I agree, Im pretty sure that registering false details with companies house is going to be a very serious crime. This is a major fraud operation and I think PayPal need to sort their act out and start letting us know exactly what further action they are taking
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Techhouseuk.com anyone?
- Thread starter gazfocus
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Yes, exactly.
PayPal are the only ones with all the details, but they won't tell us because of privacy laws!!
I've got my reply now - same as everyone else's.
Going to phone them soon to demand they take what they have to the police. Has anyone else already asked them this?
As I paid directly by Barclaycard - as stated earlier, I wouldn't trust Paypal further than I can spit- can I assume Barclaycard have some banking information for them. If it is helpful, I could ask them if they can give me, or the police more information.
Speaking of the police, I haven't heard a peep out of them...
Speaking of the police, I haven't heard a peep out of them...
I have complained to the Companies Investigation Branch (http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/cib/index.htm).
I'm also looking at other official avenues we can take - PayPal, as far as I can see, acted only to process the card transactions between us and Techhouse. I imagine that if PayPal can only 'see' one bank account and it's empty, that's all they can do - they are not a regulator or other official body, and provided Techhouse paid them for their services, they'll have no complaint to make.
techthree
I'm also looking at other official avenues we can take - PayPal, as far as I can see, acted only to process the card transactions between us and Techhouse. I imagine that if PayPal can only 'see' one bank account and it's empty, that's all they can do - they are not a regulator or other official body, and provided Techhouse paid them for their services, they'll have no complaint to make.
techthree
Just spoke to PayPal.
They were very unhelpful and couldn't tell me anything because of privacy and legal reasons!
What the guy did tell me was that PayPal are 'taking action' against this person, but couldn't guarantee anything. So despite them closing our cases, they are still looking into it.
He couldn't tell me if this action included them reporting it to the police.
Pretty useless on the info, but they're still chasing it at least.
They were very unhelpful and couldn't tell me anything because of privacy and legal reasons!
What the guy did tell me was that PayPal are 'taking action' against this person, but couldn't guarantee anything. So despite them closing our cases, they are still looking into it.
He couldn't tell me if this action included them reporting it to the police.
Pretty useless on the info, but they're still chasing it at least.
I filed against Tech House UK Ltd, as they are the firm who all the paperwork refers to. In my complaint I pointed out the existence of Web&Net Ltd, and gave their Company No., but it might be worth complaining about them too.
I will also write to/email my local trading standards office, and ask for their advice. This is perhaps something we could all do - each council will support residents of their area, so this should mean that they all become aware of this at once, which could provoke a good response.
Credit card charge backs
I've read a few things on the web which indicate we might be able to get our money back with credit card payments via a charge back. But it all depends on the credit card you have and if they have an agreement with Paypal. Has anyone heard of this?
I've read a few things on the web which indicate we might be able to get our money back with credit card payments via a charge back. But it all depends on the credit card you have and if they have an agreement with Paypal. Has anyone heard of this?
I did the same but pointed out that the paypal payment went to WEB&NET ltd and again provided their company number. Its WEB&NET ltd who have our money rather than techhouseuk ltd (who i suspect are just a front)
anyone seen this site www.zaafs.com looks rather like the techhouse page to me, seems they could have set up under a new name and still advertising as the cheapest too! what u reckon?
Looks like the techhouse site - links on the right are the same.
However, there is an address in their Ts and Cs, and it is the same as the info on Companies House:
Name & Registered Office:
ZAAFS.COM LTD
CAXTON HOUSE LOWER GREEN WEST
MITCHAM
SURREY
CR4 3AF
Company No. 06130913
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 28/02/2007
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 29/02
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 28/12/2008
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 27/03/2008 OVERDUE
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
04/09/2008 SANDHU FAMILY LTD
On the other hand, techhouse also spent the time to register a company as well, so perhaps this is no guarantee of legitimacy.
They do claim to have their own checkout process as well as Google and PayPal, but as with techhouse, the logos to Google and PayPal are just pics, not links.
I think on balance I'd stay away!
