Received a "renewal notice" for a listing we've never paid for. Received notice via email and SMS. Checked their website and it's clearly a (very clever) money grab and an absolute con. Sharp practi... See more
Company replied
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See what reviewers are saying
Scam business listing designed to look like a .gov website. No telephone number or business address. It's another "scrape" website that relists businesses found on the internet then tries to charge th... See more
Company replied
We've received a spam email asking us to "Renew Business Listing" daily despite never having subscribed to this service. Clearly someone who isn't equipped to make an honest living is harvesting c... See more
Scam website. Sent me a renewal notification pretending to operate as a UK Gov website. The website has the same look and feel as UK Gov. This is definitely a scam as I never subscribed in the firs... See more
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115 reviews
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I received several emails that appeared…
I received several emails that appeared to be from my local parish council asking me to renew my business listing. I was very nearly taken in. I couldn't remember listing in my local parish directory, so just before paying the invoice, I decided to double check. My business wasn't listed there which confirmed my suspicion that I had never asked to be listed. It was only once I'd checked the payee that I realised this outfit had nothing to do with my local parish. The website looks very much like a government website, only the small-print on the bottom confirms that it isn't. I had a look at Companies House records and it appears that Parish Services Ltd is a rebranding of CEDEX. Their new USP seems to be to copy business details and reviews from Google and list together as a local directory. This may be a legitimate business idea but sending emails that appear to be from a local parish council is suspect.
February 11, 2024
Unprompted review
Just like the other reviews - scam site
As everyone else is saying, I didn't ask to be put on their directory and so am not paying to remain on it!
The emails are persistent and an annoyance. Daily with somewhat threatening countdown. I am now going to see if the unsubscribe button actually works!
February 7, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Or, it's not a SCAM as people are quick to assume and it's actually a genuine website that has more useful information and higher traffic than any outdated Parish Council website. This claim can be substantiated at https://moz.com/domain-analysis. The PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative which includes a low cost online business directory for UK Parishes. Local businesses can choose to be included within SHOULD THEY WISH, there is no obligation to be included. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data (and therefore high search engine ranking) presented in our pages.
It is indeed a scam
I nearly fell for this last year. It is though most certainly a total scam. I have been asked to renew my listing for £19 per year. I have never had a listing and it is easy to fall for as they ask for such a small amount. BEWARE!
January 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Or, it's not a SCAM as people are quick to assume and it's actually a genuine website that has more useful information and higher traffic than any outdated Parish Council website. This claim can be substantiated at https://moz.com/domain-analysis. The PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative which includes a low cost online business directory for UK Parishes. Local businesses can choose to be included within SHOULD THEY WISH, there is no obligation to be included. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data (and therefore high search engine ranking) presented in our pages.
This website is a complete money…
This website is a complete money gathering scam.
They tell a lie to get firms to pay Parish Services Ltd to keep their listing, when in fact none may exist in the first place.
Con 1. The website is set up to look identical to Government websites.
Con 2. Even if you pay you may not get listed.
Con 3. The link at the bottom The PARISH.UK Network is a "Community Action Initiative" and does not form part of HM Government. links to an archive of the 'Local Government Association' Community Action Initiative so adds to the impression that this is an official Government Site.
September 27, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Or, it's not a SCAM as people are quick to assume and it's actually a genuine website that has more useful information and higher traffic than any outdated Parish Council website. This claim can be substantiated at https://moz.com/domain-analysis. The PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative which includes a low cost online business directory for UK Parishes. Local businesses can choose to be included within SHOULD THEY WISH, there is no obligation to be included. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data (and therefore high search engine ranking) presented in our pages.
100% scam, 0% government
This is a scam site that pretends to be UK Gov but is definitely not. Probably breaking copyright in some way. Huge scam.
June 28, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Or, it's not a SCAM as people are quick to assume and it's actually a genuine website that has more useful information and higher traffic than any outdated Parish Council website. This claim can be substantiated at https://moz.com/domain-analysis. The PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative which includes a low cost online business directory for UK Parishes. Local businesses can choose to be included within SHOULD THEY WISH, there is no obligation to be included. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data (and therefore high search engine ranking) presented in our pages.
