Atlas Editions Reviews 

A diabolical company who prey on the elderly. I hope they rot!

I ordered one item which I paid for many months, if not years, ago. Despite telling Atlas that I had not asked for anymore items they sent more and then started to demand payment for these unwanted items.

It seems to have come to a head today with a threatening letter from a credit company.

Like dozens of other reviewers I am absolutely disgusted in the way this company does its pressure selling.

I returned home after a 6-month contract abroad to find five deliveries from Atlas. Unlike other people, I have yet to receive any threatening letters, but I do have an invoice with each item asking for payment within 28 days.

When they do finally send one I will send them a bill for the storage of their items, and if they don't pay, take them to the local small claims court, I have plenty of time on my hands.

Having received and payed for 9 'Glory of Steam' pocket watches at £18.98 each (I was NOT entirely happy with being unable to chose which one I would like to buy each month), and after receiving 9 decided to cancel the whole collection, after being informed there were 32 all told.
The same day, and the minute I received the last watch (12/10/15) which was paid by cheque, because I could not IMMEDIATELY get a response to cancel my subscription with Atlas Editions, ( LUNCH TIME IN THEIR OFFICE I PRESUMED), later that same day was informed that another watch was in the pipeline and would have to be payed for. I did NOT want this item and requested it NOT TO BE SENT TO ME. This watch duly arrived weeks later, I again informed A E I did not want this watch -- and was told I could return it, I asked if I could have a prepaid return label, and was told this would not be possible, today, 19/5/16 I have received an invoice for a payment for £18.48, as I did not request this item, and will return it AE if they will send me a prepaid label. my customer account number is --25678615 / 3 00002571725 0001848 7, I had alway paid by debit card, but did not get the 15% discount as advertised on the AE invoice whether online or offline.

After a difficulty with phone calls (two) I asked for help to return a model. I had a reply on my answerphone with the help I needed and a offer of a return label. ( I had already found the returns address on the website and posted the model but that is unimportant - I was at fault by writing to cancel not using the internet - I am not good with computers only having broadband for a year or so) I was very surprised at the reviews for Atlas Editions as I said earlier I had found them very good and now the phone call which I did not pick up for two days has restored their reputation. I give them 4 stars honestly and hope to have their offers in the future. Thanks again for the phone response.

Like almost everybody else who has reviewed this company I too have fallen victim to their improper business activities having received five unsolicited packages despite having three times told them I do not wish to subscribe to any of their so called "collections". Fortunately I paid for the only two items I did actually order - both at £1.99 each - by cheque and have never given them credit or debit card details so they have not actually succeeded in taking any other payments from me. The documentation that accompanies each parcel tells me that I do not have to do anything about payment but that they will take the money using the payment method I have authorised. Good luck to them with that!

I have done a little research into this company. This information is derived from material in the public domain and I have no way of confirming its accuracy but I hope it might be helpful to reviewers who are owed money by this company and are unable to make any progress in resolving their issues.

Firstly, it appears that their Southampton address is actually no more than an outsourced privately owned "customer fulfilment" operation called West Quay Ltd. Visit their website to hear how West Quay claim to "provide a level of service excellence, which breeds brand loyalty". You might like to test your own experience of telephoning what you think is Atlas Editions, but which is actually these people, against these claims.

Secondly, Atlas Editions appears to be a French company with a Paris postal address, a subsidiary of Atlas Group which in turn is a subsidiary of the Italian family owned De Agostini Group which is a leading publisher of booklets and partworks. Interestingly some references to "Editions Atlas" show the organisation as headquartered in Evreux, between Paris and Le Havre. Google maps has an excellent image of a large anonymous building at 23, Rue Lavoisier, 2700, Evreux, which is said to be their headquarters. The Paris postal address for them is 75381, Paris Cedex 08 with a location for visitors at 87 Rue La Boetie, 75008 Paris 8.

Thirdly - the management. I have a leaflet enclosed with one item I really did order which exhorts me to buy a display unit and this carries a message with a facsimile signature of Ian Fitzgerald who is titled on this leaflet as Managing Director. However, other references to Mr Fitzgerald consistently show him as "Head of Editorial at Atlas Editions" and he is often quoted in connection with new releases from Atlas Editions. Mr Fitzgerald worked in Foyles selling books in 1989 and then at IMP Media for five years before joining Atlas. Perhaps though, the real Managing Director is Guy Stainthorpe - certainly he claims he is - who left school in 1984 and went to Kingston University where he gained a BA in political and economic history. He shows his work locations as Lausanne, Switzerland and London. There is a company called Atlas Editions UK Ltd, at 94, White Lion Street, London N1 9PF and perhaps those of you to whom his company owes money might have some success door stepping him there. His photograph is easily obtainable on-line to assist recognition. Other Atlas Editions managers include Collette Sheaff, Head of Marketing; Harriet May, Marketing Manager; Helene Vincent, Head of e-commerce and Sophie Maintenant also in marketing. It is not clear to me whether these individuals are UK based or part of the French operation. Reading their backgrounds and experience the focus is on direct marketing with hardly a mention of customer service in their claimed experience and competencies. No surprise there.

The "big boss" though is Olivier Izard, CEO/MD of Atlas Group, Direct Marketing and Direct Sales Global of the De Agostini Group. He has held posts with other UK direct marketing companies. It seems that Antoine Coubray who describes himself as "Director General Editions Atlas" with responsibilities for the mail order divisions of Editions Atlas in France and UK, may well be Stainthorpe's boss reporting to Izard. I wonder if these two gentlemen know how badly their UK operation treats it customers?

I have not tried to contact any of the above - they do not owe me money. The packages pile up here and are stored unopened. I have told them I will return them if post paid labels are provided or they can collect them. Of course I have had no response - you never do from these people.

how can it be that with 3 reviews of one star (that's too many) their rating at the top of page gives them 4.9 out of 10. is this a fiddle?

This lot keep on sending stuff to my address I have not ordered it and I do not want it.Looking at the other reviews they are hoping I will phone there customer services so I can be ripped off on call charges.
I will be phoning trading standards first to see if they can stop this scam.

Later in Jan 2015 I received a none solicited delivery of a Triumph TR sports car listed at a price of £18.48 (none receipted delivery) to which I immediately responded disclaiming liability and requesting return FOC documents to facilitate mailing, however none were ever received. After considerable difficulty connecting with " customer services" I arranged for an E Mail to be forwarded from Germany ( consumer---pro-tec) regarding my account ,at which point I received a letter from Atlas confirming cancellation of future deliveries but asking for settlement of outstanding balance and notifying that return costs would be my own responsibility (NO WAY- Joshe ! )

On behalf of an 82 year old harassed by demand for something never requested or invoiced . Will report to Trading Standards and have emailed claimed supplier Atlas Editions and CCS Collect debt recovery . Dreadful harassment which needs stopping . Not all elderly people are supervised and fall prey to scams . Any help appreciated . Would be much nhs stars if allowed . Beware having anything to do with this company .
For Atlas use detailed a/c no 666909968/01 and claimed payment ref is 14323137