38 thoughts on “1023 Listing, Scam and/or Fraud?”

1. I see that the above article was posted on 21 March 2008. Our company again today received such a letter from “Mrs. Roberta Seymore” of “Effective Enquiries CC” claiming that they act on behalf of Telkom and are updating the 1023 enquiry system. The only difference is that the fee now went up to R895.00 (VAT inclusive).

   How can it be that such a company can keep continuing with fraud without being stopped. Is the bank that they are using (FNB, Newton Park) not committing money laundering is the process?

   Thanks, Willie Pienaar

2. Hi Willie
   Whether it’s fraud or not is debatable. They are selling something that is available Free elsewhere. They probably have a bunch of happy customers who feel they got their money’s worth.
   If they are claiming to represent Telkom, then that is fraud.
   I posted the info to make people aware that they could do it themselves for less. For people like you in fact.
   Cheers, Grant

3. Hi Grant

   Thanks for your email and your views. I agree that charging a fee for something that is available free elsewhere is no offence, ……. I was going to say that “pretending that you represent Telkom and charging a fee …. ” but then I carefully read the letter again and I must admit that I came to the conclusion that there is probably legally nothing wrong with what they are doing. I think that there is morally a problem as they deceive the public and companies who think that they say that they are representing TELKOM, as I initially did. If you read the wording carefully then it is clear that they say that “we provide a service to members of the public which entails forwarding updated and accurate information for inclusion in the 1023 system”. As long as they forward the information that they get to Telkom they have done what they have said, even if TELKOM does not use it. I also do not think that the bank has any reason not to operate an account for them, as I initially thought.

   OK, I agree that they have seen an opportunity and that they are using the fact that people do not always read and understand such things properly and that they are making money out of it.

   I will have to come up with such ingenuity

   Kind regards, Willie

4. Ignorance is not an excuse, so if you are to dumb or lazy to do this then pay the money. Remember you are paying her for services rendered not for the listing.

5. I agree, she offers a service that many people may be happy with. The impression she gives is that she works on behalf of TDS. The idea of this post is to inform people of the fact that they can do it themselves.

6. Has there been any further news on this horible women. Every time I send her a request to stop faxing me – she sends me another fax.
   Anything I can do about it and lastly does anyone have any further details on her. A address would be nice.

7. I wonder if Telkom could put some kind of restraint on the use of their name or if just by using it you may be breaking some copy right.trade right ?
   Suppose though some far bigger brains have thought this out.

8. I was succered into signing a contract with TDS a few years ago, having a new company and wanting it listed every where, but after a year decided not to renew the contract, since I have anyway moved. I then got an account from them two years later threatening me if I do not pay since it was already in arrears for the previous year. I explained that I only signed a year contract and did not renew it, after a lot of backwards and forwards faxes and threads, they stopped bothering me.

   But I just (03-12-2008) got an account from them again with regard to a contract for the amount of R506.15.

   I have not signed a contract with TDS or requested that they represent my company in the last three or four years, and since I have been through this before about two year ago I am starting to wonder.

   I consider this action of theirs to send me accounts for a contract I have not signed fraudulent and an attempt to harass me into paying for a service I have not requested, especially since the first account I received (dated 2008-11-01) already indicates that I am 90 days in arrears.

   Since this is not the first time this has happened I believe that this is the way they operate and that it is a conscious attempt to force me to pay for something I have not requested or signed a contract for.

9. I now have a address — nice place. Built on other peoples losses.
   I do believe I now have the upper hand.
   Someone said something about service rendered. Telkom does all that is required, and will do so even if you pay her. So you pay her and then deal with Telkom in any case.
   Wonder if she tells her kids “Mommy is a crook”.

10. I have tried multiple times to get through to FNB to get a response with no success as yet. I’m not sure there is an upper hand when it comes to these kinds of business. It’s also certainly not isolated to her, it seems like a global trend, marketing, overselling, creating artificial demand.
    Let’s just stop buying the hype.

11. Dave,

    I’m not a legal expert, but I would say you are bordering slander. The woman supplies a service, once again if you are too DUMB, STUPID or LAZY to read the fax then it is YOUR OWN PROBLEM. She clearly states she has NO affiliation with either companies.

