“I've had a Yell account, both website and connect product for just over a year now. The first few months were shocking, it did not help as I am no technological genius. Due to my somewhat bespoke business, they had never set up such a web site before and had no idea. Eventually I submitted several files and had to ask that they transfer the files to pages of my web site, verbatim. Even parts of this they got wrong, yes, just copying and pasting they got wrong. I did wonder at the time whether it was because I am a small sole trading business that they may not afford me the same time as others. I complained and was given the website free of charge for three months. It took a full 3-4 months for my site to start being noticed. My next problem was with the connect product, they were not linking my social media accounts. I complained and was due a call back. Three times I called before someone eventually rang back and fixed the problem in a few moments. I complained again and was given a further discount. I have now taught myself how to edit my site, connect product etc. However, for the price I was paying, I was going to cancel both products as my year term was up. They have now sorted me a far better deal, upgrades on my products and a huge discount which not makes the products affordable to my size business. Essentially that is my big point. My work is part-time, I don't have a huge turn over, and I do need to advertise, so perhaps the pricing should be more in line with the style and type of business. After a year of ups and downs, I'm hoping that this next year (for which I am on a rolling contract) will flow much easier - it'll certainly be easier on my pocket”
“Beware: Yell.com charges 40% of your Google Adwords budget for management fees. You don't find this out until you've signed the contract. The sales manager asked me how much I was willing to spend on Adwords every month, I gave him a modest amount of £300 but what he didn't tell me was that after 20% VAT was added, 40% was going toward admin. For a £360 monthly cost to me, only £180 was going toward my pay per click campaign.
Thanks to their e-contract system I didn't have the chance to read the T&C's above the box where I was to sign. With his laptop on his lap, it was a bit awkward to read everything before scribbling my name in the box. There were no T&C’s on this A4 paged contract anyway, the relevant T&C’s that I SHOULD’VE seen were stipulated on a public Yell.com web page for everyone to see, yet it was never referred to during our meeting with the sales person.
I couldn’t understand why I was paying so much for so few clicks, and when I eventually found out, it was too late to cancel because companies don't have a 14-day money back guarantee.
Another thing about the skills at Yell.com: I told them to be specific to my area (7 mile radius maximum) and to use certain keywords that are specific to my service. They went wild with my budget and advertised nationwide AND they used ridiculous keywords that were totally irrelevant to my service offering. I asked them to edit the advertising campaign so many times and in the six months I was forced to pay them, they only managed to edit my listings 3 times. After so many reasons for me to leave, I stopped paying them but they threatened to black-list my company.
I phoned lawyers to discuss this and all they said is that I don't have any rights. I signed the contract for 6 months and no matter how Yell advertises my campaigns, I cannot pull out of the contract.
There are so many suckers out there like me, and I’m grateful that it was only a 6 month contract and at most £360 per month. I feel so sorry for those who took out larger contracts.
Last year when I first posted this review Yell.com was crawling with negative feedback from their customers, yet this year they’re up to 70% positive rates. Something is very suspicious. Where have all those negative google reviews gone?”
“I got cold called from yell a year ago...they ended up sending someone out to see me about my advertising...worst thing I have ever done... is take that meeting.
Ended up getting bullied...yes bullied into taking one of their websites by the guy that came out. I then tried to cancel the next day only to be told I can’t as it’s a business contract not at customer contract. Then the sales guy said I’ll come out and have a chat with you about it and see if there is something they can do to make things better. I thought Great!
He gave me some free bits (none of which help me out at all in the end) and said to get this website really working you need to have banner adds. So again bullied me into signing up for this saying “if I didn’t the website would be as waste of money and no one would find it or visit it”
A little while on the website i didn’t want is up and running and the banner adds are live... 1 month later apple update releasing an update to block those annoying banner adds. Phone yell up to discuss my options and there is only one...I’m locked in to 12 months contract...yay...for a product that now doesn’t work on apple products.
To top it all off my yell.com account had an issue that no one could sort out until 2 weeks ago. So for the past year I have been unable to add photos add reviews or anything despite several people telling me they will sort it out.
Anyway after a year and loads and loads of money I have been trying to cancel both the website and banner adds for over a month now. I must be over 20+ phone calls. My account manager Christopher Edwards was useless and didn’t get back to me. I have the been speaking to his manager Matthew Clark and he is useless to and failed to get back to me. I have the tried contacting the complaints department and no one seems to know there number, or they give you a number that on one answers and they don’t seem to have an email address either. Convenient I thought.
I still live in hope that one day I will receive a cancel confirmation in my inbox and someone will just call me back!”
“Miss sold a package as it was only afterwards when I was told I would need to pay extra for what I really wanted. I made a complaint and they said they will listen to the recording and get back to me. Must be waiting over 8 weeks. My social media links keep falling off my reputation manager. The last time this happened it took over 4 weeks to get a call back.
My Google ranking has not improved. Visits to my website have not improved. Its been around 5 months now with no positive effect of my business. A total waste of money!!!”
“DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY!!! They contacted me in November 2018 and lied that my business will be page one plus my business will be listed on Twiter, FB, Instagram etc. They were supposed to call to teach us how to activate the listing +listing the keywords unfortunately never received a phone call. I had a phone call after I cancelled my DD and told the lady exactly what have written + I said that I will not mind to carry on with the contract if you fulfil with your commitment. I never had anymore call except a few emails and this is one of that a few on 13th December 2018, unfortunately, no one contacted me until a few days asking me for payment.
Account Number: 16578939
Ticket Reference: 1465819
Dear Ms Chatterjee,
I am sorry to learn that you wish to cancel your Yell advertising, your request has now been forwarded to the relevant team and they will be in contact with you within 24 to 48 working hours.
