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29 responses
Hi,
Yes it is hot topic. People complaing about “World Business Guide”. I also run web site “Worldbusinessdiary.com (World Business Guide) which is No. 1 in Google for “World Business Guide” I want to make it clear that this email is also not from us.
Thanks.
Company in Mexico received this on marketing@ e-mailaddress. Requested to delete all e-mailaddresses with certain e-mail addresses from databases.
Hi,
Yes I recieved this e-mail in 10/Feb. I had embarrassed with that email. Thanks for the advice. I have now deleted it.
Helo
I have been caught in this scam and just today paid 332 euros towards the annual fee of 995 euros. I am stopping the bank payment tomorrow and seeking legal advice. Please, if ANYONE can help me fight this I would be MOST grateful.
Thanks
Angus Margerison
Hi Angus,
I’ve talked to a number of people and they all recommend going to a solicitor to try to sort this out, as it is an actual contract issue.
Regards
Dave
We just received an email regarding the World Business Guide today. It is definitely a marketing trick to get subscribers to their service and it is quite a deceptive practice if you ask me.
Keep an eye out for such emails and read all the information. This scam was sent through a spoofed email address, the document needs to be forwarded to a PO Box in The Netherlands while the company is located in Spain according to the document. These are points that should alert you that this is a possible scam.
Hello.
I’m sorry to say I am a victim of this scam and just recieived the invoice today 🙁 I am ofcourse not planning to pay and sending back what they sent me, but is there an athority I can contact to stop them from starting to harass me?? Please everyone, think very carefully what you sign.. I know we are all busy but it’s such a lot of worry and hassel of we dont read things more carefully.. Lets hope somehow we can put a stop to this.
All best,
Leelo from Estonia
Hi,
help me too
i got their letter and then invoice, help me to deal with it, i see they are cheating, but how can i protect myself?
Please, Help me!!!!
LET”S FIND THE WAY TO STOP THEM!!!!
Tan from belarus
Hi Tan,
Personally, I would suggest ignoring this as it has happened to many companies around europe and it looks like they do not actually follow up on their threats, they just sent this out and hope that a few people do not already know about it and pay. Many do pay!
Ignore and delete it.
Regards
Dave
Hi Tan!
I am from Ukraine. Also the victim… I wrote them we are not going to pay their invoce and to delete all our data from site but they just ignore me and continue to sent e-mails and faxes.
I will also ignore them not answering their mails. But I really do not know whether they can
sue us.
Hi there;
WBG, ran by International Directories Group Ltd is not at its first operation. More information, a must read page can be found at
http://www.stopecg.org/world_business_guide.htm
If you browse toward the main page, you’ll find information on other operations using the same methods. Some companies have recently been liquidated but it appears the operations from Spain is still running.
Best advice to be given is to ignore the reminders (keep them for evidence of spaming and harrassement) and try to report the case to relevant authorities.
Also spread the word anywhere you can. If all victims gather, it can push the authorities to take action swiftly.
I also fall into this trap however I am not paying…joing the facebook group, also their debt collection company is fake no one should pay as of many researches and blog i have been through never read that anyone was sued or been forced to pay…
Hi,
I too am receiving their threats after I sent by email the form filled but not actually signed personally. They have even sent a CD with the directory and have added my company name to their web directory as well. We all know this is a trap, but has anyone actually been sued? Please reply.
As far as I am aware they have not got anyone successfully as yet. I would ask legal advice though.
Oh my God, yes, just got sucked in too….
I’m definitely not paying, I’m so upset that I got caught, it’s misleading conduct and have sought legal advice. I am going to alert The Dutch Consumer Authority – The Netherlands and The Institututo Nacional de Consumer – Spain to report and check. In fact according to my legal source there is a recent judgment which shows the authorities in the Netherlands are taking misleading conduct cases seriously and can impose fines of up to 100,000 Euros per mailing in fines – so hoping that will help. If everyone reports them there, then it may build the case better for everyone to get them stopped!!!
Hi All,
Just FYI they have reach Bulgaria already – thanks for the info about them! Lets stop this!
All the best,
Iliyana
I too received their e-mail on my dutch e-mail address. Since the e-mail states a dutch postal address, this mail, which is unsollicited, could be reported to the Dutch authorities, called OPTA on http://www.opta.nl
Since october 1st of this year it is required by law in Holland that the sender of commercial e-mail uses an opt-in system, so they need to have your written/electronic approval up front to send you commercial mail, otherwise it is SPAM which is not allowed.
I am not sure if mail sent to foreign addresses from Dutch companies will be treated the same in the law here in Holland.
I will be reporting them to the OPTA, however
Fred
hi wim
did you mean to send this to us or the world businness guide people?
Regards
Dave
This has happened to our company also. My poor PA is really upset that she fell for such a scam. Here is my response
Dear Ravena,
As you know we have cancelled this order by registered post. You should be aware that your letter and emails and faxes, which constitutes punishable spam under Irish and UK legal code (Article 109 IRE), are now part of a legal file that I have passed on to my attorney and will seek legal action against your company.
However, I am willing to settle with your company for the payment of the costs I incurred in processing your email, which make up for a total of 105 Euros, which constitutes an hour of work. I am more than willing to provide you with an invoice and a contract freeing you of all further claims from me if you so desire!
Please note that for every future email, letter, fax, or telephone call from you or your company, there will be an increased charge of 55 Euro. So you are clear this figure is not negotiable and does not appear in any small print.
Yours sincerely
Peter
P.S. I have also published this to my well-read web site network:
Dear Sir,
We are a NGO Visamo Kids Foundation which provides free boarding, food and Schooling up to 12grade to the underprviliged children of the society. We misunderstood the contract and hoping that it is a free insertion of data in the directory we opted for the same but since the last one month we are in trouble as their is continuos reminder from the company. As we are a NGO each and every activity of the foundation runs through the support of donors and support from the society, howcome we able to pay such a huge amount needed for registration. I have request to cancel the order given in favour of us. Please guide.
You may address to Legal & Enforcement Division,
Financial Services Commission. They will advise that this company World Business Guide, and International Directories Group Ltd do not have licence to provide financial services business by the BVI Financial Services Commission, which is I believe is a must and will advise to address to your local enforcement authorities about this issue.
It seems, that a lot of people suffer from them and you should all make an effort to stop them.
Our small boutique hotel in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico was caught too and have started to receive reminders (Today the second one) we defenitily are not going to pay. But we really do not know what to do. We would appreciate if someone can help us on this issue.
How can I ignore the invoices. So poor me. I was caught also. Since we are the hotel and golf course. We work as a group, then I send them the information all 3 properties we have. Now recieve 3 invoices. Can I get sue? Need help!
Hi Thanya,
Everyone else in here is advising to ignore them, I would too.
Regards
Dave
We filled in the form that was emailed too in November 2009. Now the reminder payment letters are arriving with the legal threats. Has anyone an update on the situation here. Thanks.
The advice everyone seems to get is to ignore them as they don’t call to your door to collect or send solicitors or lawyers
Our tourist agency wants to registration in world tourism industry.Thank you in advance
Make sure you don’t register for the world business guide, this could cost you nearly €1,000 per year !
It is sad that I was be caught in. Inform it is come to China already. I will ingore the invoice and mails from now on as every adviced above.