thanks for your attention.
It’s a huge scam that has gone from Germany to Spain and now the Netherlands.. Even if you do sign it, by mistake, simply send them a registered letter saying that it was a mistake and that you are negating the order. Then take all of their threats, letters, calls and other garbage that they send and throw it in the trash.
They should have been closed down years ago
Recently, having errorneously signed the scam form and after delaying with purpose the payment of 995euro, my friend received a message from a Ms. Emily - an official Account Manager without a family name (!) - as follows:
—- Original Message —-
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:30 PM
To: @…com
Subject: Invoice no.30671
Importance: High
For the attention of Mrs/ Mr…
Dear Sirs,
I am writing on behalf of International Directories Group Ltd.
I have to remind you that, July 6th, 2009 was the due date of invoice no.30671 for insertion into World Business Guide.
Please send confirmation of payment in order to solve this urgent matter.
Regards,
Emily
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd
Tel: +34 91 188 1696
Fax: +34 91 791 9167
[email protected]
—- Original Message —-
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:58 PM
To:
Subject: Re: Invoice no.30671
Importance: High
Dear Sir,
I am writing on behalf of International Directories Group Ltd.
I am afraid that your cancellation request came too late to be validated.
Please review the order form and the terms and conditions that govern it. As
you will see, we offer our clients a period of seven days after signing the
order to cancel it in full.The order signed on behalf of … Co., Ltd is dated 1.06.2009. This means that you could have cancelled this order until the 8th of June.
Having received a signed and stamped order on your behalf and with no
ulterior notification from you that you wish to cancel this order, within
the given time, we normally took the signature as a firm acceptance of our
services and did our job. Starting with the eighth day after signing your
company benefits from our services, that is :an insertion into our
directory, plus the cd with businesses from all over the world you have
received. As you can see, we have respected our part of the agreement and we
expect your company to do as well.
I will also ask you to review the order form and the terms and conditions.
You shall see that all the details regarding our services and the contract
to which you bind your company by signing (including price and duration )
are stated on the front page of the order form and reiterated in the terms
and conditions. The price is stated three lines above your signature (four lines, to be exact, in a very lengthy statement without proper paragraphing). Your
right to cancel the order is stated in the first paragraph of the terms and
conditions.
Updating is indeed free of charge but that is a different service that we
offer to clients we already have. You yourself can now benefit from this
service. Whenever changes interfere in your company’s details (
adress..name…division) we will update your company’s data in our
directory, without any cost, at your request. Insertion however costs 995
euro per year, as stated on the order “the price per year is euro 995. I
remind you that the order clearly asks, ” Only sign if you want to place an
insertion” and that ” the signing is legally binding”, ” I hereby order a
subscription with service provider International Directories Group Ltd”,
etc.
With all due respect, we cannot assume responsibility for your not having
read the entire document before signing it.
However, you still have the possibility to cancel this order for the years
two and three of the agreement( as by signing you agreed for a three year
subscription), provided you make the payment for the first year’s
subscription, invoice no.30671 (meaning the services that we have alredy
delivered). Please review paragraph 6 of the Terms and Conditions that
grants you this right.
Let me know if you wish to proceed so.
Regards,
Emily
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd
Tel: +34 91 188 1696
Fax: +34 91 791 9167
[email protected]
Our company has likewise signed and stamped by mistake the form from WBG, and we did later received letters from an Account manager. However, her name was Lisa (without a family name as well), but the contents of the emails was identical to those listed above.
What is more, we did tried to find our company’s details on the website WBG, but we couldn’t!!!! It means, our company’s profile is not actually inserted into the WBG, but they illegally chase us for the money!!!
I am just embarrassed by the actions of those people!
Is it just me? I’ m sorry for anyone who’s been suckered into this BUT, when did people lose the ability to read? Are we all so greedy or desperate for anything that appears to be ‘free’ that we just leap without looking? I can see that people might think that an on-line directory might be a good idea but didn’t anyone notice that there was no category/business type to select?
Hi
World Business Guide sending unsolicited email, which is not allowed, so if you have signed and returned, just ignore their threats, it is scrams.
