written by zyClarke332 on 02/03/2015
I parted with over £500 to advertise with The Big Green Book two years ago. I have not received a single lead from them. The following year I was asked if I wanted to try again for just £50 with a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE if there were no lead. Guess what... NO LEADS! Now I am emailing their FD to get my money back and... Ooh it's gone awfully quiet. It's only £50 but I am determined to get it back and to be as big a thorn in their side as possible. THIS COMPANY ARE AN UTTER DISGRACE! :: A V O I D ::
written by Dillan365 on 05/02/2015
I received a phone call out of the blue from their very clever and devious sales person who told me that the professional body I belong to has given them my number and that they were supporters of their company. I was a new company starting up and needed any work I could get therefore I was talked into taking their cheapest package, and was told that I would get my money back if I didn't get any referrals after 12 months. A day or so after being sold the advertising I received an email from my professional body stating that 'The Big Green Book' have been contacting their members and they are not supported by them. I have sent numerous email to them requesting a refund as I did not get any referrals, but as to date have had no contact from them. I feel that I will have to put this down to experience as I feel that it will be a waste of time pursuing it further. I will not fall for the same sales pitch again.
written by on 12/01/2015
I WAS APPROACHED BY PHONE AND AGREED TO ADVERTISE AND ON THE BASIS THAT MY ADDITIONAL £99 [FOR PREFERENTIAL REFERRALS] WOULD BE REFUNDED AFTER THE 12 MONTHS IF I HAD NOT RECEIVED AN ENQUIRY. THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JUNE 2014 AND DESPITE NUMEROUS EMAILS CONFIRMING THAT MY REFUND WOULD BE SORTED DURING THE NEXT DIRECTORS MEETING, I AM STILL WAITING! I HAVE EVEN THREATENED SMALL CLAIMS COURT WITH NO RESPONSE AND SO NOW WILL BE REPORTING THEM TO THE OFT & TRADING STANDARDS. I PAID TO BE THE NO. 1 BOOKKEEPER IN MY AREA AND WAS PROMISED ALL BOOKKEEPING AND PAYROLL REFERRALS, I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY OR EVEN A PHONE CALL TO DISCUSS WHY THERE WERE NO REFERRALS. AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE!!
written by annette3 on 29/05/2014
I would not recommend anyone/company to have anything to do with this company. Two years I was a member spending £1500 which for my small company is a large amount and got nothing but promises. Promises that were not kept. It says below think about what you like and didn't like, well I can think of loads I didn't like and not a thing I liked. save your money
written by Nathalia381 on 01/05/2014
Do not touch them with a barge pole as it will not get you anywhere They should not be allowed to get away with it and there should be a law in place to deal with them and similar companies
written by Jackfac51 on 27/03/2014
I have been receiving calls the last few weeks from Big Green Book wanting to promote my company for the second year and they wanted me to make a 'donation' every time they called and got a colleague who has my phone on him at most times they would just say they are a possible client to get him to give me the phone and when he said I'm busy the would abruptly hang up and be rude of which was not professional in anyway that would instil confidence in me. After reading these reviews I decided not to go with them and realised in the last year I haven't got a single customer from what I can recall and upon telling the 'sales person' this he just hung the phone up without uttering a word didn't even fight his corner so in my eyes it hey are not a company worth investing any more or time in !
written by Freemanxx142 on 25/03/2014
Yes they do trade shows - little ones judging from the photos I've seen. Yes they will put your leaflets on their stand - it adds to an air of legitimacy to their business. The man at the Helm says of himself, 'I am a motivator first and a salesman second'. So where does being a salesman fit into an ethical green business? Well, reading the reviews here will tell you all you need to know. This is all about sales. The underlying product is meritless. The projects from councils and large businesses they use as examples are spurious. If you get any worthwhile business from the money you hand over, you'll be pretty lucky I imagine. Do yourself a favour - AVOID!
written by moleatwork on 28/02/2014
Local Business Member - Counselling Service Initially the sales talk sounded convincing. I was promised at least 2 new counselling clients a week. He said he had a list waiting with people looking for counselling in my area. I paid extra for a banner, which was pathetic in quality and now well positioned on my profile. i received logging in details that didn't work and still don't work but I have given up trying. No reply to my emails. . 7 months have gone by and nothing has happened. Apparently, they only pass on your name and leave it to the person to contact you. That was not what I was told. However, that in 7 months I did not get one enquiry while i am well known in the area and never short of clients, seems very unlikely. I would like to know how many people and their details, were given my contact number or email address. Emails sent out to the BGB do not get answered. I have asked around and discovered that not one counsellor contacted by me ever had a client from the BGB. One of my colleagues was threatened with legal action if he dared to contact others or complained to BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists). We are now getting a group together to do more research in case false selling has taken place and take it from there. We were also promised that if no clients came forward, we would get refunded. Be aware that they keep your card details. I have asked for them to be removed but I am still waiting for a reply.
