Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Hi Zed
I will contact my local TS office this week and see what they have to say. I might have got off very lightly indeed, bar some sleepless hours and an unhealthy heap of stress, but scammers like this deserve all the aggro they can get. At least I did not lose any money, but still...

Have you seen the very interesting (although lengthy) thread about this scam on the 'moneysavingexpert' website? http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...t#post59030747

Recently, members of staff from DS Marketing have chipped in with their own comments - defending their actions, would you believe?!

[arleen cosgrove]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Well done Valerie ... It's good to know that you're not going to loose any cash. (How revealing that your bank was already well aware of this scam!)

Hey ... we're rational women, and hundreds of others just like us have been duped by this firm of professional crooks, so don't feel too bad about it! It's a very, very cunning advert that they've devised.

The amazing thing is: D.S.Marketing Ltd/Deadseakit.com have breached a whole range of UK rules & regulations, and yet Trading Standards are unwilling to prosecute them ... this baffles me.

Trading Standard can't be bothered thats why DS/ dead sea is so confident they that they can geet away with thier scam becuase they knew TS is lazy. I fall for their free trial as well. They only offered to refund £30.00 out of £87.95 they have stole from me.

[arleen cosgrove]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I just wonder how long they can carry on doing this before they are caught? We are victims of thhis MAFIA

[arleen cosgrove]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I have written to BBC watchdog. The more similar stories they recieved the better. I encourage all victims to write to BBC watchdog and see what happen

[Guest]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - here - is a relevant piece of statute.
Stuff like this:-

1. 3.Prohibition of unfair commercial practices
   
2. 4.Prohibition of the promotion of unfair commercial practices
   
3. 5.Misleading actions
   
4. 6.Misleading omissions

[TUTTSI]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I have just seen this thread and have not had a chance to read all of it yet and not sure if anyone has discussed or checked on distance selling regulations http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...42452523,d.d2k

My apologies if this has already been covered.

Also my understanding of S75 of the consumer credit act is that if the company DOES NOT provide a service then a refund under this section should be made by the credit card provider to the credit card that was used. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...42452523,d.d2k

I have also just checked Companies House this company with same name was disolved back in 2011 - they then traded at Staples Corner which is just a few miles away from the current address. Started up again with exactly the same name and trading from the NW11 address which is the Golders Green area in London. Consequently with the new company now they do not have to file company account until 6th July 2013 - by this time they would have duped more customers.

I think it is a great idea starting a group action and you would possibly need to find a decent solicitor to take this on and it could be costly unless someone knows a solicitor that would be interested to do it for free.

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I just wonder how long they can carry on doing this before they are caught? We are victims of thhis MAFIA

Sorry to hear that you're a victim too Arleen. They seem to know they're 'untouchable', and hence they have felt confident enough to increase the value of their scam from £59.95 per victim to £87.95.


I've enquired about the process of lodging a formal complaint about the inertia of my local Trading Standards Office ... this is the reply I've received:

Dear Ms.*****

Thank you for your email. Any complaint that you wanted to make regarding your local trading standards office would need to be addressed to the local authority council that runs that service. You would be able to find their contact details via the internet. Most councils will publish on their website details of their complaints’ procedure.

In the event that you are not getting anywhere with following the above, you can make contact with the Local Government Ombudsman service who will look at complaints against local authority services. However, they will only intervene once the local authority complaints procedure has been exhausted. Their advice team can be contacted on 0300 061 0614.

I trust that you are able to resolve this matter in the near future.

With kind regards

Jacqui Guerreiro
PA to the Chief Executive/
Executive Support Manager
Web: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

[TUTTSI]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...lLEs4Z95CD9dng the address for DS marketing looks like either to be serviced offices or just a postal address just for receiving mail.

You could complain to Companies House as they are a limited UK company and therefore you should not have to return stuff to Israel, that is a nonsense.

I wish you all good luck in getting the reurn of your monies.

