Brussels, 09/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) called, on Thursday 9 June, for an end to the practice of fraudulent business directories which affects almost 50,000 very small businesses, associations and organisations. “Con tricks like these are damaging to small business people who are already taking risks in launching their businesses … and don't have the human or financial resources to defend themselves”, commented Philippe Boulland, who is a member of the EP petitions committee.
These practices (misleading business directories) consist of approaching businesses, professionals and non-profit-making bodies and giving them the mistaken impression that they will feature, free of charge, in a business directory. Only later do those who sign up discover that they have signed a contract with a fee.
In its resolution, the EP “urges the Commission to speed up with regard to revising and improving the Directive 2006/114/EC” (on misleading and comparative advertising) and other relevant legislation “so as to put an end to the misleading practices of business directory companies as soon as possible”. The EP recommends “specifically blacklisting misleading practices by business directories”. (L.C./transl.rt)