A google search shows this company/website as being squeaky clean (www.united-kingdom-industry-commerce.com) but if you google the name they are trading under – ‘European City Guide’ (The name is all over the paperwork we recieved) you will find a plenty of scam stories.
It seems they have simply made a new website which has no bad press attached to it.
Have a look at stopecg.org
EDIT: 24/07/2012 - www.stopecg.org is the best resource for information and it has details on who to contact (trading standards).
November 17, 2011 at 2:44 pm
We’ve just received a ‘Register of Business Information’ Form from this company.
Should we be fairly careful in reply as these databases seem to be frequented by con artists looking for a quick buck contacting company’s with bogus sales!
Thanks
June 1, 2012 at 3:06 pm
James can you tell me what has happened so far up to now please ?
February 21, 2012 at 11:47 am
Yes they’ve been pestering me after asking for my business details then saying I owe them money when I specifically told them to mention nothing of my businesses. They then lifted a page off my web site!! Sent it to me, then said I have to pay them over £1000?
Needless to say I will not be sending anything.
September 3, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Hi, i found myself in a very similer situation. Industry-commerce demanding nearly £1000 , for the advert I never ask to be placesed, they send me very well made up letter, with my business details,which looks just like an anuall conformation of address, but the name was wrong so I corrected it and sign which easily can be sign in error (as I done), so now they billing me!!! I know < i should of looked better, but I also know, it's a scam, just not sure, how to deal with it. Any Ideas welcome.
March 9, 2012 at 11:53 am
i seem to have filled in what i thought was a survey and they are demanding a thousand euros! I am not going to pay the thing was a con
March 29, 2012 at 8:57 am
I have recieved a register of business info from this company and do not have any recollection of any conversation or filling in of any survey to do with them.
Needless to say I will be keeping an eye on what transpires and will follow it up eagerly to block all attemts to scam me.
March 29, 2012 at 5:05 pm
I too have received a form this morning regarding ‘Industry and Commerce. I will not fill it in, I will not write to them ackowledging the letter, the return address is not even for this country. It has scam written all over it if you know what I mean. Read the wording very carefully people.
April 17, 2012 at 11:19 am
We too have received this register of business information and a request for £897.00. The advert is from the website of our parent company and has nothing to do with our trade. We have sent all paperwork back saying ‘this has nothing to do with our company’ but are still receiving demands. Obviously it is a scam and we will not be paying the demand.
June 1, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Yes i too was sent a set of forms and just thought it was a governments registration or something then weeks later they sent me a proof of advertising and then i cancelled it but have now sent me a first reminder for £946.34 its a big scam !!!!!!!!!
September 3, 2012 at 4:23 pm
So, is anything else happened since?
June 6, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I too was sent demands for a form i never sighed or saw. It had a signature which is not mine. Tried to cancel this as i had never seen this form until they sent me a photo copy of only the last page. Now threatening legal action ( Twats!) . Just have to ride this out according to other web pages on this Matter as the threats get worse! Also apparently continues as a 3 year rolling contract! Great!.
Would appreciate a copy of the full document if any one has one as I’ve never seen it!
June 7, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I have also received a letter demanding monie. They seem to have a copy of my signature, but i have no recolection of signing anything, i am always really careful especially when it comes to advertising. I have had an email stating that they have not received my signature frauduently and it is a binding agreement. I have no intention of paying them a penny.
Has anyone else recently had correspondance from this company going under the name of united-kingdom-industry-commerce ??????
July 4, 2012 at 12:44 pm
I received a form asking me if the details were correct for free advertising I signed not taking much notice of what it was thinking thats what I had to do now getting letters saying I owe £900 and odd pound for inclusion on there website what that is I dont know and in there inter-professional CD-ROM not a clue what that is they also say if I want to make any amendments to our advert as it appear(I have never received any proofs to check) please send them additional information I have no Idea were there website is. I am trying to fight this but keep getting letters saying I have signed a legally binding contract I am now very worried as it is a lot of money for something i know nothing about can you help? Ann
September 3, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I did that too, could you let me know, if anything else happened since, please. I just got invoice last week.