    I think she is a genius, and how many times have you used TELKOM’s name in your post? I take it that you have their permission to do this yes?

    So if you have spend money with her, write it off as “SCHOOL FEES” and get on with your life.

    P.S. If you don’t want to receive faxes, don’t publish your fax number OR get a fax-to-email account then she pays more to fax and you don’t have to print it.

12. Just a reminder, my intention in posting this was to wake people up before they pay for the lesson. I’m sure we all could make a lot more money if we where a bit more devious but the question I ask is “Does this actually serve us and more fundamentally, humanity.”
    I certainly don’t see her as a genius, she’s abusing her understanding of marketing.
    I think Dave also has a point, would she feel comfortable telling her children exactly how she does business?
    Where are each of us doing the same thing, i.e. being devious and manipulating to get our own way?
    Finally is this model sustainable?

13. I disagree with the “…being devious and manipulating…” The fax I have everything is clearly stated AND in BOLD print.

    I still don’t get what is wrong with the service she offers? You have a choice to pay her or do it yourself. For pete’s sake Telkom charges over R500.00 to plug in an ADSL Router and enter username and password (Hint you can also do this yourself and save the money). Now THAT is a scam, how about Telkom charging for unsuccessful calls?

    Ignorance is NOT and never will be an excuse

14. I have just received a fax this morning – same issues – but now asking R1500 for ‘administration’ costs. I think she has effectively (note the pun) shot herself in the foot, as surely anyone would question the validity of such a high charge for something I can get Telkom to update for free!! Hence I found this web site – I took one look at the fax and knew immediately that its a scam. Although if she had not been greedy and only charged, say, R50, I may not have been suspicious. Come on!!

15. Thank’s Linda
    And that’s exactly what this post was for, to assist people who looked at the fax and thought “hold on a minute”.

16. I’m a receptionist at a guesthouse in Bfn and receive such faxes and e-mails daily. I think now days you can call scamming a profession as 90% of the e-mails and faxes we receive are scams. I know some of you will say it is not scamming but if you do something that is not honest, you are a CROOK!

    People should just be aware that this is happening, and use their commonsense! I receive the directory fax and e-mail probably once a week-everytime the name just changes a bit, and the first time I saw it, I took one glance and said to myself SCAM and deleted it. Maybe it is not a scam but why on earth would you pay to list your company at a place you have never heard of??? I can almost assure you, that the one or two enquiries you will receive from this, is the person behind it, just phoning to keep you happy.

    People should just READ what they receive, and when you read it, and it seems to good to be true or you have a gut feeling that tells you something is not kosher you can be sure that it is a scam!

    Tip: Most scams I have received are from e-mail addresses which you can get for free like gmail, yahoo, webmail, the list goes on… sorry for the people that also make use of these services – including myself- but it is a fact!

    Again – LISTEN TO THAT INNER VOICE!

17. Hi Bianca, thanks for sharing your experience and input. I do agree, “too good to be true, most likely is”. Trust your gut and watch your greed. Take a look at my blog for the tourism trade, I think you’ll recognise some of the scams listed there. http://zululandtourism.co.za/blog
    Thanks, Grant

18. I have just had a “run-in” with yet another one of these extortionist companies who claim they will update your records – this time charging R2995.00. This company is called DIRECTORY SERVICES (Previously Directory Solutions) and I found an article on the web stating that Telkom actually took Directory Solutions to court for false representation.

    When I received the e-mail from Directory Services, I called to inform them that I had already received a contract from Telkom Directory Services (Trudon) for the same thing, and the woman I was speaking to (BRENDA) informed me that they belong to Trudon and are merely the “Sales Department”. I called TDS and they assured me that they have NO affliation with Directory services.

    I would say that is definitely misrespresentation, and falls under the heading of Fraud in my books!

    One big RIP-OFF!

19. Looks like they still have not given up spamming. I have received yet a third fax from them asking for R1650.00 for admin for listing on 1023.
    I phoned asking for Miss Oosthuizen (she’s on lunch – it was 13:10). So I asked for her email address and have now sent her an email with a threatening undertone regarding spamming.
    Should you wish to familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation, a copy of the ECT Act is available on-line via the Government’s web site: http://www.gov.za/gazette/acts/2002/a25-02.pdf.
    We all need to play a small part in stopping things like this. Every little bit helps.

