CONSUMER watchdogs are warning firms to beware if they receive a letter inviting them to have their details published in a European City Guide on CD-Rom.

Wording in bold at the top of an accompanying form, which emanates from Spain, says the recipient's firm is being offered a free update in the guide.

However, small print elsewhere on the form states that a price of 937 euros a year for a three-year period has to be paid.

Michael Welsh, principal trading standards officer in Hartlepool, said: "Several years ago, many businesses and organisations complained they had been misled into signing a similar document.

"They thought they had signed up to a free entry in a guide, only to be later sent a bill which was followed by threats of legal action if the bill was not paid. It was very unpleasant and worrying for them.

"Eventually, following a large number of complaints, the Catalan authorities in Spain ruled against the European City Guide on three separate occasions, eventually suspending them from trading for a year and fining them three million euros.

"The European City Guide now appears to have surfaced again in Valencia, Spain, and I will be complaining to the Valencian authorities and to the Spanish Embassy in the UK. I hope action can again be taken to stop European City Guide harassing businesses throughout Europe."

Mr Welsh said people should always be very wary of any unsolicited letters offering entries in directories and should throw them straight in the bin.

For more information, contact Mr Welsh on (01429) 523362.