October 11, 2012 at 10:51 am
I am now at the legal document stage have goggled this company for hours and on every site I see the same story no one is paying I have watched Videos from MEPS telling people not to pay write to your local MP tell them whats going on write to The Consumer Protection Directorate Valencia Spain with your complaint yet to find the post code.It is a scam and relies on bullying small businesses into paying for something that they know is neither use nor ornament to them.
They are good at what they do please goggle them and see all the sites with all the complaints we are not the only ones to be caught out there are many I feel such a fool as I am usually so careful as I dont have money to throw away its hard enough keeping going in these trying times for small firms. I am trying to hold my nerve and not pay as advised by so many but when its just you responsible for the finances of your company its hard.If they stated clearly what they were about no one would take them up who wants to be advertised abroad when your company is a small concern serving the public in a small town they target that market because we are easy to put pressure on.
March 8, 2013 at 6:14 pm
I have had a form off them and sighed it by mistake thought it was for a free add, now they want £1040 for puting it on a cd, the first letter i got was from this country uk the second letter came from switzerland, and the money they want goes to an address in spain.
June 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Today recieved an official looking form from “Industry and Commerce” requesting me to check info and return form. Be very carefull!! do not sign and return or you may be liable to pay “cost per edition of Euro 997.00 + VAT if applicable”. I have checked their web site and cannot find any listing at all in my postcode area, never mind a listing for me.
June 29, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Today I recieved a document from ‘Industry and Commerce’ “Register of Business Information”. Unles you wish to be liable for a fee of “Euro 997.00 + vat” do not sign and return the form. I checked their website and could not find a listing in my postcode area of any business far less my own.. My advice is be very wary!!!!!
July 2, 2012 at 2:56 pm
have just recieved a form saying i am registerd with this company and i have not filled any forms in for this company, they are asking me to confirm my details and sighn the document and if i do they will put me onto a cd rom for european city guide, i contacted trading standards and they are quite aware of this company and was told not to sighn anything and to be aware as they will try anything to get money from you, just inform trading standards of the situation and do nothing even if they threaten you
September 3, 2012 at 4:29 pm
The Trading Standards are working for the Uk and this company based in Spain or something like that, so I am not sure what the Trading standards could do anything for us!! Please let us know, more about it.
July 16, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Can any one tell me if they have been threatened with court action from this company I have now had my second warning about paying the £947.00 they are asking for I would not mind paying for a proper advert but have seen no art work no paper work apart from first form can any one help?
July 18, 2012 at 11:57 am
Iv have now had the letter saying i will b transferred to the debit collectors and miraculously just received a cd rom (Funny that from Hungary)) . don’t pay as this apparently goes on a long while. Just try to ignore them! as they have never taken any one to court (Your Not alone!)
April 17, 2013 at 7:33 pm
I am now being threated by them after I told them to take me to court, with international debt collectors, from what I gather They will be in touch ,but cannot do any thing.This company did the same under the name of ECG,go to stop the european city guide) and there are 13 page about there scam and helpful information ian ratcliffe
July 20, 2012 at 6:12 am
I too have had two letters and a cd, they should be hung its a disgusting trick. Again I have not asked to be on this cd!!
August 13, 2012 at 1:47 pm
My company received a letter from Industry & Commerce by European City Guide, Valencia dated 31/07/12.
They stated that we had agreed to advertising within their forthcoming publication and have included both the Invoice and a copy of the advert which was signed off as proof of the order.
Firstly, the Invoice was for an amount of £922.38 which we as a small business would never have agreed to.
Secondly, the signature (which appeared to be mine) was dated 1st July 2012 which was a Sunday so I would not have been in the office on that day to sign anything.