20. I received YET ANOTHER fax from her today. How is it possible that she gets away with it?

21. Ok here I go again. Why stop with “labeling” faxes and e-mail “unsolicited”, what about the flyers in the mailbox, the newspaper the list goes on. I don’t want all that crap that has more pages than the newspaper?

    If you agree with this I surely hope that 1) You don’t own a business 2) Don’t work for a advertsing agency 3) WORK for a company that advertises.

    Here is a simple piece of advice for you: If you don’t want to receive “unsolicited” email / faxes, remove it from the Internet. By publishing your address on the Internet it is EXACTLY the same as your mailbox facing the street.

    Fact is she/he/they pay to send the fax in other words pay for the advertising, much as you do when you place an ad in the paper, if you are complaining about the paper waste, get an fax-to-email address (it’s FREE).

    Here are companies that are truely scam artists:

    SABC – paying for content you don’t/can’t understand
    Telkom – Charging for services they know you can do yourself

    The fax I receive I junk, I don’t need it nor want to use it. The service offered in the fax is (imho) the same as offered by Q4U type companies. Meaning you can do it yourself or PAY someone to do it for you. Since they run a company THEY get to set the price. Once again you decide whether or not you want to use the service.

    Now if they don’t DO what they advertise, THEN it’s a scam OR fraud, until such time it is a LEGAL service offered to businesses. It is that simple.

    This is my opinion and as such you don’t have to agree with me.

22. Hi

    I am having trouble with Trudon / yellow pages and white pages. They have been charging me for contracts that i have not entered into with them. They claim it was done telephonically of which i have not done.

    To date they charge me R440.00 per month

    Does anyone know of an incident similar like this / who should i contact and what legal stance can i take against them

    regards

    M.A

23. As Frik mentions, tear it up. It costs them not you, besides the irritation and paper. Or get a fax2email address and it will cost them more. The point is to stop supporting this behaviour and it will slowly wilt away and die.

24. Thanks Frik, nice to have both sides of the story. Personally I’m tired of being marketed at in any form. 2 weeks ago I got MTN Broadband advertising with my coffee from Mugg & Bean. It pisses me off that I pay to be advertised at, I’m less likely to go back though. Okay every coffee shop may do the same and then I’ll have to stay home and make my own.
    Point is somehow, somewhere Spam in its myriad forms pays and so continues. When it stops paying it will either change form or die off.
    A while back I saw a Coke Cola marketing executive on TV saying something along the lines of, we are competing for a piece of your brain. The most honest chirp from a marketer I’ve in a while.
    I was speaking to a friend of mine today who’s father when he was alive only worked through his word and a handshake when doing his dealings. Bizarrely now so much of even what people say it marketing bullshit and our words have less meaning. Personally I’m only interested in verbal contracts, if I don’t trust you or vice versa enough for only a verbal contract, let’s say so and go our separate ways.
    Nowadays saying what you mean and meaning what you say is a novel idea not implemented much. Let’s all strive to cut the crap and start looking out for each other, instead of grabbing as much from each other as possible.
    Thanks Frik once again for your opinion, it’s through communication that we see deeper. Excuse my rambling’s, I get so worked up I struggle to express in a linear fashion.

25. Hi M.A., I have not come across anything like this before. It is fraud on their part if they cannot prove it was you who instigated the contract. Burden of proof is with them. How did they get your banking details or are they just billing your Telkom account? I’ll see if I can uncover anything.

26. Directory Holdings / Enquiries / whatever their name is, is FRAUD! I know because a friend of mine actually got conned by them. Back when they used to say that they list you in the Telephone Directory or something like that. They were never listed. Sadly my friend was scammed three times before they realised that it’s a con.
    I hope to get them on the phone some day to give them a piece of my mind. Their stupid faxes waste my paper!

27. Hi Cat
    Certainly if your friend paid, especially multiple times, and never actually saw a listing, that is fraud.