Spamming Wikipedia
This unofficial site is now spamming links into Wikipedia – an encyclopedia run by volunteers and funded by public donations. From scamming businesses to stealing from a charity via pretending to be a government -approved service... this is very low behaviour.
May 6, 2023
Unprompted review
SCAM
SCAM! Just take a listen to the BBC radio 4 program You and Yours 3 May 2023.
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
This website is a SCAM!
This website is a scam. DO NOT register your details.
Please listen to BBC Radio 4 You and Yours (3/5/23) on BBC Sounds:-
"We investigate a new website called PARISH.UK which asks small businesses for money but isn’t what it seems to be. Our reporter, Shari Vahl, speaks to businesses, parish councils and National Trading Standards about the behaviour of PARISH.UK and its similarity to Government websites."
20/5/24: Just received a reply via Trustpilot from this scum listing some wheedling whining nonsense about how legit they are whilst doing their best to look like a government web page.
IT'S A SCUMBAG SCAM, DO NOT REGISTER OR GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!!!
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Or, it's not a SCAM as people are quick to assume and it's actually a genuine website that has more useful information and higher traffic than any outdated Parish Council website. This claim can be substantiated at https://moz.com/domain-analysis. The PARISH.UK Network is a Community Action Initiative which includes a low cost online business directory for UK Parishes. Local businesses can choose to be included within SHOULD THEY WISH, there is no obligation to be included. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data (and therefore high search engine ranking) presented in our pages.
This website pretends to be a government website
I was going to enter my details on parish.uk because I thought it was a government website but I have carried out an online search after I became suspicious. This is a SCAM website which harvests bank details and is a copy of a government website. It is run by director Tim Alistair Gordon who was a previous director of a company Lendy Ltd which went bust and owes £150 million pounds. Do not give them any of your financial details. Also you can only contact them by email.
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
SCAM listen to Radio 4 You and Yours 3…
Listen to Radio 4 You and Yours 3 May 3 to hear a very critical report on this new company.
You may be surprised to know that, despite the fact that it looks like an official website if you the small print it says:
The PARISH.UK Network does not form part of HM Government
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is an online initiative which takes national open-source data and presents it in a user-friendly format for all UK Parish communities to benefit from.
After working closely within our own Parish, we felt that the majority of Parish Council websites were disjointed and technically out-of-date, so we decided to develop a centralised Parish network, where important national data sets could be displayed at Parish level, as a useful data resource for each community.
Community Action (as defined by the Local Government Association) is “any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities”, This is exactly the service that the PARISH.UK Network is providing, hence decribing ourselves as a “Community Action Initiative".
Each PARISH.UK website displays open-source data, in some cases unique data; for example, we are the only website where 2021 CENSUS data is available at a Parish level. Other available information includes local news, educational establishments and OFSTED ratings, local heritage sites, latest planning applications, local property prices, farming CAP payments, along with a local business directory. It is our intention to add ‘Employment/Jobs' and ‘Crime' sections to the site over the coming months.
The Domain Authority of the parish.uk domain is currently 57, (this is higher than any individual parish council website) and as such the pages receive significant traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish.
The business directory listings were initially populated using the same method that enable website listings to be listed in search engines, we then ask a business if they wish to keep their listing. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to cancel or let the listing expire naturally. When a business confirms their wish to renew their listing, an invoice is generated. The invoice states clearly the url of the business directory they are paying to be listed in.
The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available. The framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users. We have worked with The Cabinet Office - Government Digital Service who were satisfied that the public would not be misled into thinking the site was endorsed by HM Government. The copyright breach you raised is standard privacy policy text and we did not receive an objection to using this text, during our working with the Government Digital Service.