However, there is an address in their Ts and Cs, and it is the same as the info on Companies House:
Name & Registered Office:
ZAAFS.COM LTD
CAXTON HOUSE LOWER GREEN WEST
MITCHAM
SURREY
CR4 3AF
Company No. 06130913
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 28/02/2007
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 29/02
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 28/12/2008
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 27/03/2008 OVERDUE
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
04/09/2008 SANDHU FAMILY LTD
On the other hand, techhouse also spent the time to register a company as well, so perhaps this is no guarantee of legitimacy.
They do claim to have their own checkout process as well as Google and PayPal, but as with techhouse, the logos to Google and PayPal are just pics, not links.
I think on balance I'd stay away!
Zaafs.com
This is for sure the same platform as Techhouuse. DO NOT USE AS YOU WILL NOT GET ANYTHING. I've just gone through a test order and the exact same checkout process.
Contact details are the same. No telephone numbers....
This is for sure the same platform as Techhouuse. DO NOT USE AS YOU WILL NOT GET ANYTHING. I've just gone through a test order and the exact same checkout process.
Contact details are the same. No telephone numbers....
Zaafs.com - DON'T BUY FROM HERE
Yes, it's exactly the same guys! Even got the same little mistake in the product info of the product I bought.
DON"T BUY ANYTHING FROM HERE.
Just phoned PayPal to tell them - Utterly useless!!! Thought I'd try to help by warning them it was about to happen again. They wouldn't do anything... Nothing! So a load of other people are going to get scammed again, and PayPal won't be at fault!
Phoned trading standards and reported it to them.
I suggest anyone who has managed to get some response from the Police, let them know as well. It might be easier to catch this guy from a live website / bank account than from one that's been closed.
Did a 'who is' on the web address - exactly the same setup:
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: ZAAFS.COM
Created on: 17-Jun-08
Expires on: 17-Jun-09
Last Updated on: 30-Jul-08
Administrative Contact:
Private, Registration
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599 Fax -- (480) 624-2598
Technical Contact:
Private, Registration
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599 Fax -- (480) 624-2598
Domain servers in listed order:
NS59.1AND1.CO.UK
NS60.1AND1.CO.UK
Yes, it's exactly the same guys! Even got the same little mistake in the product info of the product I bought.
DON"T BUY ANYTHING FROM HERE.
Just phoned PayPal to tell them - Utterly useless!!! Thought I'd try to help by warning them it was about to happen again. They wouldn't do anything... Nothing! So a load of other people are going to get scammed again, and PayPal won't be at fault!
Phoned trading standards and reported it to them.
I suggest anyone who has managed to get some response from the Police, let them know as well. It might be easier to catch this guy from a live website / bank account than from one that's been closed.
Did a 'who is' on the web address - exactly the same setup:
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: ZAAFS.COM
Created on: 17-Jun-08
Expires on: 17-Jun-09
Last Updated on: 30-Jul-08
Administrative Contact:
Private, Registration
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599 Fax -- (480) 624-2598
Technical Contact:
Private, Registration
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599 Fax -- (480) 624-2598
Domain servers in listed order:
NS59.1AND1.CO.UK
NS60.1AND1.CO.UK
and there's more...
The 'reviews' on the google shopping page are by 'WEB&NET LTD'!!!
http://www.google.co.uk/products/reviews?fq=zaafs.com&cid=1a8e0c975fda9eaa&sort=1
The cheek of it!
The 'reviews' on the google shopping page are by 'WEB&NET LTD'!!!
http://www.google.co.uk/products/reviews?fq=zaafs.com&cid=1a8e0c975fda9eaa&sort=1
The cheek of it!
I've got another address for them (zaafs.com), same companies house number as above:
Zaafs Com Ltd.
Address:
20 Elm Road
Feltham
Middlesex
TW14 8EW
Companies House
Registration Number: 6130913
Zaafs Com Ltd.
