Millenium/Crown/Imperial etc Toner Scam?

[Mako]

This is back, we've just had the call from Global Imperial Solutions.

 

To save you all the headache (some of these may ring a bell):

Edited September 1, 2014 by Dos_Box

[X-13]

This is back, we've just had the call from Global Imperial Solutions.

 

To save you all the headache (some of these may ring a bell):

 

 

He's ~75!

 

WTF? You'd think he'd know better.

Edited September 1, 2014 by Dos_Box

[SteveT]

Checked out the address on Google Street Maps. LOL

 

It's a shop called "Mail Boxes Etc". See https://plus.google.com/108702154678090408522/photos?hl=en

 

[Manny-Tech]

I've just had Paul from Global Imperial Solutions on the phone.

I'm looking forward to the £50 worth of M&S vouchers being sent to me, and the toner (minus the order number).

I also got the same rubbish about 'Any holidays planned?', 'What hours do you work?', 'Anyone in at your school over half term / Christmas?', 'What's your home address so I can send the vouchers?' etc...

They could sound quite convincing to people not used to dealing with sales calls, especially when they say things such as 'Since your order with us before Christmas' - When we have a managed printing solution.

[Jamman960]

looking forward to their call again... will tell them I'm happy with my current toner supplier "Millenium Computer Systems", having brought their magic toners 5 years ago we've never needed any more

 

why don't these idiots just act like any other business and go legit, surely trading standards should be sorting them out

[Manny-Tech]

Disgraceful that they are still getting away with these things. I'll let you know if anything arrives through the post, this could be interesting...

[Manny-Tech]

I've had Karen call me this morning to confirm the order and to attempt to send onto my home address. As I refused to give my home details out, she cancelled the order. Shame.

[EduRich]

I've just had David from Global trying the exact same scam. He tried the whole sending me £50 of Tesco vouchers to my home address for 'security' and about winning a contract with some major high street companies. He quickly skipped over that they would be sending me a toner that costs £325. On questioning his tone changed and then he put the phone down. Charming!!!

[gotomorrow]

Just had the same only we got as far as receiving the toner! We were told we could have this first one for free to evaluate and then purchase them once we saw what great value they were. When the toner arrived with an invoice for £325 I called them up to explain what I suspiciously but politely suggested was a misunderstanding and the accounts person, Leanne got quite confrontational saying 'what am I going to say to my boss?'.

 

Anyway, after I told them that their website didn't work and I had no intention of ever doing business with them, they agreed for us to send the toner back (at our expense).

 

Is there any formal way of complaining? Can you report things like this?

[Disaster]

Pushy buggers. I just hung up on some fella who tried to get my home address and send me some vouchers and football game tickets if they turn up. Told him I didn't want anything from him and he asked why not....twice! Idiot.

Funny, I recognised the patter so I searched this forum for global so was having a nice read of this thread while he was trying to sell stuff to me.

[Dunes]

Received a called from Global yesterday. Unfortunately i'm one of the idiots who now has a toner in the post. Like others they stated it would be a free trail - the dispatch email i got this morning would suggest otherwise.

 

Never mind, I've just told the warehouse guys to refuse to sign for the goods.

Edited April 26, 2013 by Dunes

[CHR1S]

All companies have the same phone numbers, same web designs (well templates) same directors.

 

Generic information, same prices and items for different companies and very few products.

 

Its page one of the conmans handbook.

 

How can you resign from MILLENNIUM COMPUTER SYSTEMS (UK) LIMITED in 15/12/2009 and then be an MD of MILLENNIUM COMPUTER SYSTEMS CORPORATION LIMITED just over a year later? They are all disposable companies that probably go bankrupt more often than they sell an item.

 

Not one of these companies seems to turn a profit yet has a net worth of over £4 million?

 

Very suspicious....

 

I mean Universal Solutions (International) Ltd - Craft Shop in W6 9AR - a CRAFT SHOP??

Edited April 26, 2013 by CHR1S

[rich_tech]

From what I remember off business law I did at uni, you can buy "off the shelf" companies from a lot of places, you just alter the names with companies house and away you go when its bought or just re-register a different company name yourself with companies house, its not a hard thing to do, it is one of those shady things you see a lot of nowadays, each company is also a seperate entity in the eyes of the law from the other business, so any liabilities are only with that particular company as the name is registered so the UK limited is different to the corporation limited and can run up seperate different debts on its own.