Radio 4 show interest
Radio 4 have talked about this business at lunchtime today - it is a scam and advises everyone to steer clear - word for word copied from the parish.org.uk and no way to make contact. The person behind it they thought lives near Goodwood and is called Alistair something
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is an online initiative which takes national open-source data and presents it in a user-friendly format for all UK Parish communities to benefit from.
After working closely within our own Parish, we felt that the majority of Parish Council websites were disjointed and technically out-of-date, so we decided to develop a centralised Parish network, where important national data sets could be displayed at Parish level, as a useful data resource for each community.
Community Action (as defined by the Local Government Association) is “any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities”, This is exactly the service that the PARISH.UK Network is providing, hence decribing ourselves as a “Community Action Initiative".
Each PARISH.UK website displays open-source data, in some cases unique data; for example, we are the only website where 2021 CENSUS data is available at a Parish level. Other available information includes local news, educational establishments and OFSTED ratings, local heritage sites, latest planning applications, local property prices, farming CAP payments, along with a local business directory. It is our intention to add ‘Employment/Jobs' and ‘Crime' sections to the site over the coming months.
The Domain Authority of the parish.uk domain is currently 57, (this is higher than any individual parish council website) and as such the pages receive significant traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish.
The business directory listings were initially populated using the same method that enable website listings to be listed in search engines, we then ask a business if they wish to keep their listing. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to cancel or let the listing expire naturally. When a business confirms their wish to renew their listing, an invoice is generated. The invoice states clearly the url of the business directory they are paying to be listed in.
The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available. The framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users. We have worked with The Cabinet Office - Government Digital Service who were satisfied that the public would not be misled into thinking the site was endorsed by HM Government. The copyright breach you raised is standard privacy policy text and we did not receive an objection to using this text, during our working with the Government Digital Service.
Radio 4s 'You and Yours' exposes this scam
Today's Radio 4s 'You and Yours' (3/5/23) has exposed this company as a scam to take subscription money for a listing you never asked for. They are NOT anything to do with the UK government despite appearances.
May 3, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is an online initiative which takes national open-source data and presents it in a user-friendly format for all UK Parish communities to benefit from.
After working closely within our own Parish, we felt that the majority of Parish Council websites were disjointed and technically out-of-date, so we decided to develop a centralised Parish network, where important national data sets could be displayed at Parish level, as a useful data resource for each community.
Community Action (as defined by the Local Government Association) is “any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities”, This is exactly the service that the PARISH.UK Network is providing, hence decribing ourselves as a “Community Action Initiative".
Each PARISH.UK website displays open-source data, in some cases unique data; for example, we are the only website where 2021 CENSUS data is available at a Parish level. Other available information includes local news, educational establishments and OFSTED ratings, local heritage sites, latest planning applications, local property prices, farming CAP payments, along with a local business directory. It is our intention to add ‘Employment/Jobs' and ‘Crime' sections to the site over the coming months.
The Domain Authority of the parish.uk domain is currently 57, (this is higher than any individual parish council website) and as such the pages receive significant traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish.
The business directory listings were initially populated using the same method that enable website listings to be listed in search engines, we then ask a business if they wish to keep their listing. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to cancel or let the listing expire naturally. When a business confirms their wish to renew their listing, an invoice is generated. The invoice states clearly the url of the business directory they are paying to be listed in.
The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available. The framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users. We have worked with The Cabinet Office - Government Digital Service who were satisfied that the public would not be misled into thinking the site was endorsed by HM Government. The copyright breach you raised is standard privacy policy text and we did not receive an objection to using this text, during our working with the Government Digital Service.
SCAM - REPORT
SCAM - have reported.
Don't try to tell me that I've signed up for something and demand money to renew when I haven't
Stop pestering me.
April 24, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is an online initiative which takes national open-source data and presents it in a user-friendly format for all UK Parish communities to benefit from.
After working closely within our own Parish, we felt that the majority of Parish Council websites were disjointed and technically out-of-date, so we decided to develop a centralised Parish network, where important national data sets could be displayed at Parish level, as a useful data resource for each community.