written by on 18/02/2014
they promised me up to 300 job a month with local government as all government had to use them what a load of rubbish well i got tricked by they misleading salesman so i canceled my membership only to find out that you cant cancel and must pay for 12 months as i had paid one half on the day i canceled my card with the bank to prevent them from taking more money now i am getting letters from collectors talking about court action so i have put it to them that they misold me a contract and would see them in court before i pay any more money to them under distant selling act and the supply of goods and services act 1982 you have a right to cancel and get a refund we all should get together and close these sites down
written by biggreencrooks on 07/02/2014
Do not give the biggreenbook.com your bank details; they asked me for a pound donation and a year later I got a letter from the debt collectors asking for nearly £300 for nothing; and they are ringing me up all the time; I've had nothing from thebiggreenbook.com but they want to take my money; i'm very poor, I don't even have that much money. They rang me illegally cold calling, I'm registered with the TPS so they should be fined for that. I GOT NOTHING FROM THEM BUT DEBT COLLECTORS. Give them a pound and they send the debt collectors to try and take hundreds of pounds from you. They didn't even contact me to say I owed money.
written by Sadandupset1 on 03/02/2014
What an absolute disgrace this company is- a complete rip off - no cooling off period and set the bailiffs on you if you fail to pay them even though you cancel and no company info has ever been displayed in their rotten book. None going to trading standards and office of fair trading and the media to expose this crooked company
written by tomas_jan on 28/01/2014
Do not fall for it! I was approached by them and I lost £600. Completely useless listing for my and many different companies. Read other reviews. No cooling off period. You might get 50% back if you cancel straight away. No refunds at all later on. Not covered by consumer act. Waste of time. Be warned!
written by on 22/01/2014
They tricked me out of £900 pounds, they target trades who just happen to be a bit quiet and make loads of false promises. When you complain you don't have a leg to stand on as not covered by consumer act.
written by on 05/12/2013
Told me I was selected by napit to be a local authority approved contractor, guy said he worked for local council! I realised when I received the email with invoice, called back within 10 minutes and no you cannot cancel and get a refund as promised! Still call me now threatening bailiffs and CCJs for the next installment of £300 they are never getting.
written by on 20/09/2013
As a new business, I decided to attend Manchester Northern Homeshow, I meet Big Green Book there and was instantly attracted to their non profit approach. Upon agreeing a membership price with the boss, I have since had alot of reward for my membership. Inquiries leading to work, new customers, and of course more than my money back. Some people will see biggreenbook as a waste of time, but believe me... it is not!
Written on: 28/10/2013
Thanks for the Feedback.
Great to hear it is working for you.
Written on: 23/04/2014
Funny how big green book only replies to this post and not the many bad ones published... Suspicious much????
Written on: 25/03/2014
Astonished to hear its working for you! That is if you are genuine. I rather suspect you are a Big Green Plant!
written by womble84 on 02/09/2013
Don't fall for it like I did!!! Was sold a cheap listing with lots of potential. Not one lead! Then in a moment of madness I received another call from them asking if I would like to pay more and become an approved contractor for their direct clients. Much like find a trade. More money paid. No contact since this date and trying to get hold of anyone who knows anything about it or is willing to explain what I have paid for is impossible. But if I pay more they can guarantee leads and work for the future and give me a better profile. Not falling for it 3 times.
written by stevobroon on 01/09/2013
Like many people reviewing here, was called by a smooth talking salesman promising many leads. Pretty much guaranteeing work blah blah blah. The biggest lot of bull ever. Not one phonecall, lead, anything! Complete rip off - How do they get away with it! ? They had the cheek to call and ask if I wanted to further invest another £250 for another years membership. You'll guess what I said to them. Avoid
written by ElectricianEdinburgh on 24/08/2013
lies and lies told when selling - avoid. You won't get the leads they promise and you won't get a refund - I think they should be reported to see if something could be done collectively . They will phone you back and aggressively try and sell you more exhibition advertising - where they will promote themselves
written by on 09/08/2013
2 words rip off Sales man patter caught me soon as I'd payed I came on here rung back to cancel and they gave me. U can't get a refund until after 12 months what a load of rubbish.
written by Bazmataz on 08/08/2013
I am a Napit registered electrician. I got a call from a salesman called Dane wyton, he told me he was calling from trust mark (which is a trusted tradesman organisation) and that Napit had given them my details as well as four other companies in my town that could be potentially become their registered company for all council/government work 300-400 jobs per year. After initially thinking it was a standard 'do you want to advertise with us' sales call, I was quite taken in. It was only afterwards I was adding it all up that it fitted typical scam criteria that I realised. I would have to pay money to make money £250for domestic and £250 for commercial registration (admin fee!) They give a time restraint, 3 other companies were due to get their call. Money back guarentee, 300-400 jobs a year but your money back if you don't get any. Job values from £1500-25000 so one job will pay for the admin fees, this sounded the most dubious, I don't know how they could say the job would be at least £1500 and how could they say the profit on that would be £500+ I told him I'd consult with the missus and check I could take On all the extra workload and took his number. I googled the number and the guy and that's where the big green book.com first came to my attention and I found all the forum entries about their sales techniques. Avoid!
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Gpts's Comment
Written on: 02/03/2015
I have the exact same issue. Paid to be no.1 Tree Surgeon. Trading Standards it is then.
Grrrrrrr!!!!!
Acegooner66's Comment
Written on: 03/03/2015
I have since received full refund, when I informed them I was going to report them. You need to badger them with emails, keep all copies you send and receive and only give them a max of 5 working days to receive your refund. I sent the emails to all personnel that are listed under their contact us page. Approx 9 different email addresses including directors and sales staff, so that everyone knew what was going on? Good luck. :-)