Address:
20 Elm Road
Feltham
Middlesex
TW14 8EW
Companies House
Registration Number: 6130913
A couple of tips for the future
Looking at zaafs.com there are a couple of possible little giveaways that haven't been mentioned yet. I know they don't help anyone already ripped off, but may provide a little help for the future when you look at a website that seems a bit too good to be true.
If you put something in your basket/cart/whatever, try increasing the number of the item you want to order. Zaafs.com seems to only have 2 or 3 of every item (at least, all the items I tried, which included cheap speakers and stuff you'd expect more than 3 in stock). Presumably the database has been set up with some default dummy stock figures. Try ordering 10 of something.
They appear to have no stock of items in low value (i.e. not worth the effort to attract customers) such as blank media.
Might help someone in the future who's trying to decide if a site is genuine or not.
Looking at zaafs.com there are a couple of possible little giveaways that haven't been mentioned yet. I know they don't help anyone already ripped off, but may provide a little help for the future when you look at a website that seems a bit too good to be true.
If you put something in your basket/cart/whatever, try increasing the number of the item you want to order. Zaafs.com seems to only have 2 or 3 of every item (at least, all the items I tried, which included cheap speakers and stuff you'd expect more than 3 in stock). Presumably the database has been set up with some default dummy stock figures. Try ordering 10 of something.
They appear to have no stock of items in low value (i.e. not worth the effort to attract customers) such as blank media.
Might help someone in the future who's trying to decide if a site is genuine or not.
Company Details
On the companieshouse note. If you click "order information on this company" you can get a list of previous registered addresses. I've print screened for your convenience. Might help if the police decide to properly pursue this:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the paypal - zaafs note... If we could somehow prove to paypal that this zaafs is the new techhouse, would paypal pay some of us back from money in the new paypal account?
Of course those ordering from zaafs would lose out, but "zaafs" would've just taken the money and run anyway just like techhouse did, so at least they wouldn't make any more money...
Just a thought.
Alex
On the companieshouse note. If you click "order information on this company" you can get a list of previous registered addresses. I've print screened for your convenience. Might help if the police decide to properly pursue this:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the paypal - zaafs note... If we could somehow prove to paypal that this zaafs is the new techhouse, would paypal pay some of us back from money in the new paypal account?
Of course those ordering from zaafs would lose out, but "zaafs" would've just taken the money and run anyway just like techhouse did, so at least they wouldn't make any more money...
Just a thought.
Alex
Attachments
Minish Man:
I've already tried that with paypal. They refused to discuss it. They said that if there was anything suspicious, 'their people' would investigate it. But he refused to take the details of the zaafs.com website to pass on to 'their people'
Just wouldn't talk to me.
PayPal just sent me a customer survey, so I can let them know what I think of their service..! haha
I've already tried that with paypal. They refused to discuss it. They said that if there was anything suspicious, 'their people' would investigate it. But he refused to take the details of the zaafs.com website to pass on to 'their people'
Just wouldn't talk to me.
PayPal just sent me a customer survey, so I can let them know what I think of their service..! haha
Hello guys,
I too have been stitched up by Tech House UK Ltd and untill now have only been following your posts. The site went down 2 days after I ordered so I guess im probably one of the last to buy from them, my order number was #1620.
As nobody has mentioned this yet you people should know. The address on the invoice for Tech House UK Ltd, 322 St John Street is owned
by 'Pearl & Coutts Residential Lettings Agency' who tell me Tech House UK have not been there for sometime, the building has recently been renovated.
I too have been stitched up by Tech House UK Ltd and untill now have only been following your posts. The site went down 2 days after I ordered so I guess im probably one of the last to buy from them, my order number was #1620.
As nobody has mentioned this yet you people should know. The address on the invoice for Tech House UK Ltd, 322 St John Street is owned
by 'Pearl & Coutts Residential Lettings Agency' who tell me Tech House UK have not been there for sometime, the building has recently been renovated.
paypal told me they understood my frustration but were doing all they could to resolve it. I said they werent as theyd know about the new website if that was the case.
Has anyone used the form on the website to tell the new company we know who they are and that we want our money back?
Has anyone used the form on the website to tell the new company we know who they are and that we want our money back?