Thanks for your advice, we appreciate it.
We were already desperate about WBG’s threats and didn’t know what to do!!! Thanks God, we found your recommendations and now we feel much more sure about our rights and possibilities!
Got this spam today. The thing is, my email address is private on my own private domain. It happens to be the same as a company but under another top domain leading me to believe that these scumbags have used a list of harvested addresses and filtered out company names.
It screamed scam all over when I first read it.
Jan
Thanks for the notification - I just received this today, and as a marketeer that does use a number of free listings, this did not necessarily look suspicious. I had not gotten past the initial e-mail, but naturally thought to check it’s authenticity before clicking on anything. Thanks for pointing out the problems and keeping me safe from this scam!
Julie
Hi all,
the question was raised “when did people lose the ability to read?”. Just lack of time or too optimistic on the human kind most probably. I actually read the fine print (way too quickly and noticed the price figure but I thought “nahh, it can’t be an order, it says “data control”, “free updates”, this paragraph must be an optional feature LIKE ALMOST ALL DIRECTORIES PROPOSE”. Then obviously, when you have less than a minute to deal with such matters… you get hit. I remember I also thought that even if there would be a misunderstanding, I would contact them and cancel the order. Like every serious business does. “Sucker…” yeah well you won’t get me again this way, the lesson is learned.
ANYWAY, the victim community must gather and there is a reference source for this that can be found at:
http://www.stopecg.org/world_business_guide.htm
The advice is to keep all communication as evidence for a future case of spamming and harassement against them, and when possible notify the authorities of your country.
Also keep on spreading the word to gather victims and avoid new ones.
BC
Cześc , otzrymałam maila i wrzuciłam w wyszukiwarkę temat, znalazłam odpowiedz tutaj , dziękuję, bo pewnie nie przeczytałabym tego uważnie, ale słowo “darmowe zawsze wzbudza moją czujnośc
Hello to all friends !!
Thank you for all the effort in posting regarding the scam emails from The International Directories Group Ltd from so called person Mr. Sebastian, Account Manager. I have also signed the paper assuming that it was free since they have mentioned in bold that the updation is free of charge. If they are really genuine they should mention in bold the charges for the insertion in their form. After reviewing all the details in the internet and comments about this crook company, i am relieved. I was also so disturbed by the emails that i am receiving from the above fake person. Once again, thank you for all the effort to explain about this company to other people and about it’s misleading emails.
Sabin.
Hi guys,
I think we shall just ignore it as I have read today all over Internet that they are a big scam. I agree with the misleading e-mails as I filled the form as well. I called them when I received the invoice explaining a misleading advertisment. The account manager Chris told me that he will take it to his supervisor. After few days Chris e-mailed me that he offers paying the invoice in 3 installments…I won’t bother anymore and will bin all the mail I’ll receive from them.
Elizabeth
After receiving the invoice for erroneous filling-in of the form I called to Spain too asking them to delete our company asap. However, they told it is not possible at this stage and that we would need to pay the invoice…
Hi everyone,
PLEASE write to the offices of fair trading in your local country and provide them with a copy of the form you signed - they will see how misleading the form is. When you get a ‘legal letter’ threatening to take you to court on behalf of WBG (usually after 9months), send a copy once again to the office of fair trading and explain that you are now being harassed - include copies of the threatening e-mails too! DO NOT PAY WBG anything! The more of us who complain the better.
My friend told me that we should inform this scam to Internet Crime Complaint Center and econsumer. What do you think? Can they stop the scams as WBG?
I am also an unlucky person who has signed to update my FREE LISTING. I have 2 company’s so it it a double wammy. I dont have the funds to pay this and will not be paying this. It is a scam and now seeing how many others have also fallen there should be a class action against this company.
I dont need this service and only signed for it as I thought it was my listing going into a show directory I was attending. I am sending all this to Department of fair Trading. They can take me to court but I will not be paying.
