Spam leaves bitter taste

Shallandra Singh claims the unsolicited invoices were an honest mistake. Photo / One News

A businessman spammed letterboxes with unsolicited invoices for internet advertising is claiming an honest mistake - but complaints about his billing and sales tactics stretch back five years and across the Tasman.

Consumer New Zealand chief executive Sue Chetwin said caution should be exercised in dealing with unfamiliar invoices.

"People should insist on proof that they paid for advertising, and if they didn't place an order they should let them know and let the Commerce Commission know."

Shallandra Singh, who owns internet directory New Zealand Business Online (NZBOL), said his business had "mistakenly" sent out many invoices for $110.25.

He denied the mailout had been national, and said that only "seven to nine" people had paid from "less than a thousand" invoices sent.

"We are cancelling that invoice. And if anybody has paid any money on that particular invoice they will get a refund," he said.

This is not the first time Singh's internet ventures have made the news.

In 2004 the New Zealand Herald reported that Singh's National Business Online (NBO) internet directory generated complaints about unsolicited invoices.

Last year One News reported complaints about NBO's sales practices, which Singh denied.

And earlier this year another of Singh's internet directory companies, Australia Business Online (ABOL), generated complaints to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Mike Fitzsimons, a Queensland-based IT professional, received an unsolicited invoice from ABOL for A$107.80 ($131) in August. He wrote on his blog: "I regard this invoice as fraudulent."

He said in a later interview that he was aware of many other Australians who had received unsolicited invoices from ABOL, which he regarded as "paper-based spam".

Singh said his businesses in Australia and New Zealand were wholly independent, despite the wording on invoices and website design being nearly identical.

"The way we do business in Australia is complete different," he said.

He said he had been in communication with the ACCC and the complaints were now resolved: "We've been dealing with the right people in Australia ... We've done everything we could have and everything seems to be fine there."

Singh has registered different aliases on official documents both here and in Australia, with his first name also spelt Shallendra and Shailendra.

He said the different spellings were another mistake: "I seriously think that somebody made a typing error."

Chetwin said it was important that business informed themselves before paying: "You need to know what their website is - take a look, and if there are no contact details on website, avoid it. Otherwise there's nowhere to chase them up."

Play safe with bills

Dealing with advertising invoices:
* Establish a standard practice for approving and paying * Insist on proof of prior agreement if the sender is unknown.
* Ask for a copy of their latest issue, if offered advertising in a print publication, or check their website.
* Take down contact(street address and phone number)to chase up if required.
* If concerned,complain to the Commerce Commission.