We are still receiving letters from traders who are concerned about the seemingly perennial issue of the European City Guide scam, and, although this is a consumers' column, it is in our interest to help traders too.

Indeed, in such situations, mutual co-operation is essential for everybody's benefit. We have been referring to this issue for years and we intend to continue doing so for the benefit of the traders concerned.

The European City Guide (ECG) is still demanding money from thousands of small businesses throughout Europe for advertisements they did not want and which are useless. In fact thousands of companies were misled into signing the form which has been judged to be misleading and cannot be legally binding.

Therefore, if you have been misled, do not pay, do not let them intimidate you accordingly, and don't worry. In fact the ECG has never taken anyone to court. Therefore, don't be bullied, and don't pay!

Versions of the ECG's form have been ruled to be both misleading and deceptive by the Barcelona courts. Although the ECG has sent hundreds of letters threatening legal action, not a single trader who has refused to pay has ever been taken to court by the ECG.

Court action has often been threatened both by the ECG and the associated debt collection companies. Moreover the Catalan authorities ruled against the ECG on two separate occasions and on both occasions they closed them down and fined them €300,000. Subsequently, the ECG moved to Valencia from where they resumed mailing very similar contracts and we are still receiving queries regarding the ECG.

They certainly have staying power. However we will reciprocate accordingly. We have been dealing with this issue since March 2002 and as long as they continue operating, we intend to continue exposing them for what they are.

Basically the ECG lures companies, businessmen, etc., to advertise in a directory called European City Guide. The original contact or mailing includes an application form, which gives the impression that the directory entries are free.

The small print, however, states that businesses or individuals who sign up and return the enclosed form are committed to pay large sums of money.

Over the years, however, the ECG has become known as a scam. There is one golden rule that can neutralise such scams: never pay a penny. If you accede to the demands of such scams you will actually be helping them in what can only be described as an industry of trickery.

There may be times when they lay on the pressure and you feel like giving in, but remember, they will use your money to put others through the same hell. So do not give them that satisfaction!

The different contracts produced by the ECG up until 2003 have been ruled by the Spanish courts as being deceitful and/or misleading.

In 2003 a Spanish court ruled that ECG, then based in Barcelona, was to be temporarily shut down for a year and fined. On September 9, 2003, the Catalan authorities fined the ECG €300,000 and suspended them from trading for a year.