28. I received a fax this morning from CORPORATE CLASSIFIEDS COUNTRYWIDE where the fee is a mere R1495.00 for forwarding your details to 1023! What a bargain. They only provide their telephone and fax number – no address. Both telephone and fax numbers start with 0861 .

29. I had an ordeal with the company known as Directory Solutions owned by a certain Roberta Seymour. They listed my entries incorrectly after paying for the service. I battled after a year of threats to get a refund (R795). I was unable to speak to Roberta directly (long list of excuses). I was first approached by them to do my listing and was assured that I won’t be able to get this service for free (fraud). In my experience they are a bunch of slippery crooks and a owner equal to a gypsy too old to pickpocket. Not surprised about the death threats she is receiving!

30. I received a fax from Effective Enquiries on 6 Dec 2010 informing me that our companies details have not been published in the New Telkom Phone Book. I then forwarded our letters which proof that the details was send through to Telkom to them on the 8th of Dec 2010. On the 9th of December 2010 I received an invoice for R999. I immediately replied to the email address: roberta8@telkomsa.net informing them that we are not prepared to pay that for a listing which was done free of charge. I received no reply to my email. on the 10th of December I was phoned by a Jenny informing me that she did not receive the email and that their covering letter clearly states the costs of R999. I them forwarded the letter which was received from them not mentioning any costs.

    On 13 December 2010 a lady named Jacqueline from there legal department phoned me and informed me that if we do not pay a R400 penalty will be charged. I informed her that we gave instructions for cancellation. I also informed her that Telkom confirmed that our numbers was listed in the New book and on 1023. She therefore did not render any services to our company and I emailed her accordingly. She just informed me that we will pay!

    According to the Consumer Compliance Act there should be a cooling off period of 5 days for cancellation.

    It is therefore my opinion that we cannot be hold liable as the services was rendered by Telkom and not by her and that cancellation was done immediately after receiving the invoice.

31. They’re still at it. Latest price is R1175. Fax is “Yours faithfully Mrs Jacqueline Bellairs” Phone number 0413638131 (but it is constantly engaged) I have checked our 1023 entry which is correct and the info Effective Enquiries want to put on is incorrect anyway. Amazing that no one can find a way to stop this company! See they are still banking with FNB. They are also now wanting people to give them Special Power of Attorney to deal with Telkom – with no stoppage date. Surely there must be something in the new Consumer Protection Act to stop this kind of thing!

32. I just recieved two faxes and a previous phone call from Effective Enquiries and I have phoned them back now and informed them that they should stop wasting my fax paper and remove our company from their listing as we are not interested in wasting our money on their kind of business.

    I hope no one else is falling for this!

33. I contacted them on 041 363 8131.

    Someone needs to do something about them. The women even claimed to be the same company as Trudon! when she called in. They have scammed too many people out of their hard earned moneys.

34. The price went up to R1700.00. I received a fax this morning. I almost fell for it. I will not say this is a scam, but it is very misleading to uninformed people. Luckily I found this website in time. Thank you. At least she states that they are independent from Telkom and offers this service as a convenience to the public. This is still your decision but if you are uninformed, you would probably believe that this is compulsory for your ad to be published in the yellow pages.

35. Gees i must be lucky to be getting a discount. I filled the dam form in last year and paid the money across via eft, 3 weeks later a lady from Telkom came around to update our details in person, needless to say i was livid with my own stupidity. I have just received renewal letter and its is only R 999.00 for the renewal. I have politely declined their services via fax.

36. this is a link from TDS

    http://handshake.co.za/wp-content/uploads/consultants-letter-b.pdf

37. I have also received one from Effective now and just want to let you all know there are about 14 companies I have been aproached by to do the same thing. Most of them contact you by phone. As far as I am concerned they are all Scammers and just ripping innocent people off.

38. I am so glad to see i wasn’t the only one HARASSED! this person called every day and when i asked for information, i was ignored. I was never told they were independent, any info i requested was ignored! My boss took over and thankfully he put an end to their calls.
    I FEEL SORRY THE OLD PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INTMIDATED BY THESE COMPANIES – but as we know, what goes around – will certainly comes around for them too!!!!