Finally, the logo used in the advert proof was incorrect so would never have been signed off.
My major concern was how they managed to get a copy of my signature, as I have no recolection of signing any Directory amendment documentation. I would also keep a copy of every document or order that was signed, and I do not have a copy of anything evening remotely similar.
So, we’ve not paid anything and won’t be.
August 14, 2012 at 1:23 pm
hi. i have just recieved a letter saying that i owe this company ( industry & commerce- united kingdom xiv 1176,46 (eur) they have sent back proof sheets with my singnature on it, above it says how much im due. but i never filled that sheet. it was a survey on which i signed my name. they are now demanding cash. can anybody help me on this matter. quite worried about this.
April 17, 2013 at 7:35 pm
read Stop the european city giuide, it has all the inform ation about this scam 13 pages. ianratcliffe
August 20, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Today 20/03/2012, I too received a form United-Kingdom-Industry-Commerce. I went to their website to get my business deleted as it closed when I retired in 2006. No entry existed and my experiences were all as described above. Their form will not be returned and I now await their invoice trying to con money out of me! AT 80, I can well do without this nonsence.
Regards
R J Southwell
September 19, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I too have had them trying to say that we have placed an advert in Industry Commerce and I have not signed or authorised anything. Despite several emails and replys from them demanding payment, I will not be sending it.
Glad to see im not the only one who they are trying to scam. Stand your ground guys!!
October 10, 2012 at 4:39 am
I have had the same, a cd rom and invoices, fact is its a huge Scam, I never asked to advertise and I also was led to believe it was a government survey, has anyone got the original first letter???
October 11, 2012 at 10:59 am
Hi Neil
You send the original back they leave it at least 2 month before you get hit with the bill to late to cancel they then send you a copy on white paper that you can read clearly the first was on pale pink faded with writing you could hardly read with a mistake on your details mine was my post code I changed and signed under the impression it was free then they have you hooked I am not giving in without a fight cant afford. Ann
March 8, 2013 at 6:25 pm
HI i did just the same, sighned it by mistake now they want £1040, i thought it was a free add, i feel a bit better with all these comments, i will ride the storm that, no doubt is to come.
October 11, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I’ve got following email from them:
We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated 23/08/2012.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel your order contract with our company since the order was duly signed and returned to us. This order has contractually committed both parties in the service clearly expressed in our mailing.
According to the terms and conditions of your advertisement order, the applicant can withdraw the order in writing within fifteen days from the signing of the order form. Since your cancellation request was made after the authorised cancellation period, your order became totally valid and legally binding.
It is our obligation as a publishing company to publish advertisements on our guide for our clients. You have asked us to remove your advertisements from our website at http://www.united-kingdom-industry-commerce.com. However, if we were to do this we would not be fulfilling our contractual obligations. However, in order to remove it, you must write to us again, specifically stating that you give us permission not to fulfil our contractual obligations to you as a client. Once we have this in writing, we will instruct our Graphics and IT Departments to remove your online advertisement. However, this action does not alter the fact that you still have a contractual obligation to our company.
Therefore, we kindly ask you to honour your existing contractual commitments and settle your invoice at your earliest convenience.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to write to us, quoting the above reference number on all future correspondence.
Yours sincerely,
Customer Service
p.p. F. López
Industry and Commerce
http://www.united-kingdom-industry-commerce.com
October 11, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I am not going to bother to email them back. I will just ignore their emails/invoices.
It seems it is a big con and there are thousands of us affected.
October 30, 2012 at 11:16 am
I’ve had exactly the same! Letters asking for £1000 for advertising on a CDRom???
Big scam. Took mine to the police and have reported it to FRAUD. Tel: 0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.org.uk
I’m just worried how they got hold of my signature and a random date? I looked on my calendar for that date and I signed and dated a form at my local “Kwikfit” garage that day. Has anyone else looked at what they signed for on the date they have your signature for? Just wondering if there may be a pattern…?
