Scam hits flooring show in Harrogate

Companies planning to exhibit the Flooring Show in Harrogate (September 2-4, 2012) are being targeted by an unscrupulous international company which purports to be publisher of the ‘official’ online catalogue, CFJ can reveal.

This company is a fraud. Calling itself Expo-Guide, it sometimes goes under the names of Fairguide and Construct Data. It sends forms to exhibitors which are deliberately misleading, designed to appear as if officially sanctioned.
At first glance the form offer a free listings service. However, the small print below states that those who return forms are regarded as having accepted the terms of the agreement and are legally liable to pay over £1,000 per entry with for a three year non-retractable contract.
The form, sent with a pre-paid envelope, deceives many into thinking it is genuine. Expo-Guide targets exhibitions in the UK and worldwide. Hundreds of exhibitors have reportedly fallen for the scam and paid many thousands of pounds for anon-existent service.



Those who fill in the forms and then refuse to pay are aggressively threatened with legal prosecution.

Wendy Adams, Flooring Show organiser, is appealing to exhibitors to ignore any suspect forms they receive. ‘Throw them away. Under no circumstances should you sign anything that is at all suspicious’. If in any doubt contact Wendy immediately on T: 01423 779967
E:wendy@harrogateflooringshow.net

Expo-Guide has been reported to trading standards, but being based abroad (currently in Mexico) it is unfortunately not subject to British jurisdiction.

The Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO) urges members to be vigilant against Expo-Guide and any similar operations.

AEO is advising those who unwittingly respond to tell Expo-Guide that they ‘signed in error and consider the contract invalid’.

Not responding to threats may also be an option because, despite intimidating tactics.There are no reports of Expo-Guide having taken any companies to court in the UK. AEO also warns exhibitors of bogus hotel booking agencies that offer discounted accommodation.


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