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I have had a phonecall today from someone called james Gibson from the Indesit company, he was ringing my mobile and I couldn’t really talk to him but he managed to tell me that the Indesit company is very concerned that my adverts in the yellow pages are headed “Hotpoint and Creda specialist” and that I mention that I am ex an ex hotpoint and creda engineer and Indesit take exception to this as it is thier brand, I dont use any trademarks or anything and I have advertised like this for the last 13 years..I was wondering were I stand?…his parting words were that they will write to me initially.
has anyone else been contacted by them..since he said that they were working through the yellow pages?
Re: phone call from indesit
So long as you don’t use their branding, so far as I know, there’s not a lot that they can do about it.
We clearly state that: “All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner.” at the bottom of every single page of the site. No-one has ever asked that we not use their logo as I expect it is viewed as free brand advertising.
Zanussi (IIRC as have others) tried a similar thing with Yellow Pages many moons ago and tried to stop adverts from being printed using the trademarked logo without, as you can easily witness, a lot of success. But I’d be tempted bounce it back and tell them that the advert was designed by YP and you only approved the look and feel and, that you did this on the understanding that YP would adhere to any legislation or requirements in respect to copyright ownership or confirming to advertising standards.
In other words, go bother Yellow Pages and not me.
K.
Re: phone call from indesit
I think that they are looking to place adverts in yellow pages and are eyeing the opposition, he seemed to be most interested in knowing exactly when I worked for them..I dont suppose that I am telling any untruths and my advertising states that I am a specialist and not that I am purporting to be them themselves!
Re: phone call from indesit
Claiming that you specialise in any kind of work isn’t a crime nor is saying that you used to work for any company unless you’re bound by some form of contract so far as I am aware. I dunno, maybe they’re just chancing it and trying to instill fear into people.
In that sort of situation I’d just ignore them probably unless they started to get nasty. But do let us know what happens as I’d be very interested.
K.
Re: phone call from indesit
Washtec,
From your website advert ( spelling mistake included 😉 ) you state:
…..and have recieved manufacturer training from Hotpoint & Creda
On top of that is shows a van with Hotpoint/Creda logo’s on it?
Now unless you have sought written consent from the manufacturers to use these adverts and imply in your advertising that your company is specially trained by the manufacturer, then indeed you might have to take legal advice?
All indies need to watch out for this, not make statements that may be misleadimg, not use manufacturers logos without permission (not on anything including Yellow Pages ads).
Personally I would sort your van out and reword your advertising to be honest, then you are clear and innocent of all claims & charges, M’lud! 😉
Re: phone call from indesit
You can show logos in your advert as long as you sell the goods, even if that includes the sale of genuine spares.
Yellow pages always used to ask me for evidence I was an approved repairer. These days I don’t include makes, far easier and you can be selective if you are quiet and will take anything, or if busy and want to turn away the rubbish, that way nobody can quote your advert.
Alex
My new van has no logos on it just hotpoint and creda specialist (my website has been long abandoned as you can probably tell)…the guy seemed to be interested in my yellow pages advert only and also why my business came up when asking yell.com for hotpoint or creda….I will await indesits letter or phonecall and post back.
washtec wrote:….I will await indesits letter or phonecall and post back.
Yeah, probably best you wait and see?
Many years ago British Airways (no less :rolls: ) had a go at me for my company name contravening their rights advertising ‘Enterprise Holidays’ for christ sake!!!!! 👿
When I told them “I don’t give away free holidays with every washing machine I fix, besides I get air-sick very easily!” …they never bothered me again… 8)
what a cheek!!..some of these big companies get too big for thier boots….I wonder if Indesit will try to bully yellow pages not to take my adverts..I have just renewed them too fro next year.
Admittedly, I do get lots of enquiries (between 1-10 a week) from people up and down the country wanting manuals or service calls and who have asked 118 or yell.com for hotpoint or creda and been given my number, but they always seem disa pointed to discover that I its just me and I wont travel 120miles to fix thier under guarantee washing machine.
If I am not breaking any laws with my advertising and I’m sure that I’m not then perhaps they could make me some sort of financial offer if it bothers them that much..LOLOL to change my wording.
somehow, I think that i would rather deal with British airways than indesit!
Re: phone call from indesit
The Copyright Act of 1998 does not permit the copyright of a word, name, a title, a slogan or a phrase.
However, names, titles, slogans and phrases may be formed into a logo which is trademarkable therefore this can be covered.
Basically, Virgin as in the Virgin Media or Airlines cannot copyright the word VIRGIN but they can design a logo which they have and that is then protected by trade mark. This trademark cannot be used legally without their permission
So in this case providing you do not use the registered trade mark (their logos) or imply you are the company themselves which could lead to the consumers confusion, then you are absolutely fine.
They are just blustering and blowing in the wind. A friend of mine always advertising in YELL using the manufacturers names and tells several manufacturers to … how shall i say … Go Away whenever the new issue comes out
If they contact you again advise them to write to your solicitors and put the matter before them. 😀 😀
Jackal
Re: phone call from indesit
There is a small shop nearby selling motor spares called “Harrods” sometime ago the local paper ran an article because he had received a letter telling him he couldnt use the name “Harrods”. he got a big write up in the paper telling everyone of his plight. That must have been worth a fortune in free advertising to this small shop. He still remains and still carries the name, but much better known.
On a personal note I used to run adverts in the yellow pages and carry the Hotpoint / Creda logos. YP would only run these after I produced a letter from GDA stating I was an authorised centre (at that time).
As far as the vans went I would produce the proofs and get my Hotpoint and Creda reps to contribute towards the cost from his promotional support budget. I always kept a copy of that with the proof just in case. My reckoning was that if they paid towards it they wouldnt make me take it off.
Definately worked at that time. Cant say about now, probably no such thing as promotional support anymore.
Would say though clamping down on indies using the yellow pages isnt new though, I remember my area manager tearing pages out of the YP every year and sending them to head office. That was in the days when you could trade off being an ex hotpoint engineer and they continued to hold majority in the white goods market.Re: phone call from indesit
Check the guy really is from Indesit, not just the local franchisee trying to wreck your trade.
Re: phone call from indesit
whats he going to do anyway
re call the whole yellow pages, and remove any indesit logos of the adds..
dont think so…also check their add, if its like the one they put in our area..
ask him when they changed their name to AAAAAAAAINDESIT REPAIRS..
and if this is their name why dont they highlight it as their main headingally
well its nearly a week and I aint heard anything…I checked and James Gibson really is from Indesit…wouldn’t you yhink that he would get a proper job…..I remember when Hotpoint and Creda were lumped together and how all of the management were jockying and vyying for position and trying to prove thier worth…well I think that james Gibson is probably in a similar position..trying to show management that he has a purpose inside Indesit.
If by any chance they do get in touch with me, I will send them a letter back telling them that I am going to have to charge them an admin fee for each letter I have to write to them, since they are clearly wasting my time and I cant do repairs, run my business and reply to thier letters aswell…cos theres only me here and my time is valuable.
have I spoken too soon?…lol
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