08443573311

Make sure you do what Nan suggests T.Cain, your situation is exactly the same as a lot of others on here.

The more people that report this the better so don't delay!

Contact consumer direct
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizen ... ights/index.htm
and action fraud
http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/

My Trading Standards Officer told me not to enter into any communication with them and just hang up. If you start talking you just give them space to intimidate you. Also it is against the law to use intimidating or abusive language over the phone

I am a bit surprised that they are still pursuing you. Just out of interest, did you complete their enquiry form on the web? Interesting that Irving withheld his own number as he didn't do that in my case. Noone ever seems to answer the number which he gave you. As long as you emailed/send a letter by registered post within 7 working days of getting the pack, you have complied with the requirements. The Distance Selling Regulations allow you to see the contract in a durable format (ie on paper not online). That is the general advice from Trading Standards. Don't answer the phone if he rings again.

I can only reiterate what the others have said. I was in exactly the same situation as you, except that I don't even remember going on the TAPA site! Get in touch with your local Trading Standards office. They might already be aware of TAPA. You need to see the Distance Selling Regulations posted earlier on this site, because according to them, you were within your rights to cancel, as you did so within 7 days of receiving their terms and conditions. See if your telephone provider can block calls from his number. If he's now coming up as 'witheld', that's a new tactic and of course can't be blocked. Good luck!

Perhaps Mr Irvine only pursues people who have not yet lodged complaints with Trading Standards. I'm sure that my TS officer will have identified me in the communication he had with them, which is why I haven't had any more calls. It does seem a long time since September though - would have thought he would have taken court action by now, if he was in the right!!

Scrapping the barrel!!!

Hi Lizzie

Maybe but I am sure that my TS contact didn't speak to TAPA directly. She only liaised with the Cheshire or Manchester TS. My communication to TAPA did make it clear that I knew about the Distance Selling regs so perhaps they know that they won't get any money out of me.

I have just spotted the following text on the MSE site which stopped our complaints.

"Never pay to block these calls

There are reports of companies setting themselves up with names similar to the Telephone Preference Service and offering to block marketing calls. This, however, entails a fee.

There is no need to pay, do it right and it is ALWAYS free. If you get a call from someone asking for personal details or payment to complete a registration, hang up and inform the official TPS (read more on the TPS website)."

When I emailed TAPA with my complaint for the first time, I copied TPS into it but they never responded to my email.

For you amusement visit the TAPA supporters blog!! Oh they are such lovely people they make your breakfast and tuck you in at night and then come to disturb your sweet dreams with threats and lies
http://callerr.com/08443573311

Will try that link again

http://callerr.com/08443573311

strange they stopped the thread when they themselves advise against signing with this sort of service!!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk

Perhaps being (over) cautious. Willing to advise you against paying but not willing to make any claims about TAPA methods. I don't know if this statement was already there before they clamped down on the forum.

Ok thanks who calls me, for warning me over this scam. The advertising protection agency is a scam, please be warned

Right by the looks of things this company are conning a lot of people at the moment

If you have been conned by these scumbags and you have paid these scam artists money

This is what you do!!!!!

call your bank inform them that tapa or the advertising protection agency have frauded you of your money by selling you fresh air and demand that your money be charged back to your card I have just done this and got my money back. The banks fraud investigation unit are now looking into them.

I have reported them to trading standards, action fraud and the police!!!!

I think its funny that these fraud investigating officers con artists are about to be investigated themselves

Scumbags

I have just received a ccj from the advertising protection agency, stating I owe them £59.90. I received the letter today and county court proceedings will commence 11.11.11.

I have never received any correspondence until this letter arrived. To my knowledge I visited the website a long time ago but never bound myself into any type of contract!

I do feel slighty better knowing the tapa may be a scam, but am hoping for some advice from trading standards ASAP, or any advice from anyone who has been in my situation?

You don't have a County Court Judgement (CCJ) unless the case has been to court and the court has found against you. If there are to be court proceedings you would get the letter from the court, and not from TAPA - they can only tell you they have referred the matter to the court. Does your letter say which court, and give you the time of the case? If the letter is from the court you have the right to ask that the proceedings take place in a court near to you. Get in touch with either Consumer Direct or your local Trading Standards tomorrow and give them the details.

Sounds like they are trying to put the frighteners on,

http://www.debtoptions.co.uk/debt-problems/county-court-judgements-ccjs-.html

You have to get a letter from the court and I think the chances of TAPA wanting to appear in a court of law are somewhat slim

see here
http://www.checkmyfile.com/jargon/county-court-judgment-(ccj).htm

first they would have to issue a 'notice of default'

http://www.checkmyfile.com/jargon/notice-of-default.htm

Vicki:

Have you had any phone calls from Irvine or any other name ordering you to pay?

So if your bank has refunded the money, will TAPA now pursue you again? Can the bank get the money back from TAPA? It would be interesting to hear what the bank fraud people discover.