Phoenix Business Agents Ltd WARNING: Do not deal with Phoenix Business Agents Ltd. They are Liars, Bullies, Cheats,Con Artists, Sharks, Swindle you out of your money by misleading and deceiving you into signing a contract. Oxford, Internet

I too was cold called by Phoenix Business Agents Ltd after they saw my details on Business for sales website. I only arranged to meet them if there was nothing to pay, until they sold the business to which they agreed on the phone and only then I agreed to meet them.

Mr Peter Abbott came to see me and was very confident that they will be able to sell my business very quickly. He informed me they have thousands of cash buyers on their books looking for businesses such as mine. He valued it at some ridiculous price of 99,950.  I said that was too high and it will put buyers off from coming to even view the business, but he was so confident he can get that price, so I agreed at the time. Then he asked me for 600 (500 plus 100 VAT).

I told him that I was told you dont have to pay anything up front and you only get commission after you have sold the business which would be 6000 plus VAT.  He then informed me that 600 was for marketing the business on the various internet websites and I will be refunded this amount if they dont sell the business within six months and that I can cancel after that time and get my refund.

I asked Mr Abbott repeatedly if I would definitely get my 600 back if they didnt sell and he assured me that was the case. I even had my brother with me who understood this to be the case. So I thought I have got nothing to lose and signed the contract.

In spite of reducing my price from 99,950 to 39,950 I have only had one viewing. In the end I wrote and cancelled my contract giving them 30 days notice and made sure it was cancelled after the 6 months deadline and I also asked them to send me a cheque for the 600 I had already paid.

Instead of getting my cheque in the post, I received an invoice from them for 3000 plus VAT with a copy of the contract attached and clause 12 highlighted in bright orange where it says you have to pay them three thousand pounds as an agreed charge for the services rendered. There was no mention of this 3000 when Mr Peter Abbott came to see us and again this clause is well hidden in the tiny print at the bottom.

I am now receiving threatening phone calls and letters from the company to pay up or they will take legal proceedings. When I phoned they asked me to make them an offer of how much I want to pay to settle the matter to which I replied I am not making them any offer and they should be paying me.

In the meantime I have written to them again asking them to justify what the 3000 is for as they havent done anything to earn it. From the time I signed the contract I have not had any feedback or any updates as to how many people have enquired or have been interested in my business except for one viewing which I am not sure was even genuine.

I have read other victims stories on this website and would be interested to know how we can all get together and take this company to court. They have obviously misled us all and are professional con artists. They have very cleverly deceived and tricked us into giving them money in the first place and now wanting another 3000 fee under terms and conditions we were misleadingly encouraged to sign.