I own a very small IT business which was set up following a long and totally disabling illness. I had to give up teaching and lecturing and recently set up the business which is run on a very part time basis as energy levels allow. I have also returned to teaching on a part time basis.
A salesman from Sales Point (WRT) persistently called by phone. Eventually I agreed to meet him at my home.
The salesman offered advertising on a post box in our local branch of Sainsbury's.
He told me the following:
1. Market research – Customers leaving the local Gravesend Sainsbury’s store were polled. They indicated that the top of their list of advertisers for the postbox would be a reliable local IT repair company. LIES!!!
2. The advertisements have produced excellent results around the country. LIES!!!
3. Their company offers the highest standards of customer care. LIES!!!
4. Sainsbury’s and other companies have been pleased to associate their names with WRT due to the highest quality of service WRT delivers to its customers. There no evidence of that, but plenty of evidence to the contrary from other customers. LIES!!!
5. I would have exclusive IT rights advertising on the postbox. LIES!!!
6. Their postbox advertising methods are highly effective and generate large numbers of customers. LIES!!!
7. The advertising campaign was imminent. LIES!!!
8. Several other comments were made, all LIES!!
I declined the offer due to the very high costs involved. I explained that I could not possibly afford to risk such a large sum of money. I attempted to escort him to the door.
The salesman, on his way to the door, turned round and then further deliberately misrepresented and/or lied on several more important details, offering a much more attractive deal with much lower costs…LIES!!! including my right to cancel at any time…LIES!!! and have a full refund on all monies paid (except for initial deposit of £157.58 +VAT for artwork etc)…LIES!!! if no customers came forward.
This is roughly what I would have spent advertising locally and thought it was a reasonably good deal. I again asked him to confirm that I could cancel if there were no customers and he again confirmed that….LIES!!! That lessened the risk considerably.
I said I would think it over and asked him to ring back after we returned from holiday. He told me that the advertising campaign was imminent ….LIES!!! and I had to decide there and then because another company would have taken my slot by the time we returned. LIES!!!. I signed up for the deal he described.
No copy of the “agreement” was left with me. The salesman had previously handed me a brochure but I had already given it back to him.
Artwork arrived after several weeks. It was of extremely poor quality. I had to design my own artwork which was sent back to WRT. My original design was then posted back to me for approval.
The post box advertising actually started months after the suggested time scale set out by the salesman, just before Christmas.
Not a single customer responded even during the busy Christmas period.
I wrote a letter of cancellation which I was told I was entitled to do by the salesman. My first letter was ignored. Later I had a very abrupt phone call demanding money. I explained the situation and was told to email Customer Services. I emailed them a copy of my cancellation letter.
Customer Services and Accounts at WRT Group plc sent a letter demanding the rest of the entire sum (over £500) and said that I could not cancel.
A further demand for payment arrived threatening legal action and the hiring of a debt recovery company.
I again wrote to Customer Services repeating the information I had already given them. I warned them that I would expose them and would contact Sainsbury’s (who seem to endorse this particular company - but for how much longer if they treat their customers like this?), BBC Watchdog and others.
WRT customers on the Internet state that all WRT Customer Services are interested in is prohibiting people from cancelling their contracts and threatening them with bailiffs and legal action if they don’t pay up.
“Don’t touch them with a bargepole” is how one of their customers put it.
I would suggest that this shower, or so called “company” is no better than common thieves and fraudsters.
I wrote again suggesting that fraud had taken place and their operations require a full investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.
A short while letter another letter arrived stating that an internal investigation had taken place, that the salesman denied making one of my claims (I assume he admitted all of the others?), that the artwork was satisfactory (as I had approved my own copy), that the timescale was within reason (even by their calculations it was many months), that I am locked into a full two year contract with them and there is no facility whatsoever to cancel, despite what their salesman promised and that I owe them the full amount which is in excess of £500.
I think their whole approach is indecent, dishonest, fraudulent, outrageous, greedy and illegal. It must be stopped immediately.
It would appear that many others have experienced similar problems to me. Just look at comments made on the Internet about this “company”.
I urge NOBODY to even consider dealing with these LIARS and CROOKS.
I am presently collating information about these fraudulent parasites from previous and existing customers of theirs. A fascinating pattern is emerging which relies on individuals being swindled by completely dishonest and ruthless salesmen, then being sold one product but actually signing up to a far more expensive in an unwanted but so called legally binding deal. The customer then feels totally isolated and helpless, being made to feel that it is their fault and that they are the only ones suffering at the hand of these crooks.
I have had very many sleepless nights as a result of their fraudulent operations and threatening demands and my health has suffered.
This so called “company” is hiding behind honourable and highly respected High Street names….but for how much longer? Once word gets out about their fraudulent sales techniques they will be immediately dropped – and quite rightly so.
If you have had dealings (good or bad) with WRT or Service Point (or any other branch of their company advertising in Sainsbury, Debenhams, Homebase or Tesco etc) please email me at [email protected].
I will be taking my evidence to the Police, the Office of Fair Trading and will post copies to the managing directors of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and every other place WRT have advertising placements in.