Store Media, Vicinity Group (Sainsburys)

Lenton · May 20, 2013

Hello all

Does any one have any experience with the above? if so what was your experience?

I was contacted by the above stating they were from Sainsbury's, a rep came on Friday and discussed their services, basically designing and printing leaflets to display on store boards for distribution. At this point the rep had still not said he was not from Sainsbury's. After giving him our bank details I looked at the 'contract' which was on his ipad and saw the name Store Media along with Sainsbury's. I now feel maybe this was a scam, I have searched store media/ vicinity group and have mixed feed back.

If any of you have any experience please advise, is this a legit business?

Regards

Lenton · May 20, 2013

any one got any updates on the above? any advice and help would be much appreciated

thanks

TotallySport · May 20, 2013

Our local store has card dispensers, don't think they have leaflets though.

Apart from that I can't help, apart from to say, we wouldn't use this sort of company or advertising, but that doesn't make it scam.

Do you have a cooling off period?

Lenton · May 20, 2013

thanks for your response

as far as I am aware there isn't a cooling off period, although I don't know if legally we have a right to a cooling off period. I'm sure a member with better legal knowledge can advice me on this further.

my main concern I guess is it a scam, if the marketing is not successful I guess that will just be a sad waste of money

TotallySport · May 20, 2013

There web site looks legit, but might be worth giving them a call for more information and reassurances.

Sorry I can't help more.

businessfunding · May 21, 2013

Well, they they are legit in that they exist, have trading history and broadly do what they say.

The devil is in the detail -b be sure to read and understand the contract, and make sure the contract makes absolutely clear who you are dealing with (full company name & registered number).

There is a bit of a 'loose group' going on, with several apparently associated companies with different owners.

Whether this will work, of course will largely depend on how it fits in with your marketing strategy.

fisicx · May 21, 2013

Have you spoken to your local sainsbury and asked of they are particiapting in the scheme?

I've looked at their website and there are a complete lack of contact details. That alone would make me suspicious.

Jukemaster · Aug 7, 2013

As for whether Store Media are a scam....for legal reasons, I'll let others decide that - Have you tried a thorough Internet search?

If you do, I'm sure you'll find it an interesting read! Originally WRT Group & Windsor Associates, so try searching these also (Many 'Phoenix from the flames' here, so make of that what you will).

You will come across one particular web site posted by Store Media which has all positive reviews - however on closer inspection, you will see that it is not an 'open' topic, therefore every review would have to pass through them to have it posted - again, make of that what you will.

What I would say is that I've had direct experience from their previous company (Windsor Associates).

Personally, I feel I was mis-sold the agreement as the 'salesperson' stated he was from a very well known supermarket and that what I was signing was just a preliminary agreement.

However, it turned out to be a business to business contract with no cooling off period and of course, the salesperson was certainly not from the supermarket he stated.

It all sounds odd that I would sign such an agreement and I certainly wouldn't normally, but was caught rather off-guard and it was a very high pressured sales affair to which I fell into 'hook, line and sinker'.

I contacted them shortly after stating I wished to cancel, only to be told I couldn't. I then tried again and they said that if I cancelled, I would lose the initial deposit paid. To which I replied I would be willing to do so. Therefore as far as I was concerned, the matter was at an end.....Or so I thought! ...

I've now had several debt collection agencies chasing me for full payment. I never approved any of their artwork (I felt it was very basic/poor quality), I was not even consulted about the artwork and to my knowledge, no cards have ever been placed in a store - thus my argument for not paying.

Well, that was my experience and it would be useful to hear how you got on with them and if anyone else here has had dealings with them.

gov66 · Aug 13, 2013

Hi...unfortunately I signed up with them in April this year to advertise in homebase for 2 years. I now cannot contact them. Can anyone please tell me about this company and if there is anything that can be done to find out exactly what is going on.

garryshep · Aug 15, 2013

gov66 said:
Hi...unfortunately I signed up with them in April this year to advertise in homebase for 2 years. I now cannot contact them. Can anyone please tell me about this company and if there is anything that can be done to find out exactly what is going on.

Have you had any response from these people, we have just done the same and we are only checking because they stated that the next payment will come out of our bank 2 months after agreement but came out 1 month after.

Garry.

garryshep · Aug 15, 2013

Lenton said:
any one got any updates on the above? any advice and help would be much appreciated

thanks

hi there we are in the same predicument with this. did anyone contact you and did you get all the advertisements

Garry

LesC · Aug 22, 2013

Hi Chaps
I have experienced the same with Homebase Business cards and 2 year contract. I paid the 25% on the day by cheque and then before the monthly payments started I was asked to pay the rest on card and get a 20% discount. I paid. Just been trying to find out where the cards are up to in store but all means of contact have been disconnected. I contacted the store and they haven't any cards for me and Storemedia isnt the company looking after the displays. Ive done a company check and it looks like the company may have been renamed. It doesnt look good apart from the fact my card payment will probably be covered by the bank.

Les

smallblackdog · Aug 28, 2013

Store Media went in to administration on 30.07.2013. The administrators are Wilsonfield Ltd and they can be contacted on 0800 4583320 for more information. Hope this helps

LesC · Aug 29, 2013

Thanks Smallblackdog. I'm well into chasing this up now. They took my money knowing that they were going under but are useing a third party to collect it then send it to their new company which set up in June called Store Media Contracts Ltd. All dodgy business.

LesC · Aug 29, 2013

Since my last reply of 30 minutes ago, I have received a call from Store Media Contracts Ltd saying that they have taken over the Store Media orders and will complete them and all contracts. Hopefully this is all true and it will happen. I will post more information as it becomes available. The company is using a third party to collect money I have found out when I received my credit card statement.