October 31, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Hello, everyone, just want to leave an update on my situation. Now I ave received 2 reminders fron them, not going to respond. I had phoned to trading standards they are aware of it recommened me not to replay but keep all the letters from them in case i would need it later on. So, That’s what I am doing, just like you Ann feel so stupid, as uaually i am not like that at all. Just shows , they are good at beed bad. We need to support each other through this.
December 9, 2012 at 9:42 pm
know what you mean when I get a letters from them demanding money I just look at all the letters on this sight and get the strength to carry on I am not going to pay though I find it very frightening they threatening me now with legal action that could finish me but I will not give in keep your chin up and dont give in keep in touch let me know how your doing made me more aware when get phone calls or emails check it out
March 8, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I quite agree i am not that stupid but something happened to me, that day dont know what but sighed the damn thing and sent it off,
November 2, 2012 at 10:48 am
thank you all
i just tried to find their address on their site so i could reply to them
BUT found this site their letter is now in the bin
thank you all again
November 6, 2012 at 3:05 pm
yes scammed as well , nice too hear im not as stupid as i feel !!! will ignore !!
November 10, 2012 at 8:20 am
I have had the bills and emails as per the other people. I told them to f off. I had a copy of something that I supposed to have signed but it was not our signature.
What is more troublesome is that they have listed our company and put a 1 star rating on. They may of course start making up fake bad reviews. This is heading towards blackmail.
Action needs to be taken
January 30, 2013 at 2:11 pm
Hello, everybody, an other update from me. After a few letters from them asking me to pay this invoice , I getting a letter from a new address!!! They now got new business name and address PORTAL EMPRESARIAL, S.L . Still in Spain!! They in form me what now they assign my case to an international debt collection agency. So, we shall see! I will not pay, I’d rather go to court and will make it as pablic as posible. If anyone knows what to excpect from them now , please let me know.
November 19, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Mike,
Thanks for this site, it is a relief to hear that they are doing this to everyone and confirms that Industry+Commerce based in Valencia are a scam outfit. I am post the hungarian CD ROm and onto the next invoice with an ever mounting amount at the end of it.
When i rang them today and spoke to Violetta (not her raly name) it was clear despite her good Enlgish she was well acquainted with the term 419 scam and she said her boss was Nigerian.
At the end of the conversation, I asked her how she lept at night. She became agitated.
All the best
James
December 4, 2012 at 11:17 am
They have been doing this with me for over a year now, my bill is now well over the £2000 mark now, there has never been a court case up to date , these guys are a Freemason syndicate , bunch of scum bags , don’t worry about the threats .
They keep moving there offices, started in Australia , then Valencia and now in the Netherlands . Ring your local police and let them know, and for goodness sake , don’t pay them a penny. People don’t be fooled by Freemasons , they are scum, the whole lot, it’s an evil movement from the pit of hell
December 27, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I signed a letter from industry and commerce scammers and have been going through all the nonsence for nearly a year. My advice is to totally ignore all mail and any other correspondence as my soliciter has informed me their contract is not worth the paper it is written on.
February 5, 2013 at 9:01 am
Thanks for the heads up on this. Recieved the first letter today with out of date info on my business. I was going on their website to delete it but I think I will just ignore it.
March 7, 2013 at 5:26 pm
I have been scammed also thought it was a register sent out by an “EU” organisation – feel so stupid!
Will pass it all on to my solicitor and MEP can’t afford the £850!
March 14, 2013 at 10:19 am
I’ve got one of these – it’s very obviously not a survey if you actually read through it all. It’s going in the bin now and I’m not expecting to be invoiced for anything. These scammers expect people to just blindly fill these things in and send them back – it’s how they operate! I recommend a little less haste and more care in future.
