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Hi all.
Just to say I love this forum and appreciate all the advise people bring to it.
I am a sole trader and was cold called by an advertising company called Leisure Medical UK last year with an offer to advertise my services on doctors appointment cards in the area. At the time I thought this was a good idea.
I accepted the meeting with the rep and he actually came to my home rather than my business address. He explained the size of the advert and also the cost which was fine so I signed up to them. I was providing my own artwork for the advert as artwork is part of what I do for a living and I deal with advertising companies all the time so I always submit my own ready to print artwork and have never have a problem with them. I also paid Leisure Medical an upfront payment to the rep of around £90 and it was about £320 for 2 years.
I submitted my artwork and was told I would not be charged any more until I have signed off the proof (which is standard) and the advert goes live.
I waited a few months and was hit with a bill from Leisure medical for the first years payment (as it was a 2 year contract). I phoned them and asked what they was playing at as I had not even seen a proof to which they apologised and said they would send one out.
When it arrived a few days later, the design had been placed wrong (the printing company they used had overstretched the image so you could not see my logo and text, it was pretty much a black box with the corner of my logo in it). I called them up and asked what was going on, they said it must of been an over site of the printer and will re-print them and send them out to the surgery again. I asked why they had already sent them out without me proofing it to which she said she was unsure.
I immediately told them that if they can't send a proof out or even check a print before distributing then this is not the sort of company I want to be dealing with and asked them not to proceed any further with the printing as i did not want to be involved with their company anymore. i also sent many emails to them stating why I didn't want to deal with them anymore or continue with the prints after the mistakes and unprofessionalism shown.
Earlier last month I received a letter from a debt remediation company but it was in my wife's name and not mine so I called them up on the number provided. I ended up having a very heated argument with a guy from this company telling my I need to pay. I told him I did not proof anything and Leisure Medical took it upon themselves to print and distribute.
He asked me how I would feel been placed in front of a judge in court to which I laughed and said you are not intimidating me, I am aware it is a civil matter so you are not giving me any scary images and he replied yep but it is still a judge (I love the intimidation tactics they try to use).
I asked why I should pay when I did not proof it or ask it to be distributed to which his reply was "why did you not chase it up". I said that I am a small business and the longer it takes to do, if i am not in a rush to have it done as I don't have to pay until it is ready, i am in no rush. He said it is my responsibility to chase them up to which my reply was, no it is the advertising companies responsibly to ensure I received a proof and that I am happy or need to make any changes.
I also asked if they had a recorded delivery number or any proof of posting for the proof but he laughed and said you obviously don't know what you are talking about. (very unprofessional). He said they had proof that they sent a proof out to me so I asked him to provide it to me but he avoided answering it.
He basically said I will have to pay end of and my reply was, They can keep the deposit but I will take my chances in court and put the phone down on him.
Now, even though I said all this in a heated debate, I am in the right as I have not heard anymore yet?
Just to say I love this forum and appreciate all the advise people bring to it.
I am a sole trader and was cold called by an advertising company called Leisure Medical UK last year with an offer to advertise my services on doctors appointment cards in the area. At the time I thought this was a good idea.
I accepted the meeting with the rep and he actually came to my home rather than my business address. He explained the size of the advert and also the cost which was fine so I signed up to them. I was providing my own artwork for the advert as artwork is part of what I do for a living and I deal with advertising companies all the time so I always submit my own ready to print artwork and have never have a problem with them. I also paid Leisure Medical an upfront payment to the rep of around £90 and it was about £320 for 2 years.
I submitted my artwork and was told I would not be charged any more until I have signed off the proof (which is standard) and the advert goes live.
I waited a few months and was hit with a bill from Leisure medical for the first years payment (as it was a 2 year contract). I phoned them and asked what they was playing at as I had not even seen a proof to which they apologised and said they would send one out.
When it arrived a few days later, the design had been placed wrong (the printing company they used had overstretched the image so you could not see my logo and text, it was pretty much a black box with the corner of my logo in it). I called them up and asked what was going on, they said it must of been an over site of the printer and will re-print them and send them out to the surgery again. I asked why they had already sent them out without me proofing it to which she said she was unsure.
I immediately told them that if they can't send a proof out or even check a print before distributing then this is not the sort of company I want to be dealing with and asked them not to proceed any further with the printing as i did not want to be involved with their company anymore. i also sent many emails to them stating why I didn't want to deal with them anymore or continue with the prints after the mistakes and unprofessionalism shown.
Earlier last month I received a letter from a debt remediation company but it was in my wife's name and not mine so I called them up on the number provided. I ended up having a very heated argument with a guy from this company telling my I need to pay. I told him I did not proof anything and Leisure Medical took it upon themselves to print and distribute.
He asked me how I would feel been placed in front of a judge in court to which I laughed and said you are not intimidating me, I am aware it is a civil matter so you are not giving me any scary images and he replied yep but it is still a judge (I love the intimidation tactics they try to use).
I asked why I should pay when I did not proof it or ask it to be distributed to which his reply was "why did you not chase it up". I said that I am a small business and the longer it takes to do, if i am not in a rush to have it done as I don't have to pay until it is ready, i am in no rush. He said it is my responsibility to chase them up to which my reply was, no it is the advertising companies responsibly to ensure I received a proof and that I am happy or need to make any changes.
I also asked if they had a recorded delivery number or any proof of posting for the proof but he laughed and said you obviously don't know what you are talking about. (very unprofessional). He said they had proof that they sent a proof out to me so I asked him to provide it to me but he avoided answering it.
He basically said I will have to pay end of and my reply was, They can keep the deposit but I will take my chances in court and put the phone down on him.
Now, even though I said all this in a heated debate, I am in the right as I have not heard anymore yet?
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