This company’s aim is to help you get to the top of Google by creating ads (just like you could do yourself in Adwords) for five chosen keywords… Say in my photography speciality: any combination of “wedding photographer cambridge/suffolk/norfolk” you name it. For a fixed monthly fee.

Their website states “pay as you go”, “complete flexibility”, “no long term commitment, you can walk away whenever you want”, blah blah blah

I decided to try and use them to see what it was like, for a few months, but just as Christmas was looming, I decided to stop and pause my ads for a few months. My ads were running from the 20th of a given month to the 20th of the next month. I sent an email to my “contact” on November 13 2009 asking them to stop my ads for the time being, and stop taking the money. They said okay, eventhough trying to have me reduce the number of my keywords. But no I wanted to stop and not renew for another month.

They then proceeded to stop my ad straight away. While it had at least five days left to run! And you bet? On November 23rd 2009, took my monthly payment (£177.10 this time) as usual! And still my ads were not running. They then ignored all of my emails asking about the whereabouts of my money. When I called, I was put on hold for 10 minutes, then told that person would call me back in 5 minutes… You bet? They never returned my call.

When I finally started losing my patience with them, and left a message threatening to call my solicitor, got called back within 5 minutes, from a “lovely” guy who explained that if the money was taken this time, it is only because they have a 30 days notice policy, blah blah blah. But still he was at a loss to explain why my ads were not running anymore while the money had been taken.

A quick call to the company and a chat with (probably) a more junior sale staff, lovely lady who confirmed when I asked her (as a prospective buyer interested in advertising with them): “So, say I am advertising with you, and want a break for a few months, can I cancel my service at ANY time? Without any 30 day notice or the like?” … Answer: “That’s correct Sir! You can pause your service at ANY time. We are very flexible.” It’s only when I mentioned to her my call from the day before and being told about a 30 days notice that she developed a sudden stutter. Hmmm…

Hence to this day, and as of that morning, I have not been able to chat to my contact, the aptly named Mr Conway!!! He was working from home apparently that morning (meaning: he is unreachable, and probably won’t be available for the rest of the day).

So, a word of advice, and yes I learnt my lesson: Stay well clear of those “marketing” sharks!

Note: I contested the £177.10 with my bank, and I won the dispute! I got my money back from Egg. Yay! So try and pay via credit card, and you can always contest these transactions.