I just wanted to alert everyone about the European City Guide scam doing the rounds again.
We received a letter this morning from the European City Guide who claim to be compiling commercial information for their database of European companies. This information, (they say) will be published online and in CD-Rom format. At the bottom of this letter they tell you that you need pay them a fine sum of €997 per edition to appear in this directory.
A simple search on Google will show you hundreds of horror stories, including one Irish hairdresser barber who was threatened with his life if he didn’t pay up.
So beware – don’t even think about signing up for this scam!!
#1 by justin at November 7th, 2009
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any one have a solution to this i have unfortunatly signed it .
#2 by Conor at November 10th, 2009
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Hi Justin,
Your not the only one to have signed it. my partner did as well. The best thing to do is go to http://www.stopecg.org/ and read all about what your dealing with. Also you should join the facebook page and meet other people in the same situation. Remember though, It’s a scam and the people your dealing with are Convicted Thieves & Fraudsters. Don’t give them a cent.. Hope this helps..
#3 by debbie at February 16th, 2010
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ive been fighting them for a year now only to see that you are signed in for 3 year . help
#4 by Conor at February 17th, 2010
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HI Debbie, Don’t worry, they are just Fraudsters. If your on Facebook come and join our online group. Just Search Stop European City on Facebook and come and tell your story. It’s the best way of finding out what you are gonna expect over the next few months and unfortunately years.. But never pay.. See you on Facebook..
#5 by Malcolm Kew at March 17th, 2010
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I have, unfortunately, signed up for it believing it to be a free update of information, but, as I now know they are fraudsters and that they have never actually taken anyone to court, even though they threaten, I am looking forward to dealing with them. There is a lot of helpful advice on the web, check out this youtube video, it’s very helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0i0G8R3es
#6 by Joanna at May 10th, 2010
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Well, I did the same, signed the form thinking it was for a free listing, and all they wanted to do was “update” our details – I then received the invoice for €997. I emailed them 3 times to tell them to cancel then eventually called them, they were very rude…told me about the 15 day cancellation time, which I have just seen is printed on the back (who reads the small print on the back). Today I received a letter telling me that they received my withdrawal request but indicated that their 15 day cancellation policy meant I was too late….and to honour the contractual agreement blah blah blah, settle payment blah blah……..THEY CAN STICK IT!!! I won’t be paying them a penny. Am so annoyed that I got caught up in the scam! Does anyone know if the Facebook group still exists, I can’t seem to find it?
#7 by Malcolm Kew at May 10th, 2010
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Hi, I am also trying to find the Facebook page, I did have it as one of my subscribed pages but it suddenly disappeared! Have they got people trying to stop opposition to them?
#8 by Conor at May 10th, 2010
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Hi Malcolm and Joanna, The Facebook thread was removed by the Global giant Facebook Corp. They were cowed into removing it by the extortionists at ECG. Amazing they have said it’s beacuse the site was infringing on their rights.. Unbelievable i know. A new site has been set up by a member of the old site. It has changed names a few times but you should be able to find it at European scams, City guides. If this doesn’t work leave a message here and i’ll direct you in a little easier.
#9 by Malcolm Kew at May 10th, 2010
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That’s great, thanks for the info, i’ve already joined again, the information and help is invaluable.
#10 by Joanna at May 10th, 2010
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YAY mee too, thanks alot Conor! Can’t believe they shut it down because of ECG’s human rights. Are they human!!!!!
#11 by Tracey at May 25th, 2010
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Like everybody else I thought this a info update and sign. And have been hassled by this company since 2004. Believe me they do not give up still to this day. As in literally today Ihave received threatening letter from their Legal Department saying the will take me to court. Something should be done about this and surely the EUROPEAN UNION / bylaws soon STOP companies like this operating in these deceiving ways, and fine them heavy to ensure they do not start up in another european country and start conning people again. EUROPEAN u want the power NOW USE IT…
#12 by Malcolm Kew at May 25th, 2010
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Well said Tracey, I have only been hassled by them for 6 months but, they are already threatening to take me to court, I get a letter every week from them. If any of their spies are reading this, they need to know that I will never pay money to criminals, they can stick their demands where the Sun don’t shine!
#13 by Helen Senton at June 10th, 2010
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Hi Everyone, I got billed yesterday for E1,689.00 and I have never heard of the company. I spoke to them over the phone and they were rude to me and said if I didnt pay they would take me to court. I read up on the company to find out who they were and to my surprise have now seen how many people have been affected by this. I have sent them a letter in the post. The letter says DREAM ON COWBOYS! you aint getting a penny and also attached all the printouts from the web STOP THE EUROPEAN CITY GUIDE. They have picked on the wrong person here. They can send me as many letters as they like – it won’t make the blindest bit of difference.
#14 by Malcolm Kew at June 10th, 2010
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Hi Helen, welcome to the wacky world of the ECG! they are sending me a demand every week at the moment. They are just a bunch of criminals, we need to keep that in mind stick together and never pay them.
#15 by Gillian at June 23rd, 2010
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please look at the facebook sites concernign this scam and also the you tube info on it, the authorities are very aware of this happening, and they have already been closed down once. DO NOT reply, DO NOT try to explain, DO NOT answer there letters or phone calls, DO NOT pay. This is a scam, it is illegal what they are doing by tricking you into signing, they do not have a leg to stand on. Please sign ‘EUROPEAN CITY LISTING SCAM PETITION’ on facebook and see other discussion sites on there for support – you are definately NOT alone.
#16 by Malcolm Kew at July 2nd, 2010
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Just received my first letter threatening ‘International Dept Collection Agency’ Does anyone know what happens next, is it just phone calls or does someone turn up at the door threatening to take good etc?
#17 by Rach at July 8th, 2010
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Malcolm just ignore, ignore, ignore. To my knowledge and understanding they don’t call personally but they do phone. When dealing with debt collection a creditor is not allowed to use threatening behaviour as European City Guide have. When they “issue proceedings” against you they give you unrealistic dates to appear and not the required notice by law in which to respond. They are scam artists and not worth the reply. There are procedures in place to serve proceedings on somebody in a different country and as far as I can see ECG do not use any of the correct procedures. It is just a scare tactic to try to get people to pay.
#18 by Malcolm Kew at July 10th, 2010
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Thanks Rach, that is the information the lawyers at Fed. of Small Businesses gave me. It’s much appreciated.