Community Action (as defined by the Local Government Association) is “any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities”, This is exactly the service that the PARISH.UK Network is providing, hence decribing ourselves as a “Community Action Initiative".
Each PARISH.UK website displays open-source data, in some cases unique data; for example, we are the only website where 2021 CENSUS data is available at a Parish level. Other available information includes local news, educational establishments and OFSTED ratings, local heritage sites, latest planning applications, local property prices, farming CAP payments, along with a local business directory. It is our intention to add ‘Employment/Jobs' and ‘Crime' sections to the site over the coming months.
The Domain Authority of the parish.uk domain is currently 57, (this is higher than any individual parish council website) and as such the pages receive significant traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish.
The business directory listings were initially populated using the same method that enable website listings to be listed in search engines, we then ask a business if they wish to keep their listing. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to cancel or let the listing expire naturally. When a business confirms their wish to renew their listing, an invoice is generated. The invoice states clearly the url of the business directory they are paying to be listed in.
The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available. The framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users. We have worked with The Cabinet Office - Government Digital Service who were satisfied that the public would not be misled into thinking the site was endorsed by HM Government. The copyright breach you raised is standard privacy policy text and we did not receive an objection to using this text, during our working with the Government Digital Service.
Fraudulent site
Fraudulent site. They take your money but there is no directory listing. Then next year they ask you to renew when they never publish your details. If you contact them they never reply.
April 24, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is an online initiative which takes national open-source data and presents it in a user-friendly format for all UK Parish communities to benefit from.
After working closely within our own Parish, we felt that the majority of Parish Council websites were disjointed and technically out-of-date, so we decided to develop a centralised Parish network, where important national data sets could be displayed at Parish level, as a useful data resource for each community.
Community Action (as defined by the Local Government Association) is “any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities”, This is exactly the service that the PARISH.UK Network is providing, hence decribing ourselves as a “Community Action Initiative".
Each PARISH.UK website displays open-source data, in some cases unique data; for example, we are the only website where 2021 CENSUS data is available at a Parish level. Other available information includes local news, educational establishments and OFSTED ratings, local heritage sites, latest planning applications, local property prices, farming CAP payments, along with a local business directory. It is our intention to add ‘Employment/Jobs' and ‘Crime' sections to the site over the coming months.
The Domain Authority of the parish.uk domain is currently 57, (this is higher than any individual parish council website) and as such the pages receive significant traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish.
The business directory listings were initially populated using the same method that enable website listings to be listed in search engines, we then ask a business if they wish to keep their listing. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to cancel or let the listing expire naturally. When a business confirms their wish to renew their listing, an invoice is generated. The invoice states clearly the url of the business directory they are paying to be listed in.
The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available. The framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users. We have worked with The Cabinet Office - Government Digital Service who were satisfied that the public would not be misled into thinking the site was endorsed by HM Government. The copyright breach you raised is standard privacy policy text and we did not receive an objection to using this text, during our working with the Government Digital Service.
Your replies remain ambiguious, Action Fraud Notified!
Your replies remain ambiguious, when directly asked to post business trading address as UK business law requires. A email with an invoice attached requesting monies to be paid to a bank account, is not how business is done. You have repeatadly ignored requests to supply company details, trading address and named individuals involved in business, such as sole trader, LLP or LTD. Once again, I invite you to publicly post here your trading address? In the meantime details have been passed to actionfraud.police.uk/ and your business activties are being looked in to as I write.
PS if youa re not a scam, why is the following Parish Council and its legal team refering to you as a SCAM? wansford-pc.gov.uk/ scam-warning-to-those-businesses-services-and-clubs-listed-in-our-directory/
April 24, 2023
Unprompted review
What A Bunch Of Scam Artists
Wow what a crock. The fact that every response states the same thing just shows what a scam this is and this compounded by the fact that every standard response, regardless of what the complaint is, states straight away that it is not a scam, which implies that it is.
Be careful of these scammers trying to con hard working business owners in these times of troubles.
They are the scam, sorry scum of the earth.
