Beware of contracts
Thursday 19th March 2009, 8:29AM GMT.
LETTER: I would like to warn people about unscrupulous sales people.
I have unfortunately fallen foul of two salesmen recently and it has cost me my savings.
It appears that it is legal for a representative of a company to come to your house and blatantly lie because the contract he then gets you to sign has clauses like “this contract overrides any verbal promises made to you”.
OK, I know we are supposed to get a contract checked by a solicitor, but at more than £200 an hour how many people do that? So is it right that good honest everyday people like me and you can be exploited because we can’t afford justice?
Is it right that large companies with money should be allowed to rip off people because they have perfected the art of misleading you and then hiding behind a contract that only a solicitor can understand, but you can’t afford?
Trading Standards is a toothless tiger that has no interest in helping.
A solicitor smiles politely and says he may be able to help, but at more than £200 an hour, it is nearly a week’s money so how can I afford legal representation?
Is the law there to protect only the wealthy? Are ordinary people exempt from protection from being ripped off by lying cheating salesmen who are protected by large organisations that can afford to pay for the right to act with no morals or standards?
It’s a very sad day when ordinary people can no longer expect justice because we have not got enough money to pay for it when we need it.
Colin Price
Wellington
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
should have used your common sense and said no to something you did not understand. so no sympathy 4 you.
Report abuse
Colin a lot of us out here will sympathise with you. What is a society if there is no trust? I would suggest to anyone that they do some background on these companies. There are many friendly chat rooms on the internet where people can talk to each other about their own experiences.
Report abuse
Try visiting penaltychargesforum.co.uk I don’t know if anything they offer is relevent to your circumstances, but I despise the sharp practices you’ve suffered and would always seek a way of challenging them. This website covers a multitude of offenders, maybe they can help. Good luck.
Report abuse
Try reporting it to the police. If someone lies to you to trick you into paying money, & they succeed, they may be comitting a crime which the police could investigate. They might then be prosecuted, & have to pay you compensation if convicted.
Report abuse
they can’t deliberately lie, even if there is a clause in the contract – this is misepresentation / false advertising and the firm can be held for that – even though they may put it down to one rogue. Trading Standards can investigate, perhaps by setting up some calls/appts in the area to see if that salesperson is the only one or widespread amongst their salesforce. Companies are liable for their salespeople – however consumers have a joint reposnsibility to ensure they do read the terms and conditions and can invoke cancellation/return in line with policies or legislation – come on folks – read the small print at the very least.
Report abuse
I applaud you for writing this letter Colin. Toad may have no sympathy, but i bet Toad will use your experience to their own benefit.
I hope you get justice and i’d certainly like to help fight your corner if I can help.
Report abuse
Go to Watchdog, I say and name & shame the companies involved.
Report abuse
Put the names on here too, to warn others locally.
Report abuse
It may be that if they are systematically using lies to trick people then the more people who report the matter to the opolice then the mmore the police could prove “SYSTEM”.
It is necessary that whilst one person claims to be defrauded the company inviolved can point to the contract and deny it. When a lot opf people report it then the police can set about showing to the court that this is a system of trickery that is criminally motivated.
Report abuse
Without mentioning their name Colin, what were they selling ?
Report abuse