March 22, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Hello all, Friends of mine had the same series of letters about 4-5 years ago from ‘European City Guide’ as it was called, since that time, they have moved their business to another town some 40 miles away & once again the letters have started coming again under the new name of ‘Industry & Commerce’. Same old scam & same old threats. To date they have NEVER taken anyone to court and never sent the baliffs in to anyone. Please do not be afraid for the future, if you have signed or even if you just get a follow-on bill… they are just spending money on postage to get more junk mail to you. In the past I have been in communication with various MEP’s over this issue and there are laws in place to stop scams such as this, the only problem is, these scam artists just keep moving address. But PLEASE, just scan and email your scam letter details to your local MEP to get a bit more coverage to this on going problem. That is what MEPs are there for.
March 25, 2013 at 11:52 am
I am so sorry all you guys have fell for the same however it makes me feel slightly bettter about the whole situation!! I too signed what I thought was a typical official check your details form which I had previously ignored so following I think about the third letter reqesting me to check my company details I simply thought oopps better send that back ? I’m not even convinced I signed the same form that they at my request faxed over to prove I had signed into the agreement !?? this was approximately a year ago I have today recieved a ‘first remider’ (cheek!!) with wait for this a second edition !! I have had several conversations with various departemnts this morni9ng and the main piont is to make sure you tell every department possible I have again reported this as a scam but I think after reading the above I will send what I have to my local MP !
My advise do not pay a penny but register your worries with citizens advise, police (crime number) and please help the cause by sending letters to your local MP’s they will help !!!
Good luck everyone !!
April 1, 2013 at 11:05 am
Have been in email contact with a I Jones this person has offered me a discount of 20% off the invoice – they go on to say that I am committed to this contract as I signed the form which I admit I stupidly did I have explained that I cannot afford to pay and to please release me from this contract they have me on a “hook” will keep you informed!
April 11, 2013 at 6:13 pm
I sign a form which looked like a government survey now it’s the 2nd year and I got a final warning to pay a fine and for advertising on their cd. Am very relieved to see I am not the only person, though I live in France and they seem now to operate their scam here! Will keep letters and inform you if there are any more news. Thank you for this webpage.
April 17, 2013 at 5:21 pm
I was sent a letter by industry commecen based in valencia, i have no recolection of the leeter that they have sent me but it has my signature on it? also states that i owe them £1200, after reading all of y our comments and stories i feel too im am being scammed please if anyone has any help or advise let me know, thankyou
May 24, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Hi Katy
Try not to let this company depress you. If you google European City Guide, you will see information about their convictions in 2003 whereby they were fined £200,000 by a Barcelona Court, and 275,000 euros by a Belgian court in March 2007 for misleading advertising, fraud, and attempted fraud. They will not wish to take anyone to court as it seems quite clear that the so called enhanced contract that they sent is unenforceable. I suggest you contact the Office of Fair Trading at: Fleetbank House 2 – 6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JX to complain about ECG. also write to the authorities in Valencia.
Please contact me if you require further help.
Best wishes
David Phillips.
June 16, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Hi,
Sorry no response, these letters are worrying me, I took advice to just ignore them but after looking on other web pages it says I should report them, it infuriates me why people have to commit these offences and cause others unnecessary stress. any help appreciated x
April 20, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Hi Folks.
Thank you for your comments. I’ve leaved the same situation in Canada. The only lessons we can grab are:
- read small caps paragraph and marges in contracts (even if it doesn’t look like a contract, like in the case of Industry+Commerce)
- never pay a dime of what they ask for.
They stopped harassing me a few month ago, They got no answer from me after I sent them a ‘discard this contract’ letter. That’s all they got. And I’m confident they cannot do nothing agains us. They just send letters and threats. That all. It would be too expensive for them to do more.
Greetings from the Mapple Leaf country!
April 23, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I have also been scammed has anyone contacted trading standards?
It has caused quite a bit of stress, how can they get away with it!!