April 15, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Thank you for your review Andrew. We appreciate your comments but for the record would like to confirm that the PARISH.UK Network is not a scam. It is a Community Action Initiative (see site footer) which includes a low cost online business directory for each UK Parish that local businesses can choose to be included within should they wish. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish. The listings for businesses do exist in the business directory pages already, so we simply ask a business if they wish to keep their listing in the business directory. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to very easily cancel or let the listing expire naturally. The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available, see url (https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/). This framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users.
Like everyone else I received an email…
Like everyone else I received an email saying a listing i never signed up was about to expire, I looked into other local businesses who seemed to have a listing and like a Muppet I signed up, for a 3 year subscription this was on 15th February 2023. I have just received another email sent on 12th of April 2023 telling me my listing expires in 9 days, this confused me a bit so I logged in to find more info and was told that my listing had 196 view in 365 days???? Even though I only signed up 2 months ago? I wont be signing up again. As the saying go's "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"
April 13, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Thank you for your review. The PARISH.UK Network is not a scam. It is a Community Action Initiative (not run by Parish Councils) which includes a low cost online business directory for each UK Parish that local businesses can choose to be included within should they wish. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish. The listings for businesses do exist in the business directory pages already, so we simply ask a business if they wish to keep their listing in the business directory. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to very easily cancel or let the listing expire naturally. The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available, see url (https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/). This framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users.
BS ad directory
Whether is a "scam" or not is debatable, but the site is misleading, and regardless of the UK government website design being freely available, who ever put this listing together did it intentionally to mislead and make it look more official and credible. Is has no positioning in google rankings so you be unlikely to get a lead from this directory. I have been getting 3 or 4 emails a day on various accounts to tell me that time is running out for something I never signed up for.
Wait for the cut 'n' paste response below ...
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
April 13, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
Thank you for your review. The PARISH.UK Network is not a scam. It is a Community Action Initiative (not run by Parish Councils) which includes a low cost online business directory for each UK Parish that local businesses can choose to be included within should they wish. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish. The listings for businesses do exist in the business directory pages already, so we simply ask a business if they wish to keep their listing in the business directory. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to very easily cancel or let the listing expire naturally. The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available, see url (https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/). This framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users.
THIS IS A SCAM!!
THIS IS A SCAM!!
100% Scam - I don't care if they reply to this review with their stock answer. If Parish UK want to try and convince me otherwise, please provide your company information and names of directors.
I have even found a real parish site where they have injected their website into the contact page of the real site. I called the parish in question, and they have confirmed that it is nothing to do with them and are taking steps to remove the injected code. Other real parishes have written on their own site with warning about parish uk too.
April 13, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
We did not inject our website into another Parish website. The Parish Council website in question chose to embed our contact form on their own website in an iframe, probably because it is professional, user friendly and spam resistant.
The PARISH.UK Network is not a scam. It is a Community Action Initiative (not run by Parish Councils) which includes a low cost online business directory for each UK Parish that local businesses can choose to be included within should they wish. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish. The listings for businesses do exist in the business directory pages already, so we simply ask a business if they wish to keep their listing in the business directory. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to very easily cancel or let the listing expire naturally. The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available, see url (https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/). This framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users.
I never signed up with them in the…
I never signed up with them in the first place, so asking me to renew is a scam in my book. I nearly fell for it, but googled before paying...
I will report this.
If you were genuine you would state your legitimate address.
April 12, 2023
Unprompted review
Reply from PARISH
The PARISH.UK Network is not a scam. It is a Community Action Initiative (not run by Parish Councils) which includes a low cost online business directory for each UK Parish that local businesses can choose to be included within should they wish. The pages receive high local visitor traffic, due to the unique data presented for each Parish. The listings for businesses do exist in the business directory pages already, so we simply ask a business if they wish to keep their listing in the business directory. There is no obligation to renew and a business can choose to very easily cancel or let the listing expire naturally. The GOV.UK Design System’s code is public and freely available, see url (https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/). This framework was chosen as it offers a clear, familiar and accessible design to users.
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