Scammed by business directory.

Questioner

I was called to be listed in the business directory. I did not want this and have now received an invoice that I have to pay. I requested the recording and it was cut and pasted. I did not say yes to the listing. What to do now, the invoice is almost 500 euros. A debt collection agency has already been threatened.

Lawyer

It is unfortunate to hear that you have ended up in such a situation. Unfortunately, these kinds of practices are often used by so-called acquisition fraudsters. Acquisition fraud is understood as: misleading entrepreneurs by approaching them with offers for products or services. These offers often look like invoices, while in reality they are not. The fact that you have not confirmed your participation is an important point, because Dutch consumer law states that there is no payment obligation for services that one has not expressly agreed to. The important thing to do now is the following: 1. Initially, you can dispute the invoice by registered letter in which you explain that you have not entered into an agreement. You can explicitly request proof that you have entered into an agreement. 2. Send this letter to both the company that sent you the invoice and to any collection agency. 3. Please note that you should provide your own insight and remain open to the possibility that an agreement may have been reached after all. 4. Do not pay the invoice until it is clear that there is actually an agreement. Once you have taken these steps, in many cases it is wise to seek the assistance of a lawyer or attorney, depending on the company's response. Please note that this is a first step and exploratory advice, it is therefore advisable to discuss the situation with a lawyer or attorney, who may be able to provide you with more specific advice based on all the details of your situation. --------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.