I have received final notice for payment from World Business Guide. Please help how to overcome this situation
I have received it, filled it in, returned and received today the invoice. I was so embarresed that i did not know what to do. But i wrote a letter of cancellation as i have readfrom the comments above, and let’s hope that everything will stop. I am going to ignore all those notices as people from the other compony also had a very similar experience but they ignored it all the year and then it stopped. So ignorance is bliss! Good luck for everybody and from now on let’s very carefully read the received mails and e-mails.
Hi Guys,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE IGNORE these people (and others like them).
I recently sent them an email, advising them that I had reported them to our authorities in the UK, and theirs in Spain and The Netherlands.
I also (helpfully) added that if they would like further information, I was sure they would be “delighted” to watch the attached You Tube Report.
Since sending them the email, I NEVER received another rude reminder. And I have since noted that their website seems to have been pulled.
However, although this is clearly a wicked scam, please do remember in future to READ THE SMALL PRINT before you sign anything! Particularly us as small businesses, as we seem to be targetted the most with these scams.
Best of luck everyone
regards
Mary, UK
i got the same letter & we have signed & send them with same misleading world offer by them as free.
Now they are asking payment & issued the invoice and repeated asking tha if u not pay then we will issue the legal notice and all
kindly suggest me what should we do to avoid this legal threatning. please..!!
I recieved n agreement forme from them last year, which I signed and never got a reply from them until over a month later, their 7 week cancellation period wasn’t much help. I rang them in Spain after finding the number there through Skype. The lady there was extremely rude. Recieved invoices after that for every two weeks or so until I gor an invoice from Waldberg & Hirsch Global Collections.
I have taken all this information along with their web site, which could be a copy right infringment as another web site has the same name, and forwarded it to the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and the same info I will forward to the Anti CorruptionCommision in Paris ubder the International Chambers of Commerce.
Could I suggest all who have had a experience with this lot do the same.
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Is Chris same person as Emily? I got same mails word by word signed by Chris:
Dear Sirs,
I am writing on behalf of International Directories Group Ltd to kindly ask you to inform me about the status of the invoice no. 36245. The due date for this invoice was 21st of September 2009 and so far we have no information regarding the payment.
We would appreciate if you could send us the confirmation of the payment in order to solve this matter in a forthcoming way.
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Best regards,
Chris
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd
Call center: 0034 91 188 1696
Fax: 0034 91 791 9167
[email protected]
Dear Ms Shwarz,
The document that you have sent us, requires a legal signature or a company stamp in order to be valid and clearly specifies that only updating is free of charge and you should sign only if you want to place an insertion. All these indicate that the document you have legally signed and stamped is an order form. Furthermore, the word ORDER is written in bold capital letters on the front page.
I regret to inform you that not having read the content of the order does not represent a valid reason for non-payment and we cannot accept that.
Best regards,
Chris
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd
Call center: 0034 91 188 1696
Fax: 0034 91 791 9167
[email protected]
Dear Ms Shwarz,
As stated in Terms and Conditions for Insertion, ” The place of jurisdiction in any dispute arising is the service provider’s address. The agreement between the service provider and the subscriber is governed by the law of the juridical seat of the service provider.” So it would not be in Israeli court.
If you delay payment extra fees will be added in the form of Late payment fees - 99 Euro , Administration fee - 35 Euro. Finally your file will be forwarded to our legal adviser and they will handle the situation.
Best regards,
Chris
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd
Call center: 0034 91 188 1696
Fax: 0034 91 791 9167
[email protected]
Dear Sirs,
please help us.
We misunderstandingly submitted order in World Business Guide for enterring info on our company in the guide.
We haven’t payed attention, that we have to pay money for that.
At present moment, they push us, by phone and mail to send them money. For us it’s impossible.
Can you advise us, what can we do with current situation.
We are situated in CIS (it’s not a European Union).
Will they be able to take us in court for that?
Thank you very much.
Dear Cyri,
I am in New Zealand, about as far from Europe as you can get, I notified the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce and sent all the details I could about the site including the fact that they ahve a domain Name very similar to another.
I also notified the International Chambers of Commerce iin Paris refering to the EU anit corruption commision, you can find them in your Google search bar.
