Haltrex Systems Scam?

[tec0]

Hello Dave, I have spoken to Wendy about this in a face to face situation and also sent her links.

Newspapers have to be very careful what they print, they need formal complaints, they need facts. I can't formally complain at this stage, because I fought back directly at HALTREX, who then backed down and resolved the issue I had with them.

Formal investigations, auditing and even criminal investigations can be done if there is probable cause. “Probable Cause -> (law) evidence sufficient to warrant an arrest or search and seizure”.

I am sure that any “Good business owner” keeps track of his or her paperwork. Some even “record” there phone conversations and notify the person that phoned that “all calls are recorded for security purposes” Now if there is enough complaints and enough evidence that suggest “illegal” activities a criminal charge must follow with the “right” proceedings.

Once something becomes a “criminal investigation” the law takes over “normally they will use your “evidence if gathered correctly” and testimony.

Now the name change “suggest” that they might be getting smarter or they want to start on a clean page “whatever the case may be” it is always GOOD practice to keep records no matter how big or how small your company or business is.

[Tim P]

EMAIL THE FACTS

Thank you Tim. I have made contact with her and she said that she has some data on these people but that she needs more. She welcomed my contribution so I back your encouragement to others to send info. They are extremely sneaky and devious. They have wind that I am taking steps or may take steps. I placed a complaint on Hello Peter which they saw. They now pay lip service to "sorting out my problem". They have actually done nothing as yet to sort it out. Linda

Hello Linda,

Thanks for your feedback regarding my post. I really do encourage everyone on the forum to send email to Wendy Knowler as soon as possible. She will dates if possible, invoice numbers, actual amounts charged.

All of us are pretty emotional about this issue. If a newspaper is going to persue an issue such as this, they can't go to press with imotional issues which might be slightly inaccurate. Inaccuracies will lead the neswpaper and possibly it's staff straight to litigation and legal costs.

If Haltrex is really scamming people on any large scale, they will have their ducks in a row. Their sales agents will most likely have been told what they have to say in order for Haltrex to not be misquoted. The other thing is that based on my discussions with Haltrex, I have a very strong suspicion that all phonecalls are recorded and archieved and time stamped. During a heated argumet with Haltrex thier management seemingly said something to me in the heat of the moment, that basically made them retract their claims against me.

If I was a director of a similar company, I would contract to a very good legal firm. In-fact if you want a good lawyer to fight your case, find out who the Haltrex lawyers might be.

For legal reason, and there will be legal reasons, I must emphasize that at no time has Ms Wendy Knowler asked me to incite people to gather information to be used against Haltrex. Any posting I have made to this forum has been done in protest against the shocking treatment received by the people from Haltrex and the verbal abuse endured from their agents.

COME ON PEOPLE !!!!!!! AS CONSUMERS WE HAVE POWERFUL RIGHTS - BUT WE HAVE TO CLAIM THEM.............

Make the effort and become proactive.
Tim

[HRan]

Haltrex systems

Has anyone encountered the issues with Haltrex Systems.

They seem to send out cartridges "sell" over the phone - so you don't have a contract with them just try their products for 30 days.

Then send you the invoice for those products they sent you to your post and say that the invoices it is a binding contract to continue buying if you pay them for the first cartridges.

The problem is that you did not have a contract with them because they sold you over the phone and never told you of this so called contract.

So if you pay them, you have a contract if you don't they sue you for not paying. So, as a consumer you are screwed anyway once they send you the ink.

Then they keep sending and you send back the ink, and they keep sending and you send back the ink, and they keep sending and then they start treating you to sue you if you don't order from them.

Anyone know about this?

Hi Karen
I have had the misfortune of being coerced into buying the first set of cartridges from them. I returned the second set, but received threats over the phone. Now, 2 years later I get another batch of cartridges. Its unnecessary costs having to post them back. If you check out the hellopeter website there are numerous people who have been similarly conned. They seem to still be around. I would really be glad if something could be done so that they do not bother me (or others once and for all) From what I understand they also sell detergents in large quantities. They have now been taken over by New Tech International Products. I am not sure whether their modus operandi will be the same!!!
HRan

[KarinR]

Haltrex Scam

Hi Guys
Firstly i would like to make everyone aware that they had a name change: Haltrex Systems is now called NEW TECH INTERNATIONAL.

I read some of your replies on this story about Haltrex Systems... I was one of the unlucky once to also fall for their scam! I bought the first set and now a couple months later they sended me another 8 when my driver took it back to them cause i didnt want them they started to fight with him threatening and told him to leave their premises. ....Eventually i got the guy there to take back 4 of them ....i'm still stuck with the other 4 and guess what you can't use them as all the powder leaked out. I have been phoning them non stop to replace them but the replacements are yet to come....

[tec0]

Really people it is called a “lawyer” and lawyers know the law... Get real and go to one pay the money and be helped!

I know it is costly to get a lawyer involved but sometimes it get the job done. If it was me I would have taken then to court a long time ago. Also talk to your lawyer bout damages and total costs. Or you can play the game and get intimidated all the time... the choice is yours.

