Ealing Council warns of mischievous money-making scheme

Ealing Council wants local residents to be on their guard about any post they may receive from a company called Glide Delivery.

Council trading standards officers have had complaints from residents after they received a postcard from Glide stating they need to ring a telephone number to arrange collection of a parcel addressed to them.

The telephone number is a premium rate line charged at £1.50 per minute and calls last   for up to four minutes. The cards state the product, for example a radio, to be collected.  

The card is professionally produced and is a similar design to a Royal Mail collection card.  

Doug Love, trading standards officer, said: "Whilst what this company is doing may not be illegal, it is very mischievous and is making a substantial amount of money out of people.   Our advice to residents, if they receive unexpected mail of this kind, is to be cautious and always check the small print.   These type of companies make a lot of money out of premium rate lines and usually the the 'prize' on offer will be worth much less than the   cost of the calls."

August 27th, 2005