TRADING standards officers in East Sussex are urging businesses in the county to be wary of postal invitations to apply for inclusion in business guides.

Filing in and sending off applications for entries in the guides, they say, could lead to firms forking out up to £2,000 a year for a service they do not need.

The warning comes after several local businesses contacted Trading Standards about the applications for entries in Millennium Guides and European City Guides.

A spokesman for the department said: "When the small print is read on these types of applications, there is generally a minimum order of two to four entries a year at a cost of up to £2,000.

"The contract then continues yearly unless a cancellation notice is given three months before the end of the contracted year.

"This places the onus on the firm involved to make sure they cancel within the time specified, otherwise it will be signed up for another year."

Coun Keith Bridger, lead cabinet member for legal and community services, said: "This is not the first time our trading standards officers have received inquiries about these applications.

"They could catch people out and mean that they send money for a service they don't really want.

"We would ask local businesses to ensure that their staff are alert to this type of scheme and only sign up if they really wish to. After all, £2,000 is a heavy price to pay for lack of vigilance."

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