Beware of invoices from GHG Medienwerk GmbH and Focus Marketing LLC
A new player in the area of subscription traps has established itself: GHG Medienwerk GmbH, which sends high invoices to self-employed people, freelancers and tradespeople throughout Germany. Many industries are affected and this is a classic contract trap that is implemented in cooperation with Focus Marketing LLC. In this article, we examine the practices of GHG Medienwerk GmbH and Focus Marketing LLC and issue a warning.
Background information on GHG Medienwerk GmbH
In February 2024, GHG Medienwerk GmbH was entered in the commercial register of the Charlottenburg District Court. The company is located at Leipziger Platz 15, 10117 Berlin. According to the company description, GHG Medienwerk GmbH offers services in the field of online and offline media, in particular in the areas of marketing, communications consulting and publishing. In addition, the company plans to regularly or occasionally acquire and manage third-party claims from the marketing sector. The managing director and sole shareholder is Gökhan Güroglu, who has not yet been associated with subscription traps. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that other people are acting in the background who wish to remain anonymous – a common practice in such business models.
The method of GHG Medienwerk GmbH
The approach of GHG Medienwerk GmbH is well known: The process begins with a phone call, supposedly from Focus Marketing LLC. Affected companies that have already placed an ad in a local advertising paper are contacted. They are told that they either have to quickly give a new print release or that they have to sign a cancellation confirmation because they forgot to cancel. Focus Marketing LLC then sends a form containing the company’s known ad so as not to arouse suspicion. The small print on the form, however, contains a nasty surprise: The client gives the contractor the order to publish the advertisement for one year with three paid publications. Payment is due immediately upon receipt of the invoice and the contract is automatically extended if it is not terminated in writing three months before expiry.
The process after returning the form
After returning the signed form, an invoice from GHG Medienwerk GmbH follows. Many of those affected are surprised because they did not know GHG Medienwerk GmbH before. The invoice relates to an advertisement in a citizen information brochure and includes costs for the advertising field, color flat rate and typesetting flat rate – a total of around €1,400. Many pay the invoice in the hope that this will be the end of the matter – but two more invoices follow because the contract covers three editions. If the contract is not terminated in time, it is extended for another year. While GHG Medienwerk GmbH issues the invoices, the acquisition is carried out by another company in order to avoid legal consequences, since GHG Medienwerk GmbH is allegedly only responsible for debt collection.
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How to defend yourself against the invoices of GHG Medienwerk GmbH
Our law firm has already protected numerous clients from these schemes and saved them from high payments. Have you signed a form from Focus Marketing LLC and received an invoice from GHG Media GmbH received? We are happy to represent you nationwide, quickly and competently. Upload your invoice and a description of your case to our website and we will get in touch with you:
Warning about GHG Medienwerk GmbH invoice
