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Be advised, be vigilant, beware in any dealings with
FairGuide.com / Construct Data Verlag
and other questionable practices
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, joins with the exhibition industry associations of several other countries to strongly condemn the actions of the Austrian based Fairguide.com/Construct Data Verlag with their misleading services to exhibitors.
Construct Data through its online FairGuide claims to be offering online services and uses a form which resembles an organiser's free catalogue listing service, inviting exhibitors to sign and return the form for an entry in an on-line directory.
Exhibitors who sign and return the form are then contracted into a three-year, non-retractable agreement, which could cost the exhibitor a significant amount of money, with no foreseeable benefits.
FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag has no connection with exhibition organisers or any of their events.
It is important that all companies who are exhibiting are made aware of this. FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag targets companies through legitimate exhibition guides aimed at exhibitors. Their current activities cover companies throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Construct Data has engaged the services of Austrian debt collection agency Gravis Inkasso Gmbh and Swiss debt collection agency Premiumn Recovery AG (a Construct Data subsidiary).
In all matters related to this organisation, DO NOT PAY.
We strongly advise our UFI members, all exhibitors and the entire exhibition community, to be most vigilant against this and similar organisations. These organisations can cause extreme damage and harm to the reputation of our exhibition industry.
Copies of relevant correspondence on this subject is available by clicking on the following links:
UFI Legal Counsel advisory notice to Construct Data/FairGuide dated 14 October 2005
Letter from UFI President to the Austrian Bundesminister für Wirtschaft und Arbeit dated 25 October 2005
Reply to UFI from the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit dated 21 December 2005
If approached by Construct Data you should immediately contact your local Austrian Embassy to provide information concerning problems with this organisation. The Osterreichisches Patentamt, the Austrian Protective Association against Unfair Competition, and the Austrian Advertising Council have each taken steps against these misleading practices.
Through the combined efforts and vigilance of us all, we will certainly succeed in defending the interests of the international exhibition industry - and those of our clients!
More information is available by clicking on the following links:
AEO Useful Guidance
Following work by the Austrian 'Schutzverband gegen unlauteren Wettbewerb' (equivalent of the Office of Fair Trading), Construct Data signed a further undertaking on 21st February 2008. Original here (in German)
The settlement in Austria where Fairguide agreed to stop harrassment of many people who dispute their contracts
Letter from the Federation to prevent Unfair Competition, Vienna dated November 2006
- - Proposed template #1 rejecting payment request
- - Proposed template #2 rejecting payment request
Letter from the Federation to prevent Unfair Competition, Vienna dated 15 December 2005
Belgian legal position
FairGuide sample registration form
Financial Times Article
Daily Mirror Article
German Press Information
Presentation of Premium Recovery AG
Actions of StopECG
News about from Österreichischer Werberat
Alert message from The Swedish Exhibition Centre to Exhibitors
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