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I have just seen this thread and have not had a chance to read all of it yet and not sure if anyone has discussed or checked on distance selling regulations http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...42452523,d.d2k

My apologies if this has already been covered.

Also my understanding of S75 of the consumer credit act is that if the company DOES NOT provide a service then a refund under this section should be made by the credit card provider to the credit card that was used. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct...42452523,d.d2k

I have also just checked Companies House this company with same name was disolved back in 2011 - they then traded at Staples Corner which is just a few miles away from the current address. Started up again with exactly the same name and trading from the NW11 address which is the Golders Green area in London. Consequently with the new company now they do not have to file company account until 6th July 2013 - by this time they would have duped more customers.

I think it is a great idea starting a group action and you would possibly need to find a decent solicitor to take this on and it could be costly unless someone knows a solicitor that would be interested to do it for free.

Thanks for your input TUTTSI ... unfortunately S75 of the consumer credit act only applies to purchases over £100 ... or at least that's what Santander told me! That's the legislation that I tried to use in order to get a refund ... and despite the fact that I sent a copy of the ASA's ruling to Santander, they had the cheek to accuse ME of trying to defraud DS Marketing Ltd!!!


I looked at the Finchley Road (London) address on google 'street view' ... it's a small insignificant-looking place. I imagine that it's an address used solely for the purpose of registering a business with Companies House ... DS Marketing Ltd don't even use it as a postal address: during email exchanges with the scammers I was informed that writing to them would be pointless as they don't collect mail from the Finchley Road address.
I did actually consider visiting the place and 'confronting' the staff ... but I'm guessing this would be futile as it's merely an empty office (and furthermore, the same address has been used previously by characters linked to organised crime!)

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - here - is a relevant piece of statute.
Stuff like this:-

1. 3.Prohibition of unfair commercial practices
2. 4.Prohibition of the promotion of unfair commercial practices
3. 5.Misleading actions
4. 6.Misleading omissions

Thanks for your input christianpassy ... unfortunately the problem we are experiencing is that Trading Standards Officers are unwilling to pursue these scammers: despite the fact that TSOs are fully aware that these, and other, Trading regs. are being flouted.

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

I have written to BBC watchdog. The more similar stories they recieved the better. I encourage all victims to write to BBC watchdog and see what happen

I contacted BBC Watchdog too (quite a while ago) ... I got no reply. Perhaps if they get a lot of similar complaints they'll feature it in a programme though.
NB: An identical scam has already been publicised by The Sun newspaper (I'm guessing that it's the same firm flogging a slightly different 'anti-wrinkle' product). But even that 'exposure' hasn't curtailed the scammer's activities.

[Guest]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Thanks for your input christianpassy ... unfortunately the problem we are experiencing is that Trading Standards Officers are unwilling to pursue these scammers: despite the fact that TSOs are fully aware that these, and other, Trading regs. are being flouted.

Yes, I meant for you to use it if you wanted.
TSO may not have resources, and they may be using what they have for bigger fry.

It might be fun to get the cases of all your 'clients' here together, and sue the company.
You could form a Facebook group to find many, many more victims.
If you had enough, I'm sure a solicitor would help.

Note under CPUTR 2008, there are 'offences':

Penalty for offences
13. A person guilty of an offence under regulation 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

By the way, Zed, a personal thanks - because I nearly bought this lately.
Saw it on? - FACEBOOK.
I rest my case, yer honour.

[Anna689]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Wow,
You have been busy talking since yesterday!
Just to say that they have put another hook on facebook as health-researchers.co.uk (what a total farce!). If you click on the link, it is them, with the same offer. I also did a mock run as a male this time, using different answers, and the same products are offered.
Although I was lucky in this misadventure, I have been trying to contact my local TS office but it is constantly engaged. I just cannot get through. I will keep trying.
I still think that a collective action with TS head office and the BBC's Watchdog is the way forward.
In the meantime I intend to warn people off on facebook, but being careful not to put myself at the mercy of legal action from them (merci, but no merci! ). Indeed, when you read the tone of the thread in the moneysavingexpert which you kindly provided, I would not put it passed them...

