Topic ID 6936
Has anyone had a telephone call from a company offering advertising in a local town guide? I've had two so far, both falsely claiming to be on behalf of Hertford Town Council.
Reply ID 91685
It's a scam that's been widely reported on 3 counties radio.
Reply ID 91687
I had one today, luckily we don't advertise much as most of our work comes from recommendation so I wasn't fooled. Didn't realise it was a scam though. [V]
Reply ID 91690
quote:I'm not sure this is the same. The calls come from a legitimate company named Local Authority Publishing, who have in the past published guides for Hertford Town Council. However, the council no longer deal with them and calls to LAP reveal that they are indeed publishing a "town residents guide" and have advertising space available. However, this guide is nothing to do with the Town Council.
Originally posted by Mrs T
It's a scam that's been widely reported on 3 counties radio.
Reply ID 91696
I had a call but like gemipicorn I don't advertise so just declined. They said it was for the Town Council but I didn't go any further than that.
Reply ID 91794
Users should be very careful when using the word 'scam' as this may be considered libellous!! LAP (Local Authority Publishing Co. Ltd.) would be very interested in receiving information as to why this is a scam!! LAP (Local Authority Publishing Co. Ltd.) is producing a Hertford Residents’ Guide that will feature a map & index, based on Ordnance Survey data (it has a licence with Ordnance Survey), editorial content and display advertising. This publication does not have anything to do with the Hertford Town Council and any signed order forms and correspondence from LAP states quite clearly that the publication is the Hertford Residents’ Guide. In view of feedback received from advertisers across its range of publications, LAP has taken the following measures; 1) To provide an online interactive version with FREE web links for all advertisers, because of a previous lack of internet presence in previous local publications. 2) To provide a guaranteed Royal Mail ‘door to door’ distribution, because of previously poor distribution figures and outlets, in previous local publications. LAP will print a minimum of 15000 copies of the publication, which will be a 2013 edition, and will be distributed by the Royal Mail to all business and residential addresses within the following postcodes; (The following information is supplied by the Royal Mail). SG14 1** Residential address count = 1299, Business address count = 509 SG13 7** Residential address count = 3855, Business address count = 300 SG13 8** Residential address count = 2185, Business address count = 45 SG12 9** Residential address count = 2886, Business address count = 443 To ensure that the new Guide has the maximum exposure, not only in Hertford, the publication will appear as the printed version, in interactive flip-page / e-book format, with FREE web links for all advertisers at http://www.town-guides.com Many current examples can be viewed on the website Local Authority Publishing Company Limited is a reputable company that has published over a thousand area and town guides and http://www.town-guides.com displays a list of many of the online versions of guides it has printed. LAP, as with all its publications, guarantees to provide all of the above.
Reply ID 91795
Oh good! Another competition for Christmas - 'Spot The Starting Member Competition' ps don't cheat by reading the side panel...
Reply ID 91796
quote:The impression I got form the person who rang me was that is was for the Town Council and that impression was not contradicted during the conversation, maybe they need to re think how the approach people on the telephone. By the time you get the forms it is rather late.
Originally posted by sambar
This publication does not have anything to do with the Hertford Town Council and any signed order forms and correspondence from LAP states quite clearly that the publication is the Hertford Residents’ Guide.
Reply ID 91797
quote:Totally agree, I got the same impression too. To my mind if a cold caller rings you and is not totally upfront about the information/impression they give then it should be treated as suspicious, whether you call it a 'scam' or not. To many people have been caught out by giving cold callers the benefit of doubt.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:The impression I got form the person who rang me was that is was for the Town Council and that impression was not contradicted during the conversation, maybe they need to re think how the approach people on the telephone. By the time you get the forms it is rather late.
Originally posted by sambar
This publication does not have anything to do with the Hertford Town Council and any signed order forms and correspondence from LAP states quite clearly that the publication is the Hertford Residents’ Guide.
Reply ID 91798
Maybe the 'impression' and the 'approach' needs to be rethought. However, the signed order form for advertisement space has to be signed by the advertiser, and it states very clearly, what publication the advertisement is appearing in, on this signed order form. Therefore, it is not 'rather late', because the advertiser is not forced to sign the order form. Thereafter, all paperwork from the publisher to the advertiser also states, very clearly, the publication in which the advertisement will appear. We are talking about business to business transactions here, with order forms signed by persons with accountability within the business.
Reply ID 91799
quote:Because representatives of LAP are cold calling businesses falsely claiming to represent Hertford Town Council. This has been reported by multiple sources.
Originally posted by sambar
Users should be very careful when using the word 'scam' as this may be considered libellous!! LAP (Local Authority Publishing Co. Ltd.) would be very interested in receiving information as to why this is a scam!!
Reply ID 91800
Maybe the 'impression' and the 'approach' needs to be rethought. A tacit admission of sharp practice? However, the signed order form for advertisement space has to be signed by the advertiser, and it states very clearly, what publication the advertisement is appearing in, on this signed order form. WHich I take to mean that the marketing pitch doesn't match the small print. Therefore, it is not 'rather late', because the advertiser is not forced to sign the order form. Which is not the same as giving a clear and honest explanation and ensuring understanding. This is not the attitude of a busiess that plans a long term relationship. More a fly-by-night or hit-and-run outfit. Thereafter, all paperwork from the publisher to the advertiser also states, very clearly, the publication in which the advertisement will appear. Caveat emptor. We are talking about business to business transactions here, with order forms signed by persons with accountability within the business. Which to implies to me that if they find a sucker they won't give them an even break. Apart from that, I can't fault them.
Reply ID 91801
quote:One only needs to view the amount of publications and more importantly, the number of editions of these publications at http://www.town-guides.com to see that this 'outfit' has been around for many decades and is here for many decades to come.
Originally posted by Enoughofthat More a fly-by-night or hit-and-run outfit.
Reply ID 91802
How ever long you may or may not have been around, you are giving the strong impression of being a bunch of shysters. You need to review your PR.
Reply ID 91803
http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/hertford/index.html This link definitely states that it is a Hertford Town Council Official Guide.
Reply ID 91804
quote:Local Authority Publishing successfully published two editions of the Hertford Town Council Official Guide on behalf of, and authorised by the Hertford Town Council. Each edition being current for two years. The link you refer to is the current (second) edition of the Hertford Town Council Official Guide. If you view the earlier posts, you will see that Local Authority Publishing are in the process of producing the Hertford Residents' Guide. This is not being published on behalf of the Town Council.
Originally posted by Rooster
http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/hertford/index.html This link definitely states that it is a Hertford Town Council Official Guide.
Reply ID 91805
quote:This Town Guide was indeed produced for the Town Council. However, it should not be confused with the forthcoming Residents' Guide, which is being published independently by LAP. The Town Council no longer deal with LAP.
Originally posted by Rooster
http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/hertford/index.html This link definitely states that it is a Hertford Town Council Official Guide.
Reply ID 91806
As a "cold call" in this country should they not abide by the telephone preference list. I know at least 2 numbers they rang are on it to ask not to have cold calls.
Reply ID 91807
quote:Not "Local Authority" Publishing then.
Originally posted by Stevequote:This Town Guide was indeed produced for the Town Council. However, it should not be confused with the forthcoming Residents' Guide, which is being published independently by LAP. The Town Council no longer deal with LAP.
Originally posted by Rooster
http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/hertford/index.html This link definitely states that it is a Hertford Town Council Official Guide.