Today, 21st January 2019 I have received a letter from a debt recovery service and I have tried to call on their telephone at least 10 times and engaged and no email number either.
I am not worried because I have litigation knowledge to handle my case. So, Yell be ready for the legal challenge and I will also contact Financial Ombudsman.”
“I got cold called from yell a year ago...they ended up sending someone out to see me about my advertising...worst thing I have ever done... is take that meeting.
Ended up getting bullied...yes bullied into taking one of their websites by the guy that came out. I then tried to cancel the next day only to be told I can’t as it’s a business contract not at customer contract. Then the sales guy said I’ll come out and have a chat with you about it and see if there is something they can do to make things better. I thought Great!
He gave me some free bits (none of which help me out at all in the end) and said to get this website really working you need to have banner adds. So again bullied me into signing up for this saying “if I didn’t the website would be as waste of money and no one would find it or visit it”
A little while on the website i didn’t want is up and running and the banner adds are live... 1 month later apple update releasing an update to block those annoying banner adds. Phone yell up to discuss my options and there is only one...I’m locked in to 12 months contract...yay...for a product that now doesn’t work on apple products.
To top it all off my yell.com account had an issue that no one could sort out until 2 weeks ago. So for the past year I have been unable to add photos add reviews or anything despite several people telling me they will sort it out.
Anyway after a year and loads and loads of money I have been trying to cancel both the website and banner adds for over a month now. I must be over 20+ phone calls. My account manager Christopher Edwards was useless and didn’t get back to me. I have the been speaking to his manager Matthew Clark and he is useless to and failed to get back to me. I have the tried contacting the complaints department and no one seems to know there number, or they give you a number that on one answers and they don’t seem to have an email address either. Convenient I thought.
I still live in hope that one day I will receive a cancel confirmation in my inbox and someone will just call me back!”
“Have to date wasted a fortune and had not one piece of business as a result of investing. Was promised the earth moon and stars by salesperson & assured that as a non technical person I would not have to worry about anything. This was completely wrong. Never able to speak to customer representative, Changes to website not done & 0 return on investment. A real rip off-please don't be taken in by a smooth talking sales person”
“really nice people but the service is so convoluted and not explained, no one seems to know what they are doing or getting back to you. They need a proper system to manage their clients. I wish I just did it myself tbh, but I am roped into a contract and fell bad to leave now I've started. Such a shame as the people themselves really sell the product. But once you get the product you're chasing and stressing to get answers and understand what you've bought. This could be so good but right now they are running before they can walk and we are the guinea pigs. Sort it out Yell!”
“Been with you nearly six years and have 100% fantastic reviews but for one liable one, when I rang not interested but they said they would take it down, while they investigate but haven't. Work to hard over last six years, building up a small business for yell to destroy. Very good selling you stuff but hopeless when a problem, while charging you £50 + per month”
“Hi all
I’m glad some have had good success with Yell.
I have been with them for over 5 years and have had 0 return!!!
They are now threatening to take me to court which I know they will.
Will anyone support me in court
Thanks
Dave Lawton
07445 248696”
“these are the worst company ever since being taken over by hibu. lies after lies and customer services are a joke they cant even understand what you are asking them.
avoid at all costs”
“Customer Service very poor. I have arrange different date to debit the payment, they did not follow what we agreed and charge me more. No service or nay work is been done. Been calling everyday and send email and no response from the account person who I dealt with. Stay away from this they are not reliable!!!!”
“STAY AWAY FROM YELL, they are cheat... They tide me in a contract and I had very poor results from their advertise on google, they did nothing and took my money for nothing”
“worst company ever!!! was miss sold with there advertising and haven’t received a single call months ago i’ve put in a complaint around 2 months ago and still not received response and have send several emails now, DONT NOT USE THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!! they want £900 off me to cancel the advert which i was miss sold, absolute shocking service”
“If you are a UK Business, never think of spending any money with Yell. If you pay £200 plus and opt to be even at first place, you just lost the £200 monthly. They have a 12-month contract and you won't even able to cancel the contract. They will send somebody at your office and tell you in your face that yes I understand you are not getting any benefit, but u cant cancel and u won't get any benefit.
you simply will lose money. spend the 200 on FB or google you may get a better result.
My company listed in Yell in No 1 place. But I never received even a single enquiry or phone call.
The worst company I ever dealt with is Yell. I am in the 12-month contract . to cancel the contract they charge 80% of 1-year payment, So once you enter you won't be able to exit. also, you can give notice only in the last 14 days of the annual term. if you miss it, you will get charged one more month.
I feel companies should make customers happy and make money instead of cheating customers.”
“After a very convincing phone call that a website with this company will boost turnover with our small business we signed up. The website was to be to be polite poor but i thought get it live so potential customers can visit it and I will improve it. I got it better tried to get help but was a complicated process. After 12 months the cost of the service was far higher than the increase in turnover so i cancelled the website.Firstly I was told I had paid up so I cancelled the direct debit
I was told I can have the website redone plus 3 months free I made it clear i wanted to cancel the website but agreed to try. Waited on 3 occasions for someone to ring me but no one did throughout the 3 months but got a bill because it seams I hadnt paid up rang up everytime but still got bills. (I Was told after the 3 months I would not pay anything but the bills kept coming) I even cancelled online after a phone call being told I have no option but to pay because I agreed to the 3 months free and I cant talk to anyone else I paid to get rid of them and got an email saying as much again. but guess what the bills keep coming and I keep ringing up I truly wish I had never got involved with Yell”