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

Wow,
You have been busy talking since yesterday!
Just to say that they have put another hook on facebook as health-researchers.co.uk (what a total farce!). If you click on the link, it is them, with the same offer. I also did a mock run as a male this time, using different answers, and the same products are offered.
Although I was lucky in this misadventure, I have been trying to contact my local TS office but it is constantly engaged. I just cannot get through. I will keep trying.
I still think that a collective action with TS head office and the BBC's Watchdog is the way forward.
In the meantime I intend to warn people off on facebook, but being careful not to put myself at the mercy of legal action from them (merci, but no merci! ). Indeed, when you read the tone of the thread in the moneysavingexpert which you kindly provided, I would not put it passed them...

Absolutely Anna689 ... we mustn't lose sight of the fact that these people are VERY clever (sly and dishonest, but also clever!)
I've just been reading yet another consumer website where people have been scammed by DS Marketing Ltd ... and now I desperately want to revise one of my previous posts where I suggested returning the tubs of goo to Israel in order to get a refund: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE DO THIS! The act of returning the products embroils the unwary customer in another aspect of this scam!

This post was made by 'John' from Scotland on the web-forum http://www.reviewopedia.com/dead-sea-beauty-kit-reviews

“The cost of this return is extortionate but the cheapest I found was £28-00 (TNT) rising to values in the £50's for Post Office etc.
When the goods arrive in Israel, they are refused acceptance at the PO address as there has been a Customs import charge raised by Israel and PO Box (The Company) refuse to pay. Hence you have not returned them within 14 days. Dont know what happens next but it is thought that you can pay to have them shipped back by the courier or pay a charge to destroy and abandon at Israel customs,and have them destroyed.”

[ZED]

Re: Duped by Deadseakit.com*LONDON

This post was made by a person called 'islander' on Amazon's consumer forum:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/forum/deals?...x3GSKVWVVLFBFA

It relates to the fact that DS Marketing Ltd (t/a Deadseakit.com*LONDON) failed to comply with the ASA's adjudication AGAINST their online advert last year:



YOUR COMPLAINT ABOUT DS MARKETING LTD / DEAD SEA BEAUTY KIT

Thank you for contacting us.

As you already know, we have previously investigated and upheld complaints about this advertiser's website. We instructed them to present the terms and conditions of the trial clearly on the website, and told them they should not refer to the offer as a "trial" without making it immediately clear to consumers that they would be charged if they did not return the products within the given timeframe. We also told them they were not permitted to refer to the offer as a "risk-free" trial.

The advertiser agreed to comply with our ruling and they amended their website, www.deadseakit.com, accordingly. We are therefore very concerned to learn that there are currently other websites online that display the same issues as we saw originally on the advertiser's website. At this stage it seems that these websites have been created by affiliate marketers, rather than DS Marketing.

However, we still regard DS Marketing as the advertiser responsible for these marketing communications. We have therefore referred your complaint about the email you received (and the corresponding website) to the Committee of Advertising Practice's Compliance team who will contact DS Marketing about the matter. The Compliance team doesn't report to complainants or publish the details of its work but it will work to address the problem.

I also should explain that as a non-statutory body we do not have the power to help consumers get their money back, or to look into a company's trading practices. Therefore, if you are concerned about these issues, you may wish to contact Citizens Advice (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/) for further advice.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. If you would like more information about our work, or to read the original ruling against DS Marketing, you may wish to visit our website, www.asa.org.uk.

Yours sincerely

Amy Brennan
Complaints Executive
Direct line 020 7492 2232

Advertising Standards Authority
Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6QT
Telephone 020 7492 2222
www.asa.org.uk


NB: I'm guessing that the "other websites" will include the health-researchers.co.uk website that you spotted Ann689!