May 14, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Hi, every one. I received CD today, in a post. Not going to look at it but will keep for the record, along with all 4 letters from them, just in case. It is coming up to a year now since it’s all began. Yes, I wish they will leave me alone, every time i see letter from them I feel sick. Really hope, they will get arrested, but , there are could be others after. I certainly have learned my lesson. I will not pay,no!
Good to see people care to inform us about their experience, makes me feel better. Thank you all.
May 25, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Hi Natasha
Please see the comments and advice that I sent to Katy. These people are feral, hard nosed, and just try to manipulate people. They think that they can bully people into submission, but I will not let them do this to me.
They never seem to learn a lesson from previous convictions. I do consider that a custodial sentence may tech them a lesson. I will be complaining to the authorities in Valencia about them, and will suggest custody as an option as to a fine. I am pleased everyone is refusing to pay them, and I would urge everyone to contact our Office of Fair Trading in London as well as complaining to the authorities in Valencia. For anyone to pay them is a fatal error.
Let us all stay strong so to beat these despicable con merchants. I would prefer to shake hands with raw sewage than with them, or anyone like them.
Best wishes to you all.
Regards
David Phillips
May 5, 2013 at 4:15 pm
How did you put together your “discard this contract” letter T?
May 17, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Hi every one iv’e also received a second letter which is a first reminder, three days
ago i received my cd, not going to put it in my pc, just going to ignore them and put the cd with the rest of there rubbish, good look every one
May 18, 2013 at 9:05 am
This lot of theives did me last year and I paid them over £800 much to my disgust.
Now another inovoice has arrived & I’ll not be paying a bean. In fact, I fancy getting on a flight and confronting them face on. It’ll be cheaper plus it will give me peace of mind.
May 20, 2013 at 11:58 am
Hi All
Just like everyone on here, we to returned the contract.. it read as if they wanted me to check my details.. big con!
i have now received a second 1000 euro invoice, we sent letters terminating this and they refuse saying we are in a binding contract.
Its a worry but i refuse to pay a penny and im currently taking legal advise. Has any one had court action taken agints them as a result of this?
May 23, 2013 at 8:00 pm
I have also mistakenly signed a form, and like many of you, I have received invoices, reminders, and even threats of legal action for non payment. Did any of you know that this company was fined £200,000 by a Barcelona court in 2003 for this type of scam. It was reported in the Mail on Sunday July 15th 2012 on Tony Hetherington’s finance pages. I have emailed him, and he states that they will probably not take anyone to court. I realise my mistake, and I am usually careful with this type of matter.
Believe it or not, despite me not payng them last year, they have now thanked me for my continuous participation, and have invoiced me for another year, plus last year. Beggars belief doesn’t it?. They can whistle, hum, squeal, or whatever, I will not pay them a penny. Will see them in court if maybe. Some business they are running. No advertising firm would operate like this. You always are furnished with a proof prior to publication followed by request for payment. Their advertisements are very sub standard. as for the enhanced contract as they call it, it is only fit for use as toilet paper if non was available.
I have read with interest comments made, and invite anyone to email me with their comments. I would suggest that everyone receiving demands for payment to contact the Office of Fair Trading if not already done so at: Fleetbank House 2 – 6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JX. Once they receive many, or are inundated with complaints about this company, they will under obligation to act as they did in 2003 to have this company taken back to court.
I trust that my email is useful. Best wishes & good luck to you all.
Regards
David Phillips
June 10, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Nice post David.
I’ll be putting a letter together and sending it off to The Office of Fair Trading so that they are aware ‘again’ that these crooks are at it still. I’ll include all my letters & e-mails, sent & received as well so that they will be reminded of how the operate.
If I get any good news out of OFT I’ll let you all know.
May 25, 2013 at 9:45 am
Thank you all for your comments and suggested routes for reporting and complaining. I shall do all of them in the hope that it will help get some action against these people.
We are not going to correspond with them at all now and have told them so. But will keep incoming paperwork just in case.
Be strong everyone.