Dear Alll
Our company also received from World Business Guide and they ask me to pay € 995 each year. I have also signed and stamp. a person who email and called me is Danny
I also emailed them that i dont want to joint.
Wo do not want to pay for Sh**. Any one can advise me.
Look forward your assistance
Thank you
pls see her email below
Dear Sir,
We already have your acceptance of our Terms and Conditions and this
implies also “a paid membership” because you filled, stamped and sent back
to us an ORDER which contains all the information regarding our services
(validation time of the contract, price per year, canceling conditions).
You had had the possibility to analyze the order and the website prior to
ordering and decide whether our services meet your expectations, you even
had the possibility to reconsider your decision; you still have that
possibility now however with certain restrictions.
I am confident you are familiar with the obligations that a legal document
implies. We understand that you ordered by mistake, you did not read the
contract prior to ordering and this is why I advise you to cancel the order
for the contractual years 2 and 3 in order to avoid further unpleasant
situations. And this can be done only after you pay the current invoice.
Be advised that postponing the payment will only bring late payment and
administration fees added to the actual amount.
I appreciate your time and effort.
Danny
Account Manager
International Directories Group Ltd.
Tel: 0034 91 188 1696
Fax: 0034 91 791 9167
[email protected]
.
HI
I TOO HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS DISEASE FOR A LONG TIME NOW SO I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH.
WHAT I FOUND OUT IS THAT THIS “COMPANY” THAT IS LISTED TO BE BASED IN THE NETHERLANDS IS ACTUALLY BASED IN ROMANIA, MORE EXACTLY IN TIMISOARA, A WESTERN CITY OF ROMANIA.
THE COLLECTION FIRM WALBERG AND HIRSCH IS NOT A REAL COLLECTION COMPANY, IT IS JUST THE SAME “EMPLOYEES” ANSWERING THE PHONE BECAUSE EVERYTIME I CALL THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE LINE CLAMING TO BE MR VAN RULER’S SECRETARY ( THE LEGAL ADVISOR ) AND HE IS NEVER THERE TO TAKE CALLS. THIS PERSON DOESN’T EXIST!!!
SO DON’T PAY, DON’T GO TO LAWYERS, DON’T MAKE COMPLAINTS, DON’T BOTHER TO DO ANYTHING, YOU ARE SIMPLY WASTING YOUR TIME AS THEY ARE NOT SCARED OF THREATS, THEY WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SEND YOU EMAILS, FAXES, TO CALL YOU ON EACH AND EVERY NUMBER THEY CAN FIND. IF YOU ARE SICK OF THE HARRASMENTS JUST CHANGE YOUR LINES AND IGNORE THE JUNK MAIL FROM THEM.
If you friend friend whom you dont like…… Send a fax on his name and his company details and email ID to World business Directory ……
And GET HIM INTO TROUBLE.
Have fun playing the game…….
It can be your manager also….. You should see his face when gets the invoice
I was cheated by these bastards and I received an invoice and a CD-ROM.
They harassed me so much that I paid… Today, I checked their website and I realized that my data weren’t even there… It’s a pity I didn’t check your blog before. Shit!
Note that they are now acting with different names. The latest I receievd was “Business Relation Service”, based in Brussel / Belgium.
I was caught last August in the WBG scam. I ignored all their e-mails and letters, sometimes replying with a fake “undeliverable message”. About 45 days ago I received a letter from Walberg & Hirsh their collection agency, which I also ignored. Since then nothing…. end of story? I cross my fingers…
So do not worry, just ignore them
I really don’t understand why people aren’t able to read the conditions of an contract. Especially when it’s addressed to companys.
Even if i hate these kind of scam because we all are loosing so much time because of these bandits.
But if you’re doing business you have to be smar and read!
We are faced with same situation. These people sent us several emails . Now we got a letter by post from Waldberg & Hirsch global collections ltd ,signed by Mr K.Van Ruler (legal cfounselor) . We are based in United Arab Emirates. They are demanding us to pay euro 1729 within 15 days or they will take necessary legal steps against our company !!
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