Newchodge · Aug 29, 2013

You do not have a contract with the new company. tell your credit card company that this transaction is fraudulent and get it repaid.

Client contracts do not transfer in the same way as employees transfer under TUPE.

Unless your original contract said that the contract was between you, the original contractor and any of their successors.

smallblackdog · Aug 29, 2013

Contact the administrators (Wilson Field) before agreeing anything with the new Store Media Contracts Ltd, I've already cancelled my direct debit as a precaution and I'm waiting for more info. to be emailed to me from the administrators.

TheComputerCentre · Oct 8, 2013

Hi,

I was just wondering whether anyone has made any progress with the company that has now taken over the contracts as we paid the original company over £1000 and have seen nothing in return other than a design which we approved back in may.

Regards

Cheryl

smallblackdog · Oct 8, 2013

Hi Cheryl, I wouldn't hold out much hope with the 'new' company, I've been checking my local Sainsbury's regularly and there have been no leaflets for weeks, one of the leaflet holders is now missing and the other is full of rubbish.

I contacted the administrators weeks ago and finally got the paperwork through yesterday - I've passed this plus my original contract to my solicitor and I'm waiting for them to get back to me, the partner concerned is on holiday - when they get back I'll let you know what they advise

Stu57 · Nov 28, 2013

Hi All,

Check your DD as ours were set up with Wurth group and not store media who we signed the contract with. If it was Wurth who took the DD this was a previous company to store media, so you can try claim your direct debits back through your bank under the DD gurantee

smallblackdog managed to get his back and Ive just got mine back this morning.

Definatley worth a try.

GetUpStandUp · Dec 15, 2013

I took out an advert in my local Sainburys back in June. The add was never displayed in store until this month, well into the time frame Store Media PLC had gone into administration and Store Media Contracts LTD took over 'live adverts'. I've had no correspondence from the new company to say they were taking over until i received a letter from ukdebtemforcementagency demanding almost £800.
This is the money I would have paid had I not cancelled my DD as soon as I realised something was wrong. My £300+ deposit has been paid back through my credit card which i'm happy about.
Anyone have any advice for me regarding the debt letter? As far as I'm concerned it's all a giant scam. My advert is now in store but in the wrong location as agree and in very poor print quality.
More needs to be done to stop them hounding us for the money. Online I must have read hundreds of complaints in forums about this company, so I'm glad I'm not alone in my fight against them.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone in the same situation.
Thanks

ashley reeson · Feb 5, 2014

I took out an agreement back in July 2013. Same story as all you guys. I've been looking into this for the last 3 months now.

I just contacted UK debt enforcement agency because I've been threatened that they are going to pass my arrears onto a debt collector, I am guessing it will be the same company as yours. Funny thing is the debt collection agency is based in the exact same building as these "advertising" companies. I find this rather some what odd!

I contacted Sainsbury's head office and have a email from them stating that there is no contract in place with these companies, however how are my business cards in one store?? and not the 3 that where contracted.

I have contacted consumer direct, they have advised me to make a count claim in writing asking for a full refund.

Has anyone signed up around the same time as myself with ADUK?

Lenton · Feb 5, 2014

Hi everybody

Thank you very much for all your responses, unfortunately it seems we are heading in same direction.

We paid a 25% deposit and then planned to pay the remaining over 6 months

As per our bank statement apart from the deposit and 1 month payment nothing else has been taken out.

Initially we had been in regular contact with SM looking into the design etc, then we had a new designer allocated to us to carry on until we were happy. After waiting for a few months having no responses from SM I decided to call the office regarding our package only to be told, SM has gone into liquidation and that " some guy bought the contracts and a new company SM contracts would now be dealing with this", to which I responded once you are ready to continue please call me as i will ensure our payments will be made on time.

Since then I have received no phone call or e-mails, as far as I'm aware no payments have been taken out. Although I have bad feeling there's every chance the "debt agencies" will try and force me to pay although to date we have had no correspondence from any agencies or SM contracts.

Its disgraceful companies like this can set people up con the of there hard earned money and simply vanish without providing any services without contact and yet still be in a position to demand full payment.

Stu57 · Jun 17, 2014

Lenton said:
Hi everybody

Thank you very much for all your responses, unfortunately it seems we are heading in same direction.

We paid a 25% deposit and then planned to pay the remaining over 6 months

As per our bank statement apart from the deposit and 1 month payment nothing else has been taken out.

Initially we had been in regular contact with SM looking into the design etc, then we had a new designer allocated to us to carry on until we were happy. After waiting for a few months having no responses from SM I decided to call the office regarding our package only to be told, SM has gone into liquidation and that " some guy bought the contracts and a new company SM contracts would now be dealing with this", to which I responded once you are ready to continue please call me as i will ensure our payments will be made on time.

Since then I have received no phone call or e-mails, as far as I'm aware no payments have been taken out. Although I have bad feeling there's every chance the "debt agencies" will try and force me to pay although to date we have had no correspondence from any agencies or SM contracts.

Its disgraceful companies like this can set people up con the of there hard earned money and simply vanish without providing any services without contact and yet still be in a position to demand full payment.

Hi there,

Did you have a DD set up? If so ensure it is cancelled at your end. Also please check if the first payment taken was from Store Media (if this is who the contract was signed with) if it wasnt and it was from another company and taken by DD then under the DD gurantee you can get this amount back from your bank. If you receive any debt letters etc drop me a PM as I dealt with so much with this horrible company so can try help you

UniversalSoldier · Jul 15, 2014

Many of these companies that have come and gone and come again seem to one common theme. Ray Ingleby is or has been a Director. Is it a coincidence?

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