Advertising News South Africa

Trudon Solutions, Yellow Pages, issues warning

The outcome of the case between Trudon and Directory Solutions is awaited from the Competition Tribunal, says Johan Myburgh, CFO of Trudon. He is commenting on the practice of an independent consultant called Directory Solutions allegedly charging a flat fee promising to update Yellow Pages customer's entries in the White Pages ie bold types and additional entries.

Trudon is the owner and publisher of the Yellow Pages, the Phone Book, Trudon Mobile and the operator-assisted 10-11-8 business enquiries. Directory Solutions is in no way affiliated to Trudon, which deals with all its customers directly, either telephonically or one-to-one.

According to Trudon's Myburgh, Independent Solutions' message to customers is often confusing and creates the impression that they approach Yellow Pages customers on its behalf or on its request. It adds that this company does not have the correct details of its customers and the marketing plans and information given to customers is often misleading and lends itself towards misrepresentation.

Directory Solutions charges customers for including them on 1023 database, which is a service, rendered free. Trudon updates customers' entries without charging the extra flat fee. Its customers can therefore save money by coming directly to it, as with this other company customers have to pay for the advertising cost plus the flat fee.

Trudon does not accept any entries from Directory Solutions and is the only company that can update customer entries.

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