08443573311

No - didn't think it was from them, but it just annoys me when these cold callers hide their numbers! TAPA fail to mention that they can't stop these calls - or the ones that appear as 'International'. In fact they can only stop the same ones as the TPS, as we keep saying. I've just decided that the weekend starts tonight....have a good weekend everyone!! (And enjoy the extra hour on Sat/Sun.)

Hi Lizzie

Have a good weekend yourself too! I am going on a walking weekend in Sussex so hope it doesn't rain. Tip re. withheld numbers: I have changed the voicemail on my mobile and may do on my landline. It tells callers that I never reply to withheld numbers. It invites them to leave a message with a number and I will ring back if necessary. My home number is also ex directory so I don't get many cold calls.

I have contacted Trading Standards and they said TAPA are legit? I'm confused.com? Said they know them as they do some work with them? My head is now spinning :-|

I have to syt that progress seems to be  being made and TAPA have changed the text on the PAYPAL page to say that this link won't take you through to paypal but say they now say  this

'Please note that details entered below will be submitted to TAPA using a secure internet connection by AlphaSSL. This page is not a PayPal payment terminal. A TAPA operative will manually process any payments we receive using the PayPal virtual terminal on receipt of any submissions we receive through this secure connection.'

quite how they do it I don't know but would appear to be a step in the right direction.
Also the security symbol seems to have changed to reflect the right level that they use.

Well done!!

Obvously you work for Tapa then!!!! Nice Try Scammers

Hi Pete,

It’s not a bad thing… They have listened to what they have said on our posts and are willing to make changes to make them selves legitimate.

I would still like them to have a payment section at the end of the sign up section with the agreement of terms on that page but I think that’s still how they entrap there customers into there “services”. I would also like the mention of there costs at every opportunity as it is important to let customers know this vital peace of information as many of us would not have signed up in the first place.

Nommiiss

Wish I something to report! My TS officer left a message for me to call him today, but when I tried - several times - it went to voicemail. I intend trying again first thing in the morning, so watch this space. Nommiiss, I agree that TAPA are making adjustments to their site, but I'm still not convinced that they can use Paypal as they say. When I sent their text to paypal, they said it was not an email from them, so they didn't understand it was on the TAPA website. I still think the purpose of Paypal is that you don't need to give your details to a 3rd party, in this case TAPA. I've sent another email to them, and attempted to explain my query more clearly, so again, watch this space! I wish this was all over!

Hi LizzieM

I wonder whether Tapa is just making token amendments to try and convince TA and others that they are legitimate. The fact that they are still not really using Paypal properly or making the charges clear when someone completes the online form appears to support this. Are they still processing forms which are not completed because the person changes their mind?  Do let us know what the TS person tells you when you hear?

Lizzy I totally agree with what you say about Paypal. This is why I go on about a merchant service.

If you have a payment section at the end of your payment website and you are a “small to medium” business you pay another company (with a commission) to take payment securely. This is what they are failing to-do and instead they are probably keeping peoples details in a plain text or unencrypted format with our names addresses telephone numbers and bank card details.

I mean you would not let someone see your pin number in a supermarket where as the person needs your card and pin to make a transaction but they expect us to give our details over to a company that we don’t even know where there registered address is and worst of all “they” phone YOU demanding payment…. mmmm this is not good!

To check if they use Paypal ask them for the details for there Paypal account so as you can transfer money to them. This is what Paypal is good for. I will ask them for these details next time they phone me if others could too that would be good.

Hi Nommiiss. I've been in touch with paypal about this and I've finally received an answer today. For reasons of data protection, they cannot tell me if TAPA has an arrangement with them - however the newly altered page where TAPA describes how they work with Paypal, could be legit. (I was quite surprised at this) Quote from email I received from Paypal:

"On the other hand, to share with you there are some sellers using Virtual terminal service. It's different from the usual online payment checkout. It will not prompt you to log in, as payment will be processed by the merchant. Virtual Terminal allows seller to accept credit and debit card payments over the phone, by fax or mail orders.

It's like a card swipe machine in retail outlets, but all done online via PayPal, and without the need for any additional equipment. It allows seller to expand business off the internet, or take payments even if they don't have a website. Virtual Terminal is available either as part of Website Payments Pro or as a standalone solution."

They do say though, that payments made this way are not covered by Paypal protection.

