how to deal with this possible fraud

Ish · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:10

Hi

I purchased a large LED sign from a company 2 months ago and paid for it via bank transfer. I was told 2-3 weeks for delivery.

The company looks legit with examples of their work on their website & FB and is registered at companies house. When I emailed them they responsed back promptly and knew what they were talking about.

I asked someone to vist the 'contact us' address on the website which is in East London and the company has never been at this address.

The address at companies house , the registered address for the website and the the bank I transferred the money to are all in Andover and this address is in the T&C's page of the website.

I asked the seller about this and they said the London address was an old trading address and there were just delays with my order and they were sorry.

However now they don't respond to my emails and the 0845 number on the website is never answered.

What should be my next course of action? Can someone visit the Andover address for me to see what the deal is?

fail at the internets · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:12

scam, call your bank.

Ish · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:16

The bank say they can't do anything as it was a bank transfer.

wire-screw · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:19

Then you lost your money?

Police?

i5aces · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:21

Whats the address im in town over the weekend so could pop round for a look if it helps

Edrof · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:25

I would be mentioning the police in my next email to them, whether the boys in blue would be able to do anything or not.

Drake5 · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:26

When was the last time you had contact with them?

Burnsy2023 · 3 Apr 2014 at 10:38

If you don't get any response, start sending letters to the registered address via recorded delivery. You then have the option of going small claims process.

I don't think this is a Police matter yet and if it does, you need to report it to ActionFraud (http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/) but i'll reiterate, I don't think this is a fraud case yet.

Ish · 3 Apr 2014 at 11:03

Tom_D said:
When was the last time you had contact with them?

Monday last week I think when I was told that delivery would be yesterday. I've had no response to email since.

Leprechaun312 · 3 Apr 2014 at 12:30

the address could be their virtual office, i went for work experience at an IT security firm and the address on their website wasnt their office address. when i asked they called it their "virtual office"

Zbornak · 3 Apr 2014 at 12:32

If you do decide to report it to some authority, report it to Action Fraud rather than the police.

Drake5 · 3 Apr 2014 at 13:29

Leprechaun312 said:
the address could be their virtual office, i went for work experience at an IT security firm and the address on their website wasnt their office address. when i asked they called it their "virtual office"

Also, if it's only a small company, a lot of the time the registered office on companies house is that of the directors accountant.

pitchfork · 3 Apr 2014 at 13:37

Head over the Andover and crack some skulls.