[lindamareb]

Haltrex/New Tech International

Hi
I took the matter to the Dept Trade & Industry - they could not help me at the time but were waiting for a consumer law to change - try them. Wendy Knowles of Consumer Council helped. She published details in the Pta News and Star and next thing Hatrex paid me back for a damaged cartridge and for the repairs needed to my printer.

She spoke to the "owner" in Australia who said he was "surprised" that his staff were acting as they did??!! Contact Wendy - she is really helpful.
L

[Dave A]

Really people it is called a “lawyer” and lawyers know the law... Get real and go to one pay the money and be helped!

When last did you use a lawyer in a matter of litigation?

There is a rather significant problem of return on investment here, Tec0. Are you seriously suggesting running up a lawyer's bill that is sure to be hugely disproportionate to the sums of money involved (at the individual case level)?

It's easy to shout "sue the bastards" when you're not the one cutting the cheque.

The best option is to tell them to get stuffed in no uncertain terms - they face exactly the same ROI problem if they wish to pursue the matter further as any of these complainants do. And clearly they've done the maths. I asked a while ago if anyone had been pressed harder than abusive phonecalls for collection and no-one has indicated that they have.

Just another 12 months or so to go and the Consumer Protection Act should put an end to their hijinks. In the meantime warn as many people as you can. The change in trading name is a good sign that bad publicity is taking its toll.

[lindamareb]

Haltrex new Tech

I must agree with Dave A. not a simple matter to take this to court - huge costs and they have their story sorted. Even the official channels cannot do much to "get them". Those of us who have had dealings know how unethical their practices are.
L

[tec0]

Well I use a lawyer but not like most people. See I pay a lawyer to point out the laws and what can help me. Then I pay the lawyer his money and leave his office AND then and only then do I go to the consumer council or “the custodian in question” and hand that person my case that I now know is airtight and there will be little to no surprises. More importantly I act with confidence and facts and that is worth R580 I spend at my lawyer.

This works for me and I like doing it because it has saved me up to R8000 and more in the past for business orientated problems... I never had to hand over a case to a lawyer and I also avoid doing this because of cost! Yes when a lawyer gives you advice you have to pay, but it is good sound advice...

[Garyvdh]

C & N Imaging Systems

Not sure if it is the same company, but there is a company out there called C and N imaging systems now.... or C & N Imaging ... however they spell it.

They use exactly the same tactics and try to make it more attractive by attaching a woolworths or pick and pay voucher to the offer.

The way to deal with this is to refuse everything point blank from the start and end the call as soon as possible. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY DETAILS.

You can read more about this and other similar companies here...
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...light-Robbery-!!!!

[mamaafrica]

I have just been through the same process with this Company and refuse to have any further dealings with them. In 25 years of doing business, I have NEVER seen anything like this. So-called "paperless company not recording any calls", making false promises, "repremanding the sales person who did so", but then still insisting you keep accept box upon box of cartridges (my first one was faulty, 2nd one didn't fit etc etc) . I have paid for the only cartridge I was able to use, yet have also paid to return two unwanted boxes to them via registered mail. One staff member who took one of my 1 complaints is not only user-unfriendly and aggressive, they also managed to have a different job description each time I noted details of the conversation!

[tec0]

Seriously? Look just get a “rent a lawyer” and go ballistic! I am sure your “rent a lawyer” will send them packing.

[lindamareb]

Haltrex Crooks

I wrote a letter to the local press which got published and Haltrex immediately retracted, apologised (!!) and even REFUNDED me for damage to my printer which I said their poor quality cartridges were responsible for. Amazingly I could get no real help from the DTI but they did say the law was changing which would enable them to act against such companies in future. So try them, too.

[Garyvdh]

Beware of this type of scam.

1) The sales person calls your company and asks for the person who does the ordering
2) They tell you that you completed a survey a few months back
3) Now they are going to give you a free voucher or complimentary coupon.
4) They are also going to send you one of their "printer cartridges" to "test"
5) The call is recorded and they record your agreement to accept the vouchers and the cartridges.
6) Once they deliver and you or anybody in the company signs for delivery of the cartridge you are hooked.
7) They then begin to pester you for payment, usually over R2000 for a generic cartridge.
8) Meanwhile they begin sending you more cartridges for which they will also bill you.
9) When you try to refuse or return the cartridge they threaten to blacklist you for non payment.

See these threads for more details....

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?97482-Stratus-Office-Consumabils

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?29773-Scam-Alert!!!!-Printer-ink

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...-might-be-back!
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...light-Robbery-!!!!

http://www.theforumsa.co.za/forums/showthread.php?t=3948

The companies concerned that we know of so far are called...

Stratus Office Consumables - http://www.hellopeter.com/search_res...search=stratus
Dower Business Systems - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthre...-might-be-back!
Laser Ink Direct - http://www.hellopeter.com/search_res...ser+ink+direct
Haltrex Systems - http://www.sascams.co.za/index.php?topic=83.0
Newtek or nutec or nu-tech (no website yet)
C & N Imaging Systems (no website yet)

They all use the same tactics (might even be the same people/company) - and it is all a scam!

The new Consumer Protection Act gives you the right to refuse or return these cartridges.

http://www.getclosure.co.za/blog/2010/01/21/consumer-protection-act-series-10-right-to-return-goods/

[BusFact]

I get these survey calls on a weekly basis.

I never let them past point (3)