 

Its harder to "lift the veil" and see the people behind the companies as well if they run them as a semi-legit business, the owners rarely go personally bankrupt at all.

[tstevens]

I shall add myself to the list of facepalming tech's that got suckered.

 

I accepted the vouchers for the school, not personally, I made it clear we can't accept gifts. I was told a high yield of 20k, which considering our existing ones that are around 15k didn't seem too far a stretch. It would seem they've revised their sales patter to be a little more believable.

 

I've got 2 toners headed to me, with a dispatch email confirming they will cost us £750! I've reported to CAB, who in turn have said they will pass on the information to the OFT for breaching the "misrepresentation act" - I urge others that have been scammed to do the same and hopefully the OFT can gather enough reports/evidence to shut them down.

 

Can't believe I let my guard down, but I guess this is what happens on a Friday afternoon when you're up to your neck in order trial toners from different company to do some evaluations on. The guy called at the right time to catch me out.

[AngryTechnician]

Checked out the address on Google Street Maps. LOL

 

It's a shop called "Mail Boxes Etc". See https://plus.google.com/108702154678090408522/photos?hl=en

 

Try contacting the local Trading Standards officer. Mail Boxes Etc is a mail holding company; I used to work for one of them and know for a fact they have a policy of being VERY co-operative when the local TS bod shows up. Chiswick falls under the London Borough of Houslow, contact details here: Trading standards

[plexer]

He's ~75!

 

WTF? You'd think he'd know better.

 

First director position at 66, is he just a sock puppet really?

 

Ben

[Trapper]

Just had a cold call from Imperial. After letting the guy (Simon) know that we use several suppliers and quote often so not really interested in cold calls. Guy got quite aggressive saying that if he was a Network Manager he'd get them to quote as they are the cheapest in the UK and promptly hung up before I could rip into him.

 

Got to be a scam, no cold callers from any reputable company and it doesn't matter how dismissive the cold callee is would react like that.

 

In his rant there was a reference to a catalogue and a trial in the post. Looks like a bullet dodged.

[walker01642]

They're still on the go folks. (Global something or other). Same patter. 1) Survey (check). 2) Football shirts (check). 3) Visit in November for lunch (check). 4) Can I have an invoice number for your trial cartridge? (check). Told them I couldn't give them one. I hope the toners arrive because, according to the following link, we can treat them as 'gifts' and don't have to pay for them or send them back. The toner phoner scam | Adventures in IT - InfoWorld. Warned our Accounts Department though not to pay anything. Steve Walker (Stockton Sixth Form College)

[TechMonkey]

I hope the toners arrive because, according to the following link, we can treat them as 'gifts' and don't have to pay for them or send them back. The toner phoner scam | Adventures in IT - InfoWorld.

 

Careful now, that is an American link, talking about the FTC, an American organisation. Not sure if the same gift law applies over here.

[walker01642]

Sorry it is American. What about this then from Citizens Advice? Citizens Advice - You

[CHR1S]

Do you have to return the goods?

 

You have no obligation to return the goods to the trader or allow the trader to collect the goods. However, it would be reasonable for you to contact the trader to explain what has happened and give them a chance to collect the goods from you.

 

This....

[Disaster]

CCS media just rang - looks like it could be linked to this. Offering chocolate as they've just won a contract to supply all of Cadbury's and in return they were sent too much. Offered me some with a tracking number. It all sounded too familiar so just hung up! I assume i would have received a toner and an invoice to go with that chocolate.

[CHR1S]

Name & Registered Office:

CCS MEDIA LIMITED

OLD BIRDHOLME HOUSE

DERBY ROAD

CHESTERFIELD

DERBYSHIRE

S40 2EX

Company No. 01693516

 

These guys have several offices in the UK, seem "slightly" more legit than the others.

 

Date of Incorporation: 21/01/1983

 

Been around longer than me....

[localzuk]

Nah, CCS Media are a good company. Either used to be or are currently are a sponsor on this site I think?

[Disaster]

Why have they resorted to very up-front unsolicited calls that very much resemble the old Millenium/Crown schtick?

I agree they do look legit as I had a snoop around for them, just seems odd for them to offer chocolates straight off the bat and pushing a tracking number to go with it.