Press Release

27/05/2008

The European City Guide is a scam and should be stopped immediately. Simon Busuttil MEP

Simon Busuttil MEP has embarked on his work to draw up a report for the European Parliament on misleading advertising practices by business directories such as the European City Guide.

Mr Busuttil was appointed the European Parliament's Rapporteur after the Parliament's Petition's Committee received around four hundred complaints from aggrieved persons, especially small traders, who were victims of this misleading practice.

Businesses typically receive an invitation to update their business information in a business directory on a free-of-charge basis. However, upon signing, they discover that they had actually signed up to a three-year contract in the business directory at an annual cost of around €1,000.

"This is a scam and we must put a stop to it", said Simon Busuttil during a press conference in Brussels. Many small traders from all over Europe are victims of this misleading business practice. After receiving the bill, victims are often also approached and harassed by debt collection agencies.

Calling on the European Commission to intervene in the matter, Busuttil said that this case had a clear cross-border dimension since many traders in different EU countries were affected. Moreover, the European City Guide is only one such scam. Many other business directories operate in the same manner basing their approach on misleading practices.

Asked on how he plans to move forward in his work, Busuttil said that his report will:

• seek to raise awareness to avoid further proliferation of these practices;
• urge EU countries to enforce EU law on misleading advertising more effectively;
• request that the Commission proposes new measures to clarify any discrepancies in the law, and;
• guide victims on how to deal with situations of this nature.

Petitioner Jules Woodall, who is running the Stop the European City Guide Campaign (www.stopecg.org) and who was one of the speakers at the press conference, said that roughly 20% of the businesses which sign up end up paying the hefty sum.

The European Parliament is expected to debate and adopt Simon Busuttil's report before the end of this year.

For further information:
Simon Busuttil MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847686
David Stellini, EPP-ED Group Press Service, Tel: +32-473-541926

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 288 Members from all 27 Member States.