A YORK businesswoman who paid out more than £1,300 on a football deal that never materialised has finally got her money back.
With her long-awaited cheque in her hand, Anne Guadagnino, of Upper Poppleton, called upon other city businesses embroiled in the saga to contact Trading Standards officers and fight for their cash.
The Evening Press revealed last month that firms had shelled out sums ranging from £250 to £2,000 to advertise on a plasma screen and up to six TV screens at York City's Bootham Crescent ground.
The screen deal - launched in 2002 during John Batchelor's chairmanship, and sold by Lancashire-based Newmedia, run by former England and Spurs player Paul Stewart - was ditched by the current City board. Mrs Guadagnino was left with cash- flow problems, and had to buy stock on credit cards, but when she threatened county court action, her cash was returned.
"I couldn't believe it when I got the cheque," she said. "It has been such a long time and I phoned and wrote to Newmedia so many times, but was just ignored.
"Other businesses should contact Trading Standards too. You need to keep on at Newmedia; they told Trading Standards I'd get my money back in April, but the cheque was only dated June 1. I'm so glad I got help, I'm just delighted."
The Evening Press previously spoke to a dozen local businesses approached by Newmedia and discovered they parted with a total of nearly £13,000 in sums ranging from £250 to more than £2,000.
Although some won their money back from the small claims court, many are still out of pocket.
Gary Penrose, boss at the Cueball snooker club in York, is still owed £1,400. He said: "I'm in limbo with it really and Newmedia keep fobbing me off. I'll definitely get in touch with Trading Standards now."
Mark Shackleton, co-owner of Station Garage, Stockton-on-the-Forest, forked out a similar sum.
He said: "I didn't think there was anything I could do to get it back. Now someone's got their money back, I might try."
Current City chairman Steve Beck said he was pleased Mrs Guadagnino had been refunded.
"We are disappointed that things didn't work out at the time," he said. "I hope other people are able to get their money back by whatever means."
Liz Levett, City of York Council trading standards manager, said: "I'm pleased we've managed to assist one of our residents to be able to resolve her problem, working with our colleagues in Lancashire.
"If anybody has similar problems they should complain in writing to the trader. If they receive an unsatisfactory reply, or no reply, then they should get in touch with us."
Newmedia manager Carl Rogers today said he would not comment on individual cases. Earlier he told the Evening Press that York City had failed to honour its side of an agreement after former chairman John Batchelor left the club.
However, York City said dealings with Newmedia were inherited and stressed York City Football Club Ltd never signed any contract with Newmedia or any advertisers.
Mr Stewart, who is Newmedia's managing director, was not available.
Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, June 08, 2004
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