Spoke to my local Trading Standards Officer. He has phoned TAPA and spoken with the MD, who said I did not have cancellation rights, presumably because, according to them, I did not cancel within the 7 days. My TS Officer spoke to his Manager and they both agree that I am within my rights according to the Distance Selling Regulations. They have passed the case over to TAPA's local Trading Standards, although from other posts on here, not quite sure where that is!!. Bottom line is, I don't owe them any money. I always knew I didn't, but now its official!

Excerpts from  the OFT's 'Guide to businesses for distance selling'
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

Taken from section 3.10

3.10 If you provide pre-contractual information in a form that does not
allow it to be stored or reproduced by the consumer, such as during a
phone call or on a website, then you must confirm in writing, or in
another durable medium12 available and accessible to the consumer,
the information given at paragraph 3.1(i) to (viii).
In all cases you must also give your consumers the following
information in a durable medium:
n when and how to exercise their rights under the DSRs to cancel
including:
n for goods – whether you require goods to be returned by the
consumer and if so who will pay for their return. For more
information on this see paragraph 3.55
n for services – the consequence of agreeing to a service starting
before the end of the usual seven working day cancellation
period. See paragraph 3.22 under ‘Cancellation rights’

Taken from 3.23

if the consumer agrees that the service can start before the usual
cancellation period ends, but you do not provide the required
written information until after the service has started but
provide it in time for it still to be useful, cancellation rights will last
for seven working days after the day the consumer receives the
information. But if you finish providing the service within seven
working days after the day the consumer receives the required
durable information, cancellation rights will end on the day of
completion, or
n if you do not provide the required durable information at all,
your consumer’s right to cancel ends after three months and
seven working days counting from the day after the day on which
the contract was concluded. This applies whether or not the
consumer agrees that you can start the service before the
cancellation period ends.

BASICALLY IF AS THEY SAY THE 'SERVICE' STARTS STRAIGHT AWAY YOU CAN STILL CANCEL UPT 7 WORKING DAYS FROM WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE INFORMATION IN A 'DURABLE FORMAT'
These are th trading standards dealing with TAPA
Cheshire East Council Trading Standards and Bury Metropolitan Borough Council Trading Standards

Thanks Angus - I quoted parts of this in my cancellation letter to TAPA. I guess my TS Officer will eventually find the right TS Office to pass the case onto eventually!

sorry trying to paste and copy from the PDF file doesn't work very well
but if you read sections 3.10 and 3.23 you will get the gist of what I am saying. Basically unless you are fully informed by a durable medium (letter,email,fax or by hand) of your rights etc at the time you make the contract you have 7 working days to cancel from you receive them. They can say whatever they like but it is written done in black and white

...and more importantly, it's the law!! Thanks again Angus.

Hi Angus

I did pretty much the same as Lizzie. I sent a cancellation email and  a letter by registered post as soon as I got the printed documents.

It is generally suspicious that they never reply in writing and only ring.

I did the same as Lizzy I sent it recorded post and when I had spoken to them they had admitted to receiving my letter and fax.

I have never received any written response apart from an automated email saying mine had been received, and I sent email, fax and registered mail. I have received 2 phone calls which were somewhat abusive and that is it. any legit company would reply and put down the reasons as to why in law you can't cancel and do it in a civilised way. Changes or not to the website it doesn't alter the basic fact that TAPA is just a way for trying to get money for nothing!! Anyway that's my opinion.

I know that they received my initial cancellation email because HE rang me the next day but I never got any acknowledgement of my subsequent letter which was sent by email and registered post.

Got a very intimidating call from Chris Irvine the number was withheld and when I asked for it he gave me 08443573311 saying I had entered in a contract with TAPA ...I had visited the web site and resisted, but did not to my knowledge enter into any contract, just looking for information on the web site, this was approx on the 11th September 2011, on the 21st Sept I received in the post a TAPA information pack asking for bank details and later on a phone from Chris Irvine who said I had a contract and must make arrangements for paying, I told him I would return the Info Pack and to cancel any contract, which I sent back to him on the 23rd September, I have since had a vast amount of phone calls from this number, and today 3rd November he has phoned again to chase up payments and saying I'm in a contract with them..very intimidating man, I put the phone down on him, but he persist in continually ringing..

Read all the posts on here, a lot of people are having the same problem.  Contact Trading Standards and follow any info given by other posaters on here. Don't be intimidated, that is what they want.