Complaint to the OFT and Trading Standards if there was no signup

[ForumFriend]

Amend this letter according to your circumstances and taking into account the options within the template.  Only use this letter if, as far as you know, nobody in your household signed up to Platte services.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: [Name of website, e.g. Getfilmsnow]

I wish to make a formal complaint against a company trading on the internet, which has offices in the UK and abroad.  The company in question trades under various names, including Platte Media and Platte International, and is responsible for the above website. 

On [insert date] I noticed that a pop up window began appearing on my computer screen that appeared to be a bill for the sum of [insert sum] for online services to [name of website].  On further investigation, I found that the company instigating this ‘bill’ is Platte International, otherwise known as Platte Media.  I had never, until this time, heard of this company, and to my certain knowledge I had never had dealings with them.

According to this company, people can only visit their websites after undergoing a sign up process involving several stages.

I/we have watched the sign up video demonstration on plattemedia.com/signupprocess and can confirm that I/we have never seen such a sign-up process.  Yet I/we find that my/our PC has been subscribed without my/our consent.  Is there another way this could have happened which nobody would have noticed?

Choose one of these alternatives



OR


[Further optional paragraphs could be added here – see Appendix below]

I feel that I have been put by this company into the impossible position of having to prove the unprovable and having been made, as the owner of the computer, responsible for a supposed debt which I did not incur. I do not have the technical skills to prove that I did not subscribe to this service, yet I am expected to pay for something that I did not want. I cannot see how this can be correct.

I cannot see how [The Office of Fair Trading/Trading Standards/UK law] can allow a business to trade legally in this way.  The matter has caused me [and my family] great distress because of ……

- the threat of legal action
- worry about your computer security being compromised
- financial loss
- the content of the sites in question
- raising issues of trust in the family/household
- having my integrity put in question by the company

If their actions are legitimate, I would be grateful if you would kindly explain to me how it is that a company of whom I have never heard can take over my computer and demand payment from me for services I have never used. 

I am already aware of the undertakings that Platte made earlier this year to the OFT, but consider that these are entirely inadequate in the light of my own experiences with them.  I wish this complaint to be put on record, and would also ask you to let me know how you intend taking this matter forward, on behalf of myself and other consumers.

Yours faithfully,

[Tomy Tee]

I was also a Platte Trap Victim, after following instructions online I was able to to rid this evil scam/virus from my P. C. (with help from the easy PC site) to remove it , just type Platte Media in Google, and follow the Links, (Its gone like a very BAD smell in no time)
These evil BLACKMAILERS should be locked up, or sent back to Nigeria/Virgin Islands, or what ever rock the evil scum crawled from under.
What are the fraud squad/Police DOING ABOUT THIS Illegal practice ??
Thanks for the Templates, (very professional, impressive) I have sent/posted to the address you supplied,  1 to T.S. 1 to O.F.T. AND 1 to my local M.P. o AND 1 to consumer direct,
 Also emailed a letter/templates to my local T.S. and O.F.T.

[ForumFriend]

Hello Tommy,

You are clearly very angry, and this is reflected in your comments.  Certainly, many people have used similar terms in their posts here and elsewhere.  If Platte do not like these comments, I think they need to reflect on how it is that people are gaining this impression of them and their activities.

You ask what the police are doing about this.  I have heard reports of police being concerned about the practice.  The novelty of the matter is probably the issue here.  I should say that, to date, nobody has been able to prove that anything 'illegal' is going on, but there is also a lot of doubt being expressed as to the morality of the matter.  There may also, I should hasten to add, be legal issues, but these haven't yet been tested in Court.

For this reason, it is important that people do complain about Platte and put their case, as you have done, to the people and bodies who could change things for the better.  The templates are designed to make it easier for people to do this.  Any suggestions for improving them will be gratefully received, particularly from anybody with technical or legal experience - just drop an email to Forum Friend.

Please do let me or the Forum know of any outcome from your letters - it is important to keep this information available in one place so that it can be drawn upon, if necessary, in the future.

Good luck!

[ForumFriend]

The experiences of Tracy, on Michael Pollitt's site, illustrate that Trading Standards can be helpful in dealing with Platte.

[ForumFriend]

The following reply was received by Platte_making_me_ill, on whose behalf I post it here:

Re Platte Media
 
Thank you for your letter to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) of 15 December 2008.  I apologise for the delay in responding to you.
 
The details have been regisered on our database, and the information contained within will be assessed for evidence of possible breaches by the trader.  A case officer may contact you in due course to request further information.
 
We would like to thank you once again for bringing the matter to our attention. 
 
Yours sincerely

I have removed any identifying details.