Scam

[RAPressureWashing]

Thought I would put this on here so that you are all careful.
I have found out that there are persons using all our company details, (with an 0800 number which I have called but they say they know nothing about it) mainly in Belgium & Holland at the moment, they also have sign-written vans and are doing work as us.
Couldn't really work out what the gain would be, till today, they are running up credit, invoices have started to arrive for repairs etc.

Police are next to useless as it is not a crime to impersonate a company or person till you are out of pocket.

I'll find them.

[michaelthegardener]

i thought it was against the law dont they call it passing off or something ? hope you get to the bottom of it

[jonnyboyentire]

Not good Roger, hope you get it sorted.

I wonder if that's started because of your excellent reputation here? A salutary lesson to us all.

[local patios and driveway]

nightmare, are you liable for the credit then?

[Kuts]

Gypsys did it with my mates pressure washing firm, scanned his flyers and just changed the number to theirs.

So he phoned up an got them round for a quote....ended up giving 2 of them a slap and the 3rd ran off :laugh:

[Carberry]

Police won't do anything because I think it is a civil matter. Because you have a company you have some rights with regards to the business name. You could also claim against them for trading off of your goodwill etc. Not sure on the full details though because I haven't got my law book in front of me.

edit: Found this link which should help you.
http://www.gillhams.com/articles/391.cfm

[jonnyboyentire]

Surely if they have been gaining credit by deception ie impersonating Roger then that is a Police matter?
If on the other hand companies (suppliers) have been willingly giving credit out on the flimsiest of applications (ie they didnt check out the details of the shysters/identity check them etc) then it is down to the companies who gave out credit?
I have a password set up with my regular suppliers to negate this after someone walked out of a motor factors with a £250 alternator in my name. They caught him though, the cheeky f*cker went back in for the "exchange" deposit of £75 which he asked for in cash despite putting the part on account. Stooopid!!!! That said it wouldn't stop someone setting up a trade account with a new supplier using my details I suppose, but that normally takes at least a month and they would write to the address given ie my address?

[Carberry]

Surely if they have been gaining credit by deception ie impersonating Roger then that is a Police matter?
If on the other hand companies (suppliers) have been willingly giving credit out on the flimsiest of applications (ie they didnt check out the details of the shysters/identity check them etc) then it is down to the companies who gave out credit?
I have a password set up with my regular suppliers to negate this after someone walked out of a motor factors with a £250 alternator in my name. They caught him though, the cheeky f*cker went back in for the "exchange" deposit of £75 which he asked for in cash despite putting the part on account. Stooopid!!!! That said it wouldn't stop someone setting up a trade account with a new supplier using my details I suppose, but that normally takes at least a month and they would write to the address given ie my address?

They're not impersonating Roger though, it is his company which is seen a completely seperate entity in the eyes of the law.

[jonnyboyentire]

does that apply irrespective of whether he is a sole trader or limited company?

[Carberry]

does that apply irrespective of whether he is a sole trader or limited company?

I think so but I think you have more rights to goodwill as a company. Been awhile since i've studied business law so take this post with a pinch of salt, my last one is accurate though

[RAPressureWashing]

Might be getting somewhere here, Belgium police are involved as this person did a runner from the place I got the invoice from, he produced a business card to get credit? Guy was driving English plated car, police showed the company a photo of someone and it was him. The 0800 number on the fake paperwork they are using goes back to a paving company in Nottingham. So they are using cars and vans out there, vans are sign written.

[jonnyboyentire]

Good bit of news i suppose Roger.
How the hell can anyone just pitch up with a tattered 3rd hand business card and get credit?????

Unbelievable. Is the Nottingham company likely involved?