Trading Standards advise businesses over misleading ‘invoices’

The Trading Standards Service (TSS) is advising local businesses to be wary of unsolicited telephone calls and misleading ‘invoices’.

The advice is prompted by a recent spate of complaints, received by TSS, from local businesses, who have received telephone calls from a London-based company, trying to get them to take out advertising space in its publications.

In these complaints, it is claimed that, even where nothing has been agreed, the phone call has been followed up with an ‘invoice’ for payment.

Trading Standards Inspector, Simon Keegan, said: "If a local business has not agreed to purchase advertising space and receives one of these documents that resemble an invoice, they should simply ignore it.

“Although the document does not state that it is an invoice, it is designed and printed in such a manner, that it appears to be an invoice and request for payment, while in reality, it is no more than a misleading order form.”

If businesses want to report any unsolicited approaches, or require any further advice, they should contact Consumerline on 0845 600 6262.

(MB/SP)