Schools have been offered free samples of items by a company identifying themselves as The Pervasive Group; the schools are then invoiced for the goods and chased for payment in an aggressive manner.
Contact has usually been made via unsolicited telephone calls, often to the Site Manager, with an offer to supply a free sample of sanitising wipes or other related products. The schools have received a consignment of goods followed by an invoice demanding payment for the items at a vastly inflated price.
The schools have been told by the company that they have a legal duty to pay the invoices as orders were placed for the goods received. The pursuit of payment has often been conducted in a threatening and aggressive manner. The schools have written to Pervasive Group Ltd refuting their demands for payment and have warned them to stop making further approaches to the schools.
Anne